[Boatanchors] Mystery Power Supply - available (Rob Atkinson)

[Michael D. Harmon]

Believe it or not, sometimes you can't give stuff away!

I remember about 25 years ago, I had a big plate transformer that 
probably weighed 30+ pounds.  I seem to remember that it was 2500 VCT.  
However, it only had a 115 V primary.  I didn't want to build an amp to 
run off 115 V, so I took it to a local hamfest.  A guy across the way 
took a look at it and asked how much I wanted for it.  I told him he 
could have it for free.  Oh, no, he was having none of that.  I told him 
again - seriously, take it!  He absolutely refused.  Finally, I told 
him, OK, five bucks.  He grabbed it and shuffled sorta bow-legged over 
to his car, grinning like the Cheshire cat!

However, there is one trick that you can use ...

A hamfest "trick" that I've been known to use in my younger, crazier 
years is something I like to call "reverse stealing".  Back then, 
literally all hamfests were outdoor events, usually held on an asphalt 
parking lot of a hotel or fraternal lodge.  Anyway, say you have 
something that is potentially valuable, but possibly big, heavy and/or 
ugly, and no one shows an interest in buying it.  Things are winding 
down and people are packing up and you REALLY don't want to haul it back 
home.  You wait until the guy next to you goes off on one last  
walkabout, and while he's gone, you take your foot and slide the 
"treasure" over under his table.  Then you pack up and leave.

Mike, WB0LDJ