[Milsurplus] [ARC5] Approximate Valuation of some ARC-5 Sets

[David Stinson]

John:
I've given this a little thought, trying to make a "best guess."
Two factors:  

First: The price peak in common collectable milradios 
is long, long past. You can still get a premium for 
excellent to NOS condition, but not a huge one.  
German or Japanese are still peaking, but on the way down.
Those guys that have been hoarding mil-radios in their barns
to retire on are going to be bitterly disappointed.
They should take what they can get now.  
If they still want them, they'll be able to buy them back
for far less buying power after our hyper-inflation peaks
sometime in the next 3-5 years.

Second:  These aren't being sold into the huge Ebay market, 
so do not command the bigger prices you get at Ebay.
Any direct-sale market is very small, and thus does not have
anything near Ebay's pricing power.  Most hams would not
buy these at any price, and the mil-vehicle community has 
absorbed about all it can by now.   There are only so 
many museums, and even they are turning stuff away.

Were I in this small market and had the money,
I'd be willing to pay up to:

>>> T-19  $35 (common transmitter prices are most depressed)
>>> R-23  $30 (very common radio)
>>> R-24  $50
>>> R-27  $40
>>> BC-496A $25
>>> BC-473  $25

Not as much as some say, but that's my best guess, 
given a direct-buy situation.
As I say- were I in the market and at a hamfest,  and had some
extra money (ha ha....), I would pay these prices and walk 
away from higher.   Well.... I might reconsider the control boxes,
because they're hard to find.  A BC-450 I wouldn't buy 
for $10, unless it was a NOS A.R.C. 1470-NY-41.
Fair has a stack of them they can't sell.
Hope this is some help.
73 Dave S.