[Elecraft] Real Value - A Historical Observation

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Exactly 111 years ago Wednesday, February 23rd, the board of directors voted
to rename their fledgling company the "Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Company,
LTD". 

That's always been as significant to me as the famous three "S" transmission
that proved that the Atlantic could be crossed by electromagnetic waves,
known then as Hertzian waves, aether waves or radio waves. (I know there's
some argument about whether Marconi actually heard the signal, but history
proved his claim to be correct.) 

Marconi did two very important things: 

1 - Using the technology of the day he designed a system that provided
long-distance radiotelegraphy, and in the process added a number of his
unique inventions to achieve superior results. 

2 - He created a company that would make that radiotelegraph system
available to everyone at a reasonable price -- a price that funded further
development of more services and products the world could use. 

History is filled with brilliant people who made astonishing breakthroughs
in technology but who never moved their creations beyond the laboratory.. 

To truly be of value to society a new technology has to be available to
people who can use it. 

Consider the engineering work done by Eric and Wayne. Had the K3/P3/etc.
been developed, tested and then only published in a technical paper, how
many here would have the skills, resources or desire to duplicate their
design? Of the few remaining, how many could afford to do so as a single
custom project? 

I submit it would be a very small number compared to the number of K3s and
other Elecraft rigs already in use. 

That's the work of business - to put useful products and services in the
hands of those who want them at an affordable cost. 

Reading the reasons why people chose Elecraft suggests to me that Eric and
Wayne have done that work very well.

73,  

Ron AC7AC