[Milsurplus] Timonium hamfest

[Ray Fantini]

Anyone who knows me usually knows that I like to write up field reports
on ham fest and other events, so this brings me to the first event of
the season for me being the two day event at Timonium Maryland.
Let me start out by saying that I just was not feeling it this month so
I did not take out any radios and do any operating at the event, will
leave that up to Mr. Smith (K4CHE) and the like, and that I only
attended one day Saturday but with the experience of attending this fest
for over twenty years feel there is no advantage to attending on Sunday
now that it a two day event. Perhaps the biggest change this year is
they moved the tailgating section to a new parking lot to the side of
the building that sells all the new junk away from it former location in
the center lot between the three buildings, the 4 H building, Cow palace
and the big building that has the  above mentioned new equipment
dealers. To me it appears that the new tailgate area is smaller and
prone to less traffic flow but contrary to most years I sold almost
everything I brought so can not complain. Items seen for sale: PRC-174
with no battery box, low power output $375.00 I offered $250.00 but did
not get it, as far as I know it was for sale all day. Several R-390
receivers for stupid big money, who pays $1,500.00 for an R-390 at a
hamfest? Have noticed the people who hawk the vintage stuff are now
selling 390s so that is driving up the price but did not see any high
dollar 390s sell. Fair collection of ARC-5 stuff at reasonable price,
parts radios for $20 to $40 with complete sets in the $60 to $100 range,
dual receiver racks for $40 and assorted WW2 control heads (ART-13/ARC-3
and the like) for $20, also saw three GF series transmitters for $35.00
supposedly without tubes but otherwise complete. What I thought was a
good deal that Mr. Smith bought was a complete ARC-3 test set with
dynamotor, head, test set,  cables, crystals and adapters for $80.00 all
in a huge carry around metal box. Also saw a couple of the National
shipboard entertainment radios for $75.00 for both and several other
1950 era military receivers for $100 to $300 each in varying condition.
Their was a modern Racal crystal control backpack HF transceiver for $80
that did not sell, and what I though was a good deal someone bought a
complete RT-618 setup with separate amplifier, cables and shock mounts
that was bought for $300.00 Myself only bought a couple little things
for $5 each, a VRC mounting tray, a Harris Military computer and a old
GE base receiver for a donor power supply for a BC-348 that I have. In
addition to this their were the usual surplus dealers like Ontario
Surplus that are always their. Can’t wait for Dayton.
Ray Fantini KA3EKH