[GreenKeys] Project Big Bird Report

[George B. Hutchison]

GreenKeyers - - -

This is a status report on "Project Big Bird", the object of which was to
capture a large quantity of Dovetron Terminal Units being disposed of by
the government.

The total number of units in the auction turned out to be 67. We got every
one of them.

Shipping arrangements have been made with Howard Weeks such that when the
time comes to pick them up from Redstone, he will go and carefully wrap
and load them into a large cardboard box commonly known as a "gaylord",
which will then be freighted to Glenn's store in Tacoma, Washington.

The release date of the units by the government is dependent on clearance
by the Federal Trade Commission's approval of Glenn's End User's
Certificate. Due to the uncertain times, this may take as long as ninety
days, but Glenn's past history with the parent organization of
GovernmentLiquidation will help to reduce the time.

They are very exacting. All lines on the forms must have an entry. Glenn's
was sent back for correction when it was determined that although he had
entered St. Louis, Missouri, as his place of birth, he did not enter the
country on the next line, which is "USA". (As if there is a St. Louis,
Missouri in Latvia)

If an individual End User's Certificate of some sort is required from each
purchaser of a unit, we will post a form on RTTY.COM so that you can print
it out and mail it in.

We are not yet able to come up with an exact cost per unit. Shipping will
vary depending on how far it has to go.

Thus far, everyone will be receiving "A" condition units. They look very
good in the photos we have, and even seem to have a power cord with each
one. The exact internal arrangements, bells, whistles, extra knobs &
switches, etc., are unknown.

I dug out my copies of the manual. We will even go so far as to include
large copies of the schematics, so you will not have to go blind reading
them. This coming week will see us heading out to the local "Copies Are
Us" stores and getting bids. We'll have numbers by the next "Project Big
Bird" report.

The current list of those wishing a  Dovetron  is as follows, in the order
of receipt over GreenKeys. Notation has been made after the names of
those whose funds have been received as of yesterday, 21 Feb 2003. New
names have also been added to the list.

1. - Jact Hart, WA2HWJ - Funds Received
2. - Joe Montano, N9VMO
3. - Charles Ring, W3NU - Funds Received
4. - Perry Ballinger, W8AU
5. - Richard Gillingham, W1RG - Funds Received
6. - Gil Smith, Famous Inventor and TTY Enthusiast - Funds Received
7. - John Burch, WB6GHA - Funds Received
8. - Gregory Moore, WA3IVX
9. - Lynn Neece, KB6OKS (George's place in line) - Funds Received
10. - Bob Camp, KB8TQ
11. - Sherry Hydrick, TTY Enthusiast - Funds Received
12. - Dave Freeman, WW8S - Funds Received
13. - Brian Rule, KC8MXQ - Funds Received
14. - Larry "The Telegrapher" Godek, W0OGH - Funds Received
15. - Joseph Pinner, KC5IJD
16. - Don House, Museum Curator and keeper of Foofy, The Chad Maiden
17. - Clarence Turk, KB0BFI - Funds Received
18. - John Parker, KD7KFT
19. - Howard Weeks, K5JCP - Funds Received (Volunteered to Pick Up/Pack
Units)
20. - Web Williams, TTY Enthusiast
21. - Bill Bytheway, AA6ED
22. - Roy Morgan, K1LKY - Funds Received
23. - Mark Acierno
24. - Henry Lines

If your name is on the list, and have not yet remitted your funds, the
address is:

George B. Hutchison  W7KSJ
11224 SE 320th Street
Auburn, Washington  98092-4832

Please note: Cashier's Checks or Money Orders Only. Coin Of The Realm is
welcome, but somewhat risky. We DO NOT accept PayPal, BidPay, or any of
the questionable banking schemes as seen on ebay.

We will post the availability of second units in about two weeks. We want
to be sure everyone interested gets at least one, so we are holding off on
making second units available.

That's -30- for today, folks. Have a nice weekend.

73,

George, W7KSJ