[Milsurplus] New High Price for GRR-5 RX

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 7/9/05, Tom Norris <r390a at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> In the subject the seller says it's new. In the description
> he says "like new".  I wonder what the reserve is?

Does indeed look nice and/or un-issued. Only the power supply has a tag? Weird.

> Previously the highest insane price was over $250 or so
> IIRC.

Not sure that I'd call $250 'insane' unless it was one of those
beat-to-hell, "painted with a brush"-looking ones that surfaced a
while back. They were just hideous. You don't get much radio for $250
anymore, especially a piece of history. These things, like ARC-5 gear
and Command sets used to be a dime a dozen not so long ago. Times
change, and the cleanest examples will end up costing you more.

I picked mine up not quite 2 years ago for $150 in similar condition
to this one. The three major components (rcvr,ps,case/mount) are all
Zenith made with matching numbers. The little spares case is (IIRC)
Emerson. Also got 4 or 5 sections of the whip antenna and manual.
Funny part is that the guy listed it on ebay for $200 opening bid and
got no bites. I was out in Washington state at the time and emailed
him. Turned out he was one state away back home, in NH. We cut a deal
and I picked it up after returning from the left coast.

Original plan was to use it as a garage radio, an idea I got from
seeing W1RC's set up in his garage. But it ended up being so clean and
so fun to play with, I sold the Drake R4 and set the GRR-5 next to the
bed. Of course, the antenna was too tall for the bedroom, but 30
seconds or so with a 1/4" drill fixed that. It now passes through the
ceiling into the attic space.  If I could just find the canvas cover
and spares bag, I'd be in AN/GRR-5 heaven. Doesn't stop me from
enjoying it now, though. Great little radio for what it is.

Thanks for posting it, Tom - 

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ