[Hallicrafters] Re: ID this Hallicrafters RX?

[WA1KBQ at aol.com]

Consider the case of John Terrey; owner/editor of Antique Radio Classified  
Magazine, the monthly classified ad bible of the antique radio  hobby popularly 
referred to as ARC. He writes in an article in the July  issue and states 
that his own personal collection is now over 800 and noting his  experience I 
imagine we are talking many rare and desirable historical artifacts  here. Some 
will undoubtedly criticize this as an excessive example of  hoarding but who 
among us is honestly in a position to call his approach to  enjoyment of the old 
radio hobby is wrong? I would guess John Terry is  concerned about current 
market values and rightly so, we may be talking about a  million dollars here of 
potential investment. I would also guess the guy  who cut it off at an old 
S-Line and a Kenwood could care less about  values. The individual has the 
freedom and right to decide for himself what  is correct for him and it is 
ultimately his responsibility for the outcome  of it all anyway, or the heirs to his 
estate are if it did not get liquidated in  time. All of us are only temporary 
caretakers of this stuff and it will  most likely outlast all of us. I have 
artifacts here that I know were loved  and treasured by the original owner who 
is now long gone so it is up to me now  to decide its fate. Consider the first 
production run of 1934 HRO's; those first  owners undoubtedly knew they were 
buying something special at the  time. It was reported a while back by Mr 
Charles Fisher who studied  production history of the early HRO's that he 
discovered the  earliest serial number examples that turned up were often in above 
average  condition. Personally I appreciate large collections that include all the 
 rare stuff shown in Raymond S Moore's Communications Receivers of the Vacuum 
 Tube Era book because I appreciate the history of it and I believe something 
 should be preserved and protected for future generations. Large collections 
of  historical artifacts have value that needs protecting and would obviously  
be a focus to the custodian of the collection. We do not know where future  
values will lead because it all depends upon the popularity and desirability of 
 this stuff to future generations. The generation that was around when 
"wireless"  was in its infancy has pretty much passed away but prices have continued 
to  escalate far beyond what the average guy can afford or would pay. Have 
you  priced a Marconi Magnetic Detector lately? This piece obviously has neither 
 practical value nor nostalgic value so why prices for wireless stuff in the  
Stratosphere? Is it possible Hallicrafters SX-88's will follow this trend or  
will all of them eventually be tossed out like an old toaster by someone?
 
73, Greg



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