[Milsurplus] Dayton day one

[Ray Fantini]

Today started misty and overcast, about fifty degrees. We got to the
Hamfest site around seven. This may appear to be a little late but they
do not open the gates for the public until nine or so. It pays to have
vendor tickets. I will list items and prices as I came across them and
try to keep commentary to a minimum but the reader muse beware,
commentary is the main reason I write this stuff.
First things almost right next door, clean BC-348 with internal AC
supply $100.00, couple ARC radios $15 each and a KY-127 code trainer $25
Dose anyone collect these things? Never saw one sell. Saw a BC-186 and
BC-187 receiver and transmitter for $350, no transit case, just the
radios. Same person had a couple NC-44 receivers for $75 for both and a
WLR-6 submarine receiver for $550. Big money R-390A receiver, all
restored for $1,100 along with TMC SSB adapter for $800, saw another TMC
SSB adapter that sold for $225 in the morning back out on another table
for $700 that afternoon, have any of the people paying big money for
these things ever used one? You can dump over $1,500 into a 390 and SSB
adapter and have a fair quality SSB receiver, what am I missing here?
Other R-390 receivers were selling for $700, saw at least two along with
couple 390A for $600 R-388 were around, saw at leas one person selling
three for $325 each one other for $350. Several SP-600 came out with
prices ranging from $450 to $600; the one for $600 had buffed shiny blue
knobs. And last but not least on the big Collins receivers their was a
very clean 51J4 with case for $1,900 couple dealers had GRC-106 sets for
around $875 complete, ARC-51 transceivers with head for $200, PRC-47
transceivers for $100 and VRC-12 transceivers for $400. This same guy
had a GRC-9 for only $75; I thought that was a good price for that. I
saw a couple other GRC-9 for $200 each. Just in case anyone is
interested, KWM2-A transceivers are selling for around $900, saw one for
that with power supply, and transit case and crystal pack. WB9NTZ, who
has been selling off his collection for a couple years now had a ASB-6
Transmitter and receiver for $40, RT-67 and 68 for $80, PP-112 for $25
and a R-108 for $50 along with a lot of assorted items like a parts
BC-348 for $35 and a complete MAY-1 UHF set with radio, coil case,
antenna and other accessory’s for $125 last year he sold the complete
GRR-5 with all the stuff like antenna and carrying case for $200, wonder
what it will be like for us when we come to that point? Other stuff, saw
ME-9U millimeters for $5 to $20, A Harris 1446 ( rf-80?) for $1,200,
ratty ARC-5 transmitter for $25, ARR-15 receiver for $300, ARC-2
transceiver for $300, VHF ARC- 5 RX/TX for $100, ARC-3 receiver for $50
and a Harris RF-590 receiver for $1,750 next to a $150 BC-348.
T-195/R-392 pair with rack for $600, I also saw a T-195 transmitter in
its original shipping box this morning but don’t know the details.
Theirs a CU-145 antenna tuner for $150, have to wonder what that went
with. Big aircraft unit looks like high power. Another Harris RF-590 for
$1,000 and an ART-13 for $250, triple rack of ARC-5 receivers for $300
for sale by someone who picked up a BC-1000 with battery case, vibrator
pack, antennas and headsets all looking NOS for $150! Speaking of NOS
saw two PRC-10 radios with all the stuff for them for $500, ratty BC-312
for $40, ugly TV-7 for $350allong with an ARC-5 TX for $25, couple RBC
receivers for $75 and $85 each with power supplies and an ARR-41
receiver missing its handles for $400. This is not everything but some
of what I saw their. I also picked up the very strange primitive Collins
antenna tuner for the 18S4 transceiver for $40 that will go to Mr. Smith
and was tempted to buy one of three HP-608 signal generators, they are
selling for $25 each, remember when they were selling for $300 and $400
? also have to give honorable mention to AB8OP and his GRC-46 set, The
M-38, T-195/R-392 and other radios are all very impressive and have been
a regular fixture at the Hamvention for at leastweather by the end of the day improved considerably, clear, no rain and
bright sunshine with temperature in the high seventies. Probably be a
monsoon tomorrow.
Will be posting pictures soon and have more tomorrow.
Ray Fantini KA3EKH