[Drake] Admin: Closing the list

[Lee]

Here is another take on Drake popularity.
For years, used Drake equipment has gone dirt cheap on Ebay and other 
selling sources.  Today that is no longer true.  Drake equipment now 
sells on these sites for much more then they did not too long ago.  I 
notice this also with old Novice rigs both transmitters, receivers and 
transceivers.  The light in weight stuff is selling.  The very heavy 
boat anchors are going unsold.  Their weight combined with shipping 
costs have made it almost impossible to justifying the purchase when you 
consider shipping costs.  Some newer hams are showing a demand for this 
old stuff, but because of shipping costs are zeroing in on lighter in 
weight old gear.  Drake fits into this category.  So I think used Drake 
gear will continue to grow in popularity with younger hams unlike the 
heavier boat anchors.  These new hams discovering Drake will need more 
help then us older guys in restoring Drake gear and keeping them 
running. They for the most part know very little about high voltage 
hollow state tube gear.  New Drake gear sold in huge numbers.  So did 
Heathkit and to a lesser degree Collins and maybe Hallicrafters. Most of 
the other manufacturers did not sell much of their later light gear.  So 
the way I see it, the newer ham wanting older gear will most likely look 
at purchasing Drake and Heathkit gear.  Maybe Collins because of the 
beauty in their packaging.  They will have a better chance finding parts 
and finding someone with needed knowledge if they zero in on these 
manufacturers.

The bottom line is I believe the interest in Drake gear will be there 
for a long time.
Lee, w0vt