[Milsurplus] Strong Stomach Needed

[boeing377 at aol.com]

I too would prefer a pristine stock ARB restoration, but I didn't find this alternative approach particularly offensive. I'll be 60 next year. This guy sounds a lot younger. When?most of us old guys?were young, we chopped up surplus stuff to make it work. His "carnage" is probably a lot less gruesome than things we did to NOS Command Sets. I plead guilty to worse crimes than his.

My point is this: ANY interest by the next generation in restoring and operating mil surplus radio gear is good. We can guide and suggest but let's not attack. If we alienate the younger generation by blasting their work, who could blame them for ignoring us when we have good advice to offer?

The surplus stuff amazingly continues to show up. At our local ham swap last weekend there was an OPERATIONAL PRD 1 HF DF set complete (with top mounted diamond shaped loop and ACPS) that went for $300 in really great cosmetic shape. It was playing on batteries. I also saw a dirty but unused RU rcvr with one coil set for $20 that went unbought for hours. A working PRC 74B went for $250. I'd have probably bought it all but I have a self imposed moratorium until I shed some excess gear. That PRD 1 tested my resolution mightily.

73,
Mark
AF6IM