[Elecraft] A traceable Elecraft pedigree...

[James Fonte]

Hi Folks!

You know...we (the "Elecrafters" of the world) are an interesting collection
of people.  We choose to assemble our Elecraft equipment in a variety of
flavors.  Each piece of Elecraft equipment has its own personality, based
upon the needs/wants/available time of the builder/owner-operator.

Each piece of Elecraft equipment is a reflection of the Elecraft
state-of-the-art:
1. at a particular moment in time (from the Elecraft development
perspective)
2. regarding the owner/operator need and want
3. may or may not be built/modified to current engineering specifications
4. and no-two assembled Elecraft kits are exactly alike

We have immediate access to Elecraft Field Testers, and Eric and Wayne (the
Master Elecrafters) are the last word regarding all of the input from the
field -- they determine officially how Elecraft moves forward regarding
official product improvements.  Also, they (our FT's & Eric and Wayne) are
very wise by freely encouraging and communicating other interesting
modifications to the List.

Are all Elecraft kits assembled equally?  (IMHO) No.

Should assembled Elecraft equipment be 'gradable' as to its value? (IMHO)
Yes.

Will the creation of a traceable history of a piece of Elecraft gear add
value to the collective effort? (IMHO) Yes, I think very much so.

Are there unbuilt Elecraft kits out there...stored away for the 'future'?
I'll bet there are!

Have official mod-kits been purchased and stored-away for the 'future'? Most
probably.

Has Elecraft equipment achieved a cult/collector status?  Absolutely.

Will this discussion affect your opinion of defining Elecraft equipment
value (built and unbuilt)...now and later?  I'm hoping that it will.

Those radio amateurs who take an interest in Collins, Drake, Heath, Gonset,
Hammarlund, Hallicrafters, Ten Tec, and on-and-on took the time to document
and grade their equipment, according to a long list of specifications.  The
equipment manufacturers history is recorded for the pure pleasure that it
gives to the reader.

Should you sell your Elecraft equipment, do you think that the new owner
would appreciate knowing:
1. purchase date
2. original price
3. who actually built the kit
4. when construction began
5. when completion occurred
6. how it was aligned, and the recorded results of those procedures
7. did you use Kester 60/40 or silver-solder
8. any official Elecraft field modifications
9. any non-spec'd user modifications
10. shall I go on?  ...you get the idea.

What do you folks think?

Hey...Eric & Wayne...have you started assembling the first items for the
Elecraft museum??


(;?)}

Very 73!
   Jim, K9FI