[Milsurplus] Strong Stomach Needed.

[Michael Tauson]

On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 3:13 PM, J. Forster<jfor at quik.com> wrote:
> It is his stuff. I believe in property rights strongly. But if I saw
> someone beating the crap out of a puppy, am I not allowed to voice the
> opinion thaqt doing so is wrong?

Huh?  When did this become something about a living breathing
creature?  Can we say "apples & peanuts"?

> Frankly, neither do I, because knowing you don't place a premium on
> condition, means less competion for those who do.

Let's put this on a more level playing field, automobiles.  A
gentleman I knew back on the mainland restores classic cars and has
won quite a few awards for his work.  Some of the parts are replicas
because the originals (especially rubber & plastic pieces) simply are
not available.  According to your rules, the cars weren't untouched so
he had no concept of quality.  Instead, they are beneath contempt as
having been fully restored to operating condition and as close to
original as possible.

Do I put a premium on condition?  Yes, but I'm also not as wealthy as
you apparently are nor do I have the opportunity to go to hamfests et
al like are held on the mainland so have to depend on other sources.
So, instead of insisting on perfection, I go for something less
perfect and restore what I can just like the gentleman who restored
the antique cars.  There is no difference.

As far as the equipment you've fired up with all the original bits,
good for you.  So have I.  But not all the sets were that fortunate
and I had to restuff the potted caps and do other maintenance.  Some
were pre-converted and I put them back to as close to as-built
condition as possible.  I guess that means I don't value quality too
but I have a sense of accomplishment in exchange.

Oh, and your "record setting" QSO?  So what?  I've got one publication
(that I can talk about and that anyone here will ever see) that went
international and a second in the works that will hopefully meet the
same market.  So what?  Starting in the early 60s, I used to teach (as
opposed to merely lecture or give talks) about boatanchors in general
and surplus specifically.  (Yeah, I know - boatanchors were the rule
then but not everyone was born with unlimited knowledge as some here
apparently were, plus surplus wasn't all that well known.)  So what?
Others here have "brags".  So what?

All of us are supposed to be here for the purpose of helping each
other because we enjoy different aspects of the hobby rather than
condemning those who don't live up to some narrow set of standards.
By and large, the folks here are wonderful because they are flexible
and understand each other's POV - or at least accept that there is
more than one approach and don't condemn others for not sharing their
own.

The recent discussion regarding semiconductor Type K VFOs is a good
example.  Purists probably had heart attacks - or I hope they did.
Anyway, I have a BC-696 I picked up for parts that has a mostly intact
VFO that will make a nice bed for a new multiband rig using that
semiconductor conversion.  I don't feel bad about doing so simply
because it is a seriously unvirgin and it would take too much to put
it back in original condition.  The only other choice is to strip it
for the remaining parts and I'd really rather not do that.

But getting back to the point, if I had a choice all the equipment I
have or will have on site would be absolutely immaculate with all the
components in perfect operating condition.  I don't have that choice.
If the purists can't accept that, it's on them, not me.  It's not any
of us imperfect fools who can settle for less that prefect.

Michael, WH7HG
-- 
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com
Hiki Nô!