[Boatanchors] Re: Boatanchors Digest, Vol 20, Issue 13; Excess stuuf

[J. Forster]

Jack Taylor wrote:

> Apparently I touched a button, sorry about that!
>
> Indeed I have donated several pickup loads of gear to the local radio club
> which was used in their auctions.  The radio club does collect donated items
> for resale or disposal but quite a bit of it ends up going to the landfill
> due to little interest in boatanchor parts and items.

Absolutely true.

> [snip] interest in the old gear except for readying it for resale to a
> declining number of
> collectors.

The collector's market for some things is rising. Maybe not old ham gear, but
ARC-5s, BC-348s and some other things are very sought after. Some WW II radar
gear is bringing well over $10,000 (H2S, Eureka). IMO, nothing ham will ever
come close to that.

> My observation is that the young people (such as in scouting programs)
> aren't interested in "old junk", they even turn their noses up at 5 year old
> computers.  I
> once donated a operational computer system with loads of software to a couple
> of teens
> figuring they might take advantage of it as a learning tool.  It was promptly
> disposed of
> since it didn't do gaming.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE. You virtually cannot give away a 5 year old computer these
days. In fact, you may have to PAY to get rid of it. Here it' $20 per lump.

IMO, find a 'Seller's Assistant' and put it on eBay. At least there it will go
to someone who actually WANTS it.
-John