[ARC5] R-45/ARR-7

[Mark K3MSB]

The market for tube ham gear has been steadily declining for (at least)
three reasons.   The hams that appreciate the gear and enjoy using it are
dying off, and the younger generation lacks the skill to restore and
maintain such gear.

The third is unpleasant to consider….. how us old fart’s sometime treat the
newbies.   How many times have we heard them referred to as appliance
operators?    Yet the same people that use that term don’t know that
“appliance operator” was around since the early 1930’s when the very first
commercial ham gear was available.       We tend to think that if the
newbies don’t do things our way, they’re inferior.    This kind of attitude
can easily kill off any potential interest.    Not that everyone does this,
but unfortunately, this attitude is not rare.

One day many moons ago I was chatting with a fellow pilot in the hanger.
 We both owned and flew tail-draggers.  The other pilot boasted that if you
don’t fly taildraggers, you’re simply an inferior pilot.     I looked at
him and said “I’ll give you $100 to say that to a Naval Aviator”.    He
didn’t take me up on that.

Just because what we do is different than what modern day “appliance
operators” do doesn’t mean they’re inferior or wrong;  they’re just doing
different things.    While some of us may look down on hams running a
computer integrated contest station,  a lot of “them” view the vintage
radio crowd as out of touch and inferior.   We are “quaint” – read that old
and irrelevant.  YOU may not care about their opinion,  but then again THEY
don’t care about yours.

Over the past two years I’ve almost completely sold off all my tube ham
gear.  I wasn’t using it that much and prices were declining.      My only
remaining tube ham gear is a Johnson Valiant I finished restoring over the
winter and an R-390A that still needs some work, but is alive and  works
pretty well.    The only reason I’ve kept those two radios is I really
enjoy 10 Meter AM and look forward to the peak of the next solar cycle
(Lord willing).

I didn’t get top dollar for my radios, but they sold quickly as they were
restored, worked, and priced them to sell.   Plug and Play vintage.

A few years ago I was at someone’s house picking up some mil gear and the
fellow found I had restored an SCR-274N system.   He proudly showed me two
NIB  FT-229A mounts for the antenna relay.   Two.  NIB.   Sitting on a
shelf.      I asked if he would consider selling one.   Not a chance.
“These are rare”.    I need an FT-229A as well as an FT-221A and was
prepared to pay for one of his 229As  (probably more than I should’ve,  but
the 229A was there and I had cash in pocket…..).      The guy wouldn’t
consider selling them as they’re “rare”.     Well, they’re this property
and he has the right to do with them as he pleases,   but what in God’s
name does he plan on doing with them?  He had no interest in ARC-5 stuff.
 ANYONE That’s planning to finance their retirement on their old radios is
in for a VERY rude awakening.      Start looking for a good refrigerator
box now for that retirement home.

By the way….   Shameless plea…     I’m still looking for an FT-221.
 Doesn’t need to have the 4 shocks….     I can rob Peter to pay Paul……

I think re-enacting is interesting and I’d like to get involved in it now
that family constraints are much less than in previous years.    I’m
thinking of taking my 274N to Gilbert in September, but I’m not sure if
airborne radios would fit into that particular event.    I really think
re-enacting is the way to reach the younger crowd if we hope raise
interesting in vintage / military radios.

Next up on the restoration table is my SCR-506.   I figure if I don’t get
to it now, I won’t be able to lift it later.   I see a lift table in my
immediate future.

73 Mark K3MSB
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