[Milsurplus] Abuse of radio "relics"

[Ray Fantini]

I put forth my opinions in the form of postings to this reflector as my own opinions, not as guide lines, or recommendations for everyone but as my opinions. Please allow me to address the points of Mike’s response to my original posting.
Mr. Marrow’s first point:
I think the approach that one takes depends on one's outlook and purpose for acquiring this gear.
If the purpose is communicate or play ham radio, the cheapest ham rig made any time in the last 50 years will likely run circles around WWII stuff, generally by orders of magnitude overall.
My response:
Yes, my motivation is playing Ham radio. For over thirty years I have been playing Ham radio not as much for the desire to obtain certificates such as WAS or the like but as an exercise in learning new technologies and disciplines.
Mr. Marrow’s second point:
If the purpose is demonstrate and honor the technology and engineering used to produce the gear, with the military operators who used it, then I want the set operating in exactly the same configuration as the military operator used it, without any improvements of even easy fixed minor design flaws.  Otherwise, one looses what the military operator had to confront.
My response:
That’s a great point, and if that is your purpose that is a valid and good thing. Myself I have no history of active military service and approach this endeavor from a different direction. The challenge to me is working with the technology and not a museum grade presentation of how it was once used, but that’s just my approach.

My reasons for posting this was to try to define the limits and structure of this group for myself and anyone else who may be interested in this question, Is this a reflector concerned with all aspects of using military radio technology, including the context of Ham radio or is this a reflector primarily concerned with the preservation of second world war technology in a original state? Let me close by saying that I hope I have in no way offended anyone in this posting and have always had the greatest respect for all the members of this reflector.
Ray Fantini KA3EKH