[Milsurplus] A question of Value

[James Duffer]

Well said Dave.

On Dec 20, 2010, at 7:47 AM, David Stinson wrote:

> Guess I'll throw in my 2-and-a-half cents...
> 
> The question of "value" is inextricably tied 
> to one's reasons and motives for doing this.
> "Value" as viewed by a marketer is very different
> from "value" as seen by an aficionado.
> 
> This is a complex issue with many considerations.
> One is admittedly and unashamedly about me.
> Yes, ego is involved.  But that doesn't have to be a bad thing.
> It can lead to achievement and even excellence, 
> as long as one is on guard against harming someone else with it.
> 
> I've never had an interest in doing what tens of thousands 
> have done before.  That's why I have -zero- interest in things 
> like DX contests, "Worked All (fill in the blank)" or any of that.
> Near forty years and I don't think I've "Worked All States" yet.
> If this is your interest, hey that's great.  
> That's yours and God bless you.
> But I know all that's needed to get DXCC or whatever 
> like a bizillion before is a fat credit card to buy the gear 
> and time; it's a certainty.  
> Woop-de-doo. That's no challenge.  Mega-Yawn.
> That's why I got so deep into 1750 meters (160-190 KC)
> back in the '80s and it's one reason I do this;
> Give me something few people have the talent 
> or just the ambition to do;
> Something people say you *can't* do.
> How many people in the whole, wide world have
> the talent, the stick-to-it or even the ambition to 
> get a Navy GP-7 running and making contacts in 
> something close to its original configuration?
> I bet you can count them on your fingers and 
> have enough left to hold your coffee cup.
> Give me that challenge and stand back.
> 
> Another issue is stewardship, which is 
> not as straight-forward as one might think.
> Respect for history and the people who made it 
> is a facet, preservation is another.
> What does it mean to be a "good steward" 
> of a piece of the heritage of mankind?  
> 
> I believe an important consideration 
> of good stewardship is working to improve
> the chance that a piece will survive us
> and thus, keep its story alive.
> Our radios aren't Rembrandts or pieces of
> the True Cross; we can't count on hundreds of
> people at our estate sale fighting over who's going 
> to be the next steward of your BC-348.
> We live in a "want it right NOW" world,
> and that isn't going to get better soon. 
> Your BC-348 will have to compete for preservation 
> in an ever-shrinking marketplace.
> 
> Given this, how can I enhance the chances 
> of the one for which I am responsible?
> IMHO, a radio that lights-up and sings garners 
> orders-of-magnitude more interest than any that sits
> on a shelf, cold and dead.  A radio with all it's bits and
> pieces together gathers yet more interest 
> than one naked of its accessories.  
> More interests equals greater chance of igniting 
> someone's latent passion and boom- 
> there's your next steward.
> 
> Given this, the question becomes one of
> setting limits and establishing lines one
> should not cross ("No drilling holes," etc.).
> This is tricky territory and we're not all going to agree.
> And ideas/rules evolve over time.  
> I don't do now what I did ten years ago.
> I've learned a few things from the experiances of others
> and from a maturing set of values.
> For instance: I typically leave original, bad components 
> and "tack in" a modern replacement to bypass them.
> If one's goal is maximum preservation consistant with 
> getting the radio to "sing," I think "restuffing" caps is 
> counter-productive.  How is removing the original, 
> correct contents of a bathtub oil cap and replacing it
> with a poly inside any different from just removing it
> and soldering-in the poly?  The cap you end with 
> is certainly not the "historic" cap.
> I often run rigs at a fraction of their B+ if possible,
> because many caps that leak at 250 volts perform
> just peachy at 45 volts.   This minimizes the work
> needed to get the radio to "sing" and is thus consistant
> with the preservation goals of good stewardship.
> 
> In short- "value" is a complex issue and each of us
> has to make his choices by his lights.
> Time and markets will decide the matter.
> 
> At this point, it's fair to ask:
> "Well, how many people care?"
> I only need one to care: Me.
> That others care adds richness and fellowship 
> and meaning and the joy that comes with sharing.
> But I care, and that's all I need.
> At the End of Days, the Almighty isn't going 
> to call witnesses about my motivations.
> It will be just Him and me, and no excuses allowed.
> 
> 73 OM DE Dave AB5S
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> Milsurplus mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milsurplus
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> 
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>