[Milsurplus] ART-13 "Unbuilt Kit"

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Gang

I personally don't have the inclination to part out a perfectly good radio 
or even a not-perfect one for that matter.

However, cannibalizing and parting out mil radios is quite common and 
started way back at the mil depots.  Good parts, assemblies, modules etc. 
from otherwide non-working gear was harvested to get other radios going 
quickly.  Defective modules might be epaired later on or shipped back to the 
manufacturer under contract -- or tossed.  Later on -- more of the same at 
the surplus dealers.

We don't know that this ART-13 was complete or working before the seller 
disassembled it.  Doubtful.  He mentions that the meter/knob/control 
assembly is untested.  Often you may read something like "tested -taken from 
working radio" -- helps fetch higher prices.  Not here.

Actually, the seller is providing a service which supports maximum 
restoration.  The parts should find their way into several ART-13's and make 
them whole again.  Selling an incomplete or non-working radio helps only one 
buyer. It's the easier thing to do.

As to the economics of parting out?  Mileage can vary -- often favorable, 
but not always, and more work.  The starting bids were rather low --  
$9.99 -- no reserve.  Final prices will seek their own level, as is the way 
with auctions.  However, there is no assurance that the seller will realize 
more than if the whole radio was sold as a unit, in this particular case. 
Most of the lots have bids -- from different bidders.  So far, it looks like 
they will go to restore several different radios -- unless one bidder winds 
up glomming it all before the end.

BTW - Parting out this type of gear is in no way indicative of stolen goods. 
The serial numbers are usually on removable tags, which are often missing 
from when they were demilled or lost/swapped at the depots.  Printed S/N's 
on modules are easily removed.

I have no personal/monetary interest in this and I'm not an ART-13 owner.  I 
don't recall buying anything from this particular seller, but he does have 
excellent feedback.  But, don't take it from me.  Ask the guys who acquire a 
part they've been chasing down for a long time how they feel about it --  
probably grateful.

Just my 2 cents --  OK, a bit more than 2 cents. You have my permission to 
part out this post. You might get more for the individual paragraphs ;-)

Barry


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mel Vance" <icra at galaxynet.com>
To: <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>; "Discussion of AM Radio" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 10:22 PM
Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] ART-13 "Unbuilt Kit"


>> Lordy lordy, now I've seen everything!
>>
>
> See this kind of stuff on Ebay all the time....rip a perfectly good radio 
> apart and sell it off in
> pieces, thinking they will make more off it....Must admit, first time I 
> have seen some nut job
> pull it with a mil surplus rig..........
>
> Every time I see some boob pulling this kind of stunt, makes me wonder if 
> they are selling
> off a stolen radio.........
>
> Mel
> N7OKL
>
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