[Hallicrafters] How to Destroy a Nice Hallicrafters Receiver

[Jim Brannigan]

Absolutely correct Todd.

I tore apart lots of ARC-5's and other surplus radio for parts and a bare 
chassis.
To this day I have no qualms about changing parts or improving circuits.  I 
would rather not drill a front panel, but if a chassis needs a hole, it gets 
one.
I like my radios to work, besides, some day these will all wind up in a 
landfill.

Jim

> Herein lies the real issue. Unless someone knows it was converted last
> week by some collector who 'knew better', it's not really fair to
> judge the past by today's standards (or at all, for that matter).
>
> There was a time when ARC-5 receivers really were $5 or less NIB, and
> people had no issue with improving the performance (by cutting or
> drilling) of their surplus or current technology rig the same as some
> do today with their recent Yaecomwood riceboxes, for whatever reason.
> Once upon a time this old gear was actually seen for its utility and
> not as a financial investment, R at RE collectible, or means of upstaging
> your collector friends. There probably were a few who were even
> envious that the former owner had a monitor 'scope in his receiver,
> like the Central Electronics 100V/200V transmitters.
>
> If your radio broke down, you fixed it. The object was to be on the
> air or at least listening, not admiring it on a shelf. Fixing it might
> involve using a different size switch, knob, whatever. When a newer,
> improved tube was developed, you might even adapt your radio to use
> it, to improve its utility. When technology advanced sufficiently to
> require a new rig (like when SSB came along or solid state), your old
> rig was not all that attractive an option for others and you were
> lucky to get something out of it. If you couldn't afford a new SSB
> receiver (75A-4s and SX-115s were pricey), you might just drill and
> blast to add a product detector to your older rig. I agree, the
> receiver looks pretty sad compared to an unmodified example, but I bet
> it seemed fine at the time. It could be restored if someone wanted to
> do it badly enough. The starting bid price isn't much incentive.
>
> Try this: the next time you decide to put an addition on your 1980s
> home, change the kitchen cabinets, or repaint it a different color,
> stop and imagine someone in the future looking back and criticizing
> your choices and thinking ill of you for them. It might only be a
> house to you, but to someone in the future, it could be R at RE, LQQK -
> VINTAGE HOMESTEAD! After all, split-level ranches or condo apartments
> might be the desirable, historical home style of the future, and we
> could be condemned for hacking them up. (o:
>
> ~ Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ
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