[Elecraft] Interesting Conversation about FT-5000 vs K3

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

I've had the privilege of being with two large companies as they went from
first generation to second-generation management: Ampex, when founder
Alexander M. Poniatoff (add "ex" for excellence to his initials) gave up
control and Hewlett-Packard when founders "Bill and Dave" retired. 

As good as the companies may be today (I'm using an excellent HP system to
write this), They quickly became completely different from what they were
under their founders. The companies passed into new hands with totally
different ideas and outlook which rewrote the corporate philosophy in all
aspects, from product and market focus to the people they wanted.

Surely anyone whose happiness depends upon the world continuing just as it
is will be disappointed in the future. 

However, it took me a lot of years to learn that lesson and be grateful for
the world I have today.  

Ron AC7AC


-----Original Message-----
Many more innovative companies were created by one or two than by
committees.  Many of those won't survive beyond their founder's life.  As a
personal example, I worked 23 years for AT&T (1961-1984).  AT&T as it
existed after WW I was the creature not of Alexander Bell but of Theodore
Vail.  Vail's vision was universal service provided by a regulated monopoly.
The evolution of modern electronics and computers gradually invalidated this
idea; the company, however, fought to preserve it.  So instead of adapting
it disappeared.  (The name "AT&T" is now owned and used by one of it's
former subsidiaries)
That same evolution did in Hallicrafters, National Radio, Hammarlund, Drake,
World Radio labs, Heathkit, and many others as ham radio manufacturers.  Now
it has made Elecraft possible.  What a great time to be around.  What's
next?

Monty K2DLJ