[ARC5] R-45/ARR-7

Mon Jun 18 10:14:51 EDT 2018

If you have operating vintage military radio gear, I can’t think of any reason why you shouldn’t bring it to Gilbert. Contact the coordinators in the Military Radio Collectors Association (MRCA) to be absolutely sure. 

By the way, this coming Field Day, I’ll be operating my 1942 vintage BC-654-A on 80 meters. 

Shameless promotion - McVey Electronics in Newburgh NY does all the restoration/repair work on my vintage stuff. If it can be fixed, Jim can do the work. 

Mark D. 
WW2RDO

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 18, 2018, at 9:53 AM, Mark K3MSB <mark.k3msb at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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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