[ARC5] Big/Heavy is Over

[mkdorney at aol.com]

When I send any radio to be worked on, getting repair parts for it is figured into what I have to do to get the radio working.  The stuff I have is 75 years old or older - relying on any shop to be even able to come up with the repair parts is dodgy at best. These parts are not cheap, and neither is the time and effort put in by the repair shop I use.  That is the cost of getting this stuff working, and if you're not willing or able to pay that price - find another hobby.  Vintage vehicle owners and re-enactors understand the costs associated with vintage equipment, and are becoming more willing to pay to have their military radios repaired.  That's why the market for vintage military radios is growing in those communities.  This community is something the "Wiz-Bang Gang" in Newtown, CT either have not or choose not to recognize as a large potential pool of future Ham radio operators.  The MRCA sure recognizes the potential of the military vehicle/re-enactor community, and are doing more events together.  If you are a member of a local Ham Radio Club, get some members or find people locally who have vintage military radios, get them to support your events, and advertise that working vintage military radio gear will operating at the event, and interest in your event will grow.
I wrote an article on Vintage Military Radio Repair that was published in the DEC 2017 edition of Army Motors.  Here's the link to a copy in my Box account:  https://app.box.com/file/251424172367

73MarkWW2RDO

In a message dated 9/18/2018 9:53:21 AM Eastern Standard Time, kb2vtl at gmail.com writes:

Same here. More than happy to do all manner of repairs for friends, and once in a while those special cases, but can’t do the work for everyone. Even if paid, logistics plus troubleshooting plus maintaining my own test gear plus finding proper replacement parts plus repair and adjustments takes enough time that very few would be willing to pay. I am also not retired, actually work for a startup with long hours, so I have very little “lab” time. On average I probably only have maybe 8-10 hours per week to do all my create and build and repair activities. 

Peter
On Sep 18, 2018, at 7:16 AM, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:





  

  

From:  DSP3
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Big/Heavy is Over

  

>I can't tell you the number of folks who have approached me, and others, to get their gear going…

  

Indeed!  Someone mentioned they were willing to fix “grandpa’s radio” for free?   That person will be swamped with work immediately. 

At our age, we have nothing more precious and more valuable than TIME.  

 With the exception of old friends and a few “special cases,” as a rule I don’t agree to fix other people’s stuff. 

 It isn’t personal- it’s just impossible; I wouldn’t have time to scratch my nose.




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