[Boatanchors] "Oldtimer bitching"? Or Timely Warning? You Decide.

[Rob Atkinson]

I never got into vintage radio to make a buck.  Probably most didn't,
and I'm not implying that previous contributors to this thread assumed
they'd profit.  I got into it because you can understand radio better
with vintage gear, at least I can, you can work on the gear and it is
just plain fun to run the old equipment.  I guess the new stuff is
more reliable (but good luck when they break down) but the new stuff
is extremely boring to operate too.  You don't really operate the new
year--you use it.

I kind of laugh at the hams who fancy themselves these wheeler
dealers, buy low sell high tycoons, gettin' rich, laughing all the way
to the bank ... all in their dreams...to me, we have a tiny cottage
industry of a minority of folks trying to keep a part of Americana
alive (I say "Americana" because most of what we deal with was made
here) and I view it as a brotherhood mostly and not a way to make
money.  I've been telling people for the past 2 or 3 years that the
next few years will be the time to sell the old gear.  I'd like to
eventually be down to what I regularly use but I'm not going to worry
too much about it.  When I do sell something, I try to make sure it
will go to someone who really plans to use it and not flip it on eBay.
I mostly sell at cost or less to help the fraternity.

Don's honor system table with a lock box for money at Dayton has
worked surprisingly well.  I have been kind of amazed that hams have
left money and what they have taken.  I guess I am too cynical.

It is a nice somewhat affordable hobby, but a complete recap of a
decent receiver is getting up there in my opinion.  Those caps add up.
  I hope the way to interest young people is via tube audio.

73

Rob
K5UJ