[Milsurplus] Using Old Radios

[Mike Morrow]

Ray wrote:

>Their are two types of Mil radio collectors, those who take
>them out and use them and those who sit their trophies up
>on the shelves and look at them, might just as well be stamp
>collectors.

You're right.  Most stamp collectors don't stick parts of their collection on envelopes to see how well they work at the post office!  Most currency collectors don't try out their Series 1862 green backs (still legal tender) down at the supermarket.  Antique gun collectors won't see the point of shooting an 1842 Model Springfield musket that has managed to survive for 160 years.  These collectors, by not actually making the items in their collections perform their original design functions, are preserving the historical and technical integrity of those items. 

Those of us who use our 60+ year old radio items will of necessity wind up destroying part of the item's originality and historical value.  Tubes fail, capacitors short, resistors burn, dynamotor bearings and brushes wear out, etc.  Replacing failed components with modern equivalents places the radio in modified and non-original condition.

It's your gear, and no one else has the right to even suggest how it should be used.  You just won't be able to honestly claim that it is in unmodified condition after repair with modern components has taken place.  

Personally, I have no interest in any item, no matter how rare, that does not have *all* original components within, unless repair has been made with components identical and contemporary to those replaced.

(Exceptions:  If anyone ever comes out with *exact* replacements for command set antenna inductance coil windows, and command set screws and washers, I'll be early in line to buy and install.)

73,
Mike / KK5F