[Hallicrafters] Was prices ???? Now Estate

Mon May 2 11:27:20 EDT 2005

Hi Scott, (and all), 	

Harry Houdini, perhaps the most famous escape artist ever, (Escapeology is an
area of the Magic trade, but Houdini was not a Magician! He truly was an escape
artist, mostly skill and incredible physical conditioning, not trickery.), and
his wife Beth, had made advance plans for him to attempt to communicate with her
from the world beyond death. Although Houdini devoted a great deal of time to
exposing frauds who posed as healers, mediums, spiritualists and more, he was a
believer in things supernatural. Not necessarily in a religious perspective
though. 	

After his death in Detroit, Michigan on October 31, 1926 at age fifty-two from a
massive infection resulting from a ruptured appendix, the yearly Halloween night
communication rituals began. Although success was reported by some major
newspapers, it was discovered that the secret code known only to Harry Houdini
and his wife, had been leaked to or stolen by the media. No actual success was
ever recorded. 	

Now Scott, if you plan to try to take a handheld with you, good luck! I am
planning to do the same, but am still trying to find a battery that does not
require a charge for a very long time! (LOL) Now Al Waller, K3TKJ, the
founder/owner of these lists, is totally addicted to six meter DX. Perhaps we
can set some schedule up with Al, as he has the way and means to communicate a
long ways, and hope for inter-dimensional skip? 	

Now to a serious and very disturbing subject, the Hams who are obituary
profiteers. While I do not want to give Amateur Radio a bad name by bringing
this terribly cruel and totally heartless scam to the attention of the media,
perhaps it is the only effective way we have to make husbands and wives aware
that this goes on all the time and is not uncommon. People are generally very
vulnerable at times of high emotions, be those emotions joy or grief. They are
reacting more than thinking. This is the very lifeblood that these buck sucking
vampires thrive upon, they wait like Vultures for an opportunity to swoop down
and pick the victim clean. It may not be criminal, but it should be! 		

Maybe if the public were alerted by the media to say "No Thanks!" this
exploitation could be reduced. The idea of making advance plans for the disposal
of the equipment is a good one, of course. Nowadays a 'trusted' friend is not
the same as it was thirty years ago! The possibility of receiving money has a
curious way of changing family and friends, in case you have not noticed. Where
and when possible, plan ahead and write it all down on paper. Keep two copies,
but not in the same place! Perhaps in a safety deposit box, a home lock box or
other places of safety. Knowing what to do ahead of time can save all of us a
lot of unnecessary emotional pain, avoidable mistakes and being taken advantage
of.    	

Many of us avoid thinking about it, as it is unpleasant and reminds us that we
are not going to live forever. Nevertheless, a little discomfort now to deal
with the eventual realities of life can provide a safety net that will provide
the surviving mate, or family member, extra money they may need instead of
lining the pocket of some shameless bottom feeder who sold his conscience years
ago when the market for such things was up! 	

DBF	

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From: Freeberg, Scott (STP) <Scott.Freeberg at guidant.com>
To: Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [Hallicrafters] Was prices ???? Now Estate
Date: Monday, May 02, 2005 10:11 AM

While I also believe that after I'm dead, I won't care about my radio
collection, well other than the SW-3 but I'm planning to take that with, I don't
want the ham radio vultures, thieves, crooks, showing up at the door, lying to
my widow, trying to rip her off.

I've told my wife to simply call a completely trusted ham buddy.  Have him rent
a van, come over and pick up all the stuff, sell it for me, keep a percentage of
$$ or some radios for his incredible effort, give rest of $$ to my widow.  

Something I haven't done but several have recommended is making up a list of the
good stuff and putting a ballpark price down so your executors at least have a
clue to the ballpark range.  It might avoid the radio vulture "oh that ole
Collins 75S-3C and 32S-3A station is tube junk, only worth $5".  Actual value
closer to $5000.    

I recall talking to a BA collector one time and he gleefully told me the story
of how he acquired a BA station from the bereaved, which I would value around
$2500, for something like $300, paid to the widow. What a jackass. 

73, Scott WA9WFA

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