[Boatanchors] Missing hallicrafters SX 88

[W4AWM at aol.com]

This kind of stuff goes on around here all the time.  Sometimes, the ham 
isn't in the ground yet before a local vulture is knocking on the door.  They 
offer pennies on the dollar for expensive gear which winds u at auction siites or 
gets hauled around to hamfests.

Last year, a casual acquaintance became an SK and sure enough, someone was 
there early on and made off with the best gear for next to nothing. I came on 
the scene about 3 months later when a friend asked me to go up to the estate and 
take a look at what was left. The widow was willing to virtually give away an 
attic and basement full of mostly surplus gear for the hauling. I told her I 
thought there was some value in a good bit of the equipment and asked her to 
let me have a shot at selling it.

It took several months and a lot of 60 mmile round trips to the estate, plus 
I had to go into the packing and shipping business after mistakenly thinking 
that a majority of the gear would sell locally.  In any case, the results were 
beyond belief and resulted in a substantial income for the estate. I did it 
honestly by having all payments for equipment and shipping go directly to the 
estate. Then they paid me for my actual shipping costs and I did not charge for 
packing, hauling and running back and forth. Needless to say, I spent a lot of 
time doing this, but it actually became fun seeing how much I could bring in 
for the estate.

I felt really good about doing it and would readily so it again if asked. I 
might have to charge a dollar or two for gas the next time but it will all be 
documented so there will be no hanky-pankey.  The best part of the whole deal 
was that I was able to quash some of the vulture business around here.

As far as my collection is concerned, it is all on a data base with make, 
model and serial number of each item as well as acquisition cost and expected 
sale price when the time comes. My estate has the option of auctioning through an 
accredited auction house or donation of the collection to an already 
specified museum. Short of either of those options taking place, the estate has orders 
to hire a crew of laborers to smash each piece and put it in the dumpster. 
None of my gear is going to wind up lining the pockets of radio vultures. 

By the way, that data base can be very useful in case of theft or disaster. 
Keep it updated and put a copy in a safe deposit box or other safe place. 
Photographs are useful, too, since it offers additional proof of ownership. Do some 
wide shots, too, so that the presence of the gear in your residence can be 
established. Don't forget the test bench and the drawers in your tool box!

73, 

 John,  W4AWM