[Milsurplus] Aberdeen Military Vehicle Show and Swap

[Ray Fantini]

I went to Aberdeen today and took no radios or camouflage and almost no one recognized me. Normally dragging around a RT-1439 or at least a PRC-68 and Camo hat or jacket but was disguised as a civilian today, no camo no radio. Aberdeen is a three day affair starting Thursday and ending tomorrow (Saturday). There are three or four dealers who hit all the Hamfest and shows like Aberdeen and Gilbert and as usual their stuff was excellent, all the things any collector would want at the kind of price only serious collectors are willing to pay. So wont talk about them, instead this is what was in the regular peoples space. VRC-12 family of radios were priced between $100 to $400 with the accessories for that family of radios being common as dirt, think you can buy mounts for the transceiver or the companion receiver for $5 to $20 all day long and still not make a dent in the supply. Saw about a half dozen GRC-106 sets from $400 and up, would think for $400 to $500 can walk out with radio, mount and cables. The HF antenna mounts were $30 to $75 without antenna. TA-43 and 312 telephones were in the $20 to $30 range and only saw one EE-8. Myself almost bought some old mechanical gun control system, lots of knobs, mechanical counters and “safe and fire” switches could have been endless amounts of fun for $30 but better sense prevailed, but not for long because ended up paying $300 for a R-1051G  but always wanted one of them so now I have it. The same person had an R-1051H but decided to buy the G being I have a source for spare parts. Not much in the way of ARC-5 stuff although did see at least three boxes full of the later ARC gray stuff along a new looking GF-11 series transmitter but it looked so good was afraid to ask what it cost. Their were PRC-25 and 77 their but once again did not ask. Will be taking note pad so can provide more detail on price and model at Dayton next week. Thought it was interesting that I saw two of the dual vehicle mounts for the PRC-119, one was the radio and the mount for $1,200.00 and on the very next table the same mount, less the radio for $100.00 hope the radio not worth that much!
Ray Fantini KA3EKH