[Milsurplus] Strong Stomach Needed.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 1:09 PM, J. Forster<jfor at quik.com> wrote:

> I don't think showing a chopped up set aids in preservation.

Beyond blindly collecting things to preserve, the initial exposure and
interest must take place. It happens differently for all of us, though
many of the stories have similar threads. My professor (one of the
Navy's top techs in WWII I was told by others) who helped me hack up
the NOS BC-455B he traded to me had *zero* use for any of this stuff,
stating that it wasn't built to consumer standards or meant to be used
by the masses, hence the need for modifications. Actually seeing,
feeling, and hearing that little box work as well as it did afterward
served to light a slow-burning fuse of deepening interest.

I don't know anyone who collects, restores, 'preserves' antique cars
who isn't a car nut at heart. It's the same kind of gadget-attraction
that attracts many of us to this old gear. And I, too, hate to see any
previously-unmolested set get cut up today - but only because I was
lead to and came to become very interested in the many aspects beyond,
as well as in addition to, the gear itself.

Only Ralph sees and understands who has joined this list. There could
be any number of 'newbies' signed up who were invited by others or
somehow found the list on their own, through a similar interest. Maybe
the poster of the original video reads this list. We don't even know
how the guy came to the set. As Meir astutely observed: maybe it was
already a hacked up set destined for the trash bin. My only issue with
the disgust expressed is that it's an opportunity. Whether you see it
as an opportunity to possibly attract new talent and aid the interest
and preservation, or merely an opportunity to display a personal
opinion of superiority, disgust, etc depends on whether you're a cup
half full or half empty type I suppose.

The basic interest in military radio gear, like amateur radio, will
only atrophy and die if we allow it to. But in the end, it's up to us
to do something about it beyond commiserating.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4