[Milsurplus] Rebecca - Eureka list ??

[J. Forster]

aGEnuine Ham wrote:

> John:
>
> I was hoping someone else would make the following point:  You want to
> establish a new list for a specific set of hardware which you perceive as
> being discussed too little on the various lists you addressed.  But, what
> is the reason this is true?  Are there knowledgable people out here who
> are reluctant to discuss this equipment on the present lists?

No. It's more like the people who are interested in the hardware are not
particularly interested in communication gear, and don't really feel like
winnowing through those posts for an occasional kernel. Not everyone who is
interested in electronics has a ham focus. Those who are often have to feed on
leftover crumbs.

> It is certainly more appropriate than a lot of the smoke and flames on here
> now.    Do they not comment on this subject on the present lists for some
> reason?  If so, do we know the reason?  I submit it is more likely there
> are too few people with useful knowledge of this subject.

The few knowledgeable people may be disinclined to follow this and other lists,
since the relevant content is minimal.

> So, where are the people who are knowledgable, and will appear to populate
> your list?

I've had twenty or so expressions of interest and encouragement so far. IMO,
that not a bad start. My aims are very modest and in no way meant to supplant
other lists.

> I am afraid that your approach to solving the problem overlooks the
> obvious, and that is if there were collectors/historians out here who
> know something about this equipment, they would answer a query on one or
> several of the present lists.  But, apparently, they are few and far
> between, and likely will be difficult to find when you want to invite
> them to join your new list.  In my long experience, just establishing a
> forum does not automatically establish a pool of users, unless they
> already know each other.

Attracting users unfamiliar with the gear is not a primary focus. The equipment
is already very limited in supply and very expensive. A nice, complete Eureka is
currently worth more than virtually any other piece of ex-military gear,
vehicles and possibly scarce guns excluded.  Certainly, I've never seen an ARC-5
or ART-13 bring over $2500.

> "Build it and they will come" may work for
> cornfield baseball, but it has always been a hard sell in radio.

In that case there will be no traffic and the corn will grow tall.  I am
co-moderator of another list which Keith Watt started, and it has grown to 160+
members in 9 months with traffic far exceeding the original list for that
system. People are contributing manuals and other info to the accompanying site,
and it has become a valuable resource, IMO. Want a free, hi-res scan of a
complete, original T.11554 / R.1155 manual for free? Some certainly do. I hope
the same can someday be said for some of the other forgotten systems.

-John

>
>
> 73,
> George
> W5VPQ
>
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