[Heathkit] HW-99: to keep or to sell?

[fritsche]

Well Ray, on 6-4 you posted this rig as not working.
I tried to help you fix it, IS IT WORKING now
and what did you find wrong, an enquiring mind
wants to know.........

73
Al
W5ADF

----- Original Message -----
From: <W5VPU@aol.com>
To: <heathkit@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 2:56 PM
Subject: [Heathkit] HW-99: to keep or to sell?


> Hello, guys.
>        I need some "consultation" from those of you who have been
collectors
> and keepers longer than I have. I am trying to decide if I want to keep or
> sell my HW-99. And this is not an impulsive thought to me. I've pondered
it
> for about two years, trying to decide what all I want in my station. (I am
> also dithering over another rig which is not a Heathkit, so some of your
> comments here will be helpful there.)
>        This is not, repeat, not, a backhanded "premarketing" come on. But
I
> do value the collective wisdom of a larger pool of experience.
>        I have a HW-99 novice transceiver I acquired 6 years ago at a
hamfest.
> Used it a couple of years to get myself back on the air (first licensed in
> 1953, then like others, away a spell), get my code up, make qso's etc.
Thus I
> have some six years of emotion tied up in it, even though not used that
long.
>        The HW-99 has been in the closet a spell, got it out, recapped the
PS,
> got the audio and everything else going very very well again and was quite
> pleased with the results. It acquired as well as inherited a few
scratches,
> so I've found some touchup paint that really matches and am sprucing up
the
> old girl. Read several lengthy entries and reviiews of its wonders online
>        Now, I find myself trying to decide if I want to keep it for
> nostalgia, an "antique" on the bookshelf, a rememberance. Or if I want to
> pass it on to the next ham or ham to be, have the sense that someone else
can
> get the good out of it for a while, and then I use the sale price to
offset
> some of what I've already spent getting some more modern equipment. (Now
have
> an almost new 100 watt and not-quite so new 50 watt mobile, all HF.)
>        How do you decide when to sell an item?
>        If I can't get much for it, I won't even consider it. But if in its
> scarcity it has a higher value, it seems worthwhile to turn the dollars
over
> and get the rig into use. For me, if something is not in use, it seems a
bit
> superfluous. And that is a conflict with me for I love to go through
museums
> of all sorts, even antique markets just to notice and admire the
yesterdays.
> I suppose that part of my thoughts include getting the rig to someone who
> would value it either for a "collection" to fill out, or for actual use on
a
> daily basis.
>        Is the HW-99 a real part of Heathkit's history in good measure? Or
> just one of those short-lived flukes(I understand it was manuractured as a
> kit only two years or so, and sold so high that it was never a moneymaker
and
> thus discontinued) Edsel's along the way of radioland?
>        I consider my age and what my family will do with my radios when I
no
> longer can make decisions for myself -- although in good health, who
knows?
> Would my wife get stolen from if I decide to keep it and then hope she
will
> gain from having had it a few years more? I see all sorts of rigs for sale
on
> eBay by persons who have no value and say, "This was used by my father who
> recently passed away. He used it only for listening for about two years
and
> has less then 10 hours transmission." For me that is a real downer. I'm
glad
> the guy had it to use and admire, but he waited too long to really get joy
> out of his amateur radio status!
>        These are the questions I am dealing with. If anyone has any offer
of
> thought, experience, feelings, values, I shall be most receptive to your
> comments.
> Thanks and 73
> Raymond         W5VPU
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