[Boatanchors] RE: Kid in a candy store

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 3/13/07, bavarianradio at comcast.net <bavarianradio at comcast.net> wrote:
> I love deals like that!! In 1986 I bought my SX-73 for $25.00. I still have it today!! It has the signal corps tag (R-274D/URR) and the signal corps cabinet as well. My R-390A was a gift (Ibought 2 more Stewart Warner's for $20.00 a few years ago)  and my 51J2 was a gift as well. Good Luck with the Transmitter!!

Not to take away from the excitement, but I think we need to keep in
mind just who considers this stuff 'valueable' and why. Ham radio in
general is a fairly small group compared to the general public.
Vintage gear, AMers, and so on are a small but growing piece of that.
The vast majority look at an old tube radio no differently than they
would an old dishawasher, toaster, or microwave oven: old technology
in need of replacement. Paying to throw it away vs. getting someone to
pay you to take it away is always a plus.

That said, the stories are great. My story inevitably comes up at most
hamfests and involves my finding a pile of gear at an antique shop
back in 1988 consisting of a 30L-1, CE-200V, 75A-4, Elmac station, a
few other items, and another 'bigger' piece that hadn't yet been
delievered. Paid $350 for it all, had to go back later to pick up the
'bigger piece'. It was another case of the seller wanting to get rid
of it but having to pay to do so, which made him try to sell it first.
I'm so glad he did.

Which just goes to show, the best deals aren't online. Ebay, QTH, the
newsgroups and other sites are good sources, more tools to use in your
quest. But the best stuff is still waiting to be found.
Resourcefulness required, along with a reputation as a radio nut who
will haul off most anything with tubes in it. It's precisely how I
found out about the stuff in the antique shop.

The 'bigger piece'? A Collins KW-1, s/n 89. Keep in mind that this was
long before Collins gear became fashionable and pricey. Better still -
I had no clue what it was, only that it was cool (and h-e-a-v-y). You
can hear it on the air most nights and weekends below 3800 kcs,
sometimes on 40 and 160 as well.

Keep up the hunt!

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ