[Milsurplus] Surplus Perversion Manuals

[Michael Tauson]

On 9/23/06, Hue Miller <kargo_cult at msn.com> wrote:

> "Command Receivers User's Manual" by Tauson, sold thru FAIR RADIO.
> Isn't he on board here also - Yo, Michael!

Hi, Hue.  Yep, that's the book I'm working on replacing, actually.
Updated, expanded, corrected, profusely illustrated, and complete with
warnings of dire consequences should one even consider the possibility
of thinking of even scratching an unconverted set, let alone a virgin
one.

I have the Index to Surplus, by the way ... part of my reference suite. <G>

> Then, there's the early 1960s "Columbia Electronics" catalog. That profusely
> illustrated big catalog - and not just minscule dark photos, like FAIR's - will
> really make the Surplus Hound drool. Like a Horn of Plenty in the golden land of
> plenty ( California. ) Limitless stacks of lightly used, fine surplus equipment.
> Oh, Lordy.

Oh, yes.  Oh, my goodness, yes.  I stopped at Columbia when I was in
the Navy (mid-60s) and the store was even more fantastic.  A sailor's
pay didn't buy much then but they didn't mind me drooling so long as I
didn't make a mess of the toys.

> Also, i'm thinking i have a "Department of Commerce" or some such gov't
> agency "Surplus Equipment Manual" that has some how-to-use articles.
> Strange, but they maybe thought they'd have trouble unloading the tons
> of this stuff they had.

They underestimated hams ... but moreso, they underestimated American ingenuity.

> Oh, and while i'm digressing, how about a gov't catalog of surplus ships for sale?
> How'd you like a Liberty Ship for the price of an average small house?  Oh boy!

Quite a few of them continued in civilian service along with the T-2
tankers (once they all got their keels re-inforced since they tended
to buckle after a while) until the newer breed ships came along.  I
wouldn't doubt that if one looked around the seedier parts of a port,
you'd find one or two rusting along side an unused pier somewhere.

Best regards,

Michael, K3MXO/KH6