[Hallicrafters] SX-88 Value Controversy Continues

[Robert Nickels]

Harry Vaught, KT4AE wrote:
> My point, perhaps poorly delivered, was that no one's mind will be 
> changed about the SX-88 no matter how much wrangling takes place.
Harry, I think your words were divinely inspired!   Being something of 
an "accidental SX-88 owner",  I thought I'd weigh in on a possible 
reason why the SX-88 commands stratospheric prices today.

I'd like to enter to the April 1992 issue of Electric Radio into 
evidence.  That was the final issue of the third year of publication  
(the one featuring a picture of my buddy Skip K7YOO on the cover) - and 
page 30,  Mike O'Brien NØNLQ tells, for the first time for most of us I 
suspect, the mystery and lore of the SX-88 in his article "SX-88: 
Hallicrafters Highwater Mark".   I fetched down my copy and had to laugh 
at his opening comment that a fellow had recently offered to pay "four 
figures" for a specimen of this receiver.

It's a good article and most of the salient points have already been 
made on this threat.  I mention it because, in most hobbies, there's 
always an element of, for lack of a better term. "one-upsmanship".   I 
don't think that's a bad thing, after all for many hams it's what 
motivates us to build, to contest or DX, or in our little corner of the 
hobby, to seek out the rare and wonderful rigs of the past to own, 
restore, and use.   Once an article like this appears, where the title 
alone triggers that visceral reaction that collectors recognize all too 
well -  who wouldn't start keeping his eye open for one?

Good marketing and advertizing creates artificial demand all the time.  
I think O'Briens' article did that for the SX-88, and as the saying 
goes, "the rest is history".

73, Bob W9RAN