[Milsurplus] How I Use an LM

[MillerKE6F at aol.com]

It would appear that this on going argument or rift between the folks who  
only see military surplus through a sort of "Keep It Original" myopia and 
the  folks who see military surplus as a functional materiel and material 
resource  these many years since WWII will never end or see any closure.  But I, 
like  a number of other folks on the milsurplus list do enjoy chatting 
about the  plowshares side of the topic.  It would be nice if those who liked to 
adapt  this junk to good amateur radio use could discuss that topic without 
the rancor  of a few pouncing on the discussion ranting about the "Hacking" 
of the  equipment.  In fact I can't think of a more noble end to this  
materiel.  Most military materiel is not suited to any form of civilian use  
unless it's shredded or melted down into fundamental materials.  A limited  
number of wheeled vehicles, some rifles,  and a LOT of radio and  electronics 
made their way into the marketplace after WWII.  Tanks, ships,  howitzers, 
machine guns, cannons, grenade launchers, while having significant  histories 
from a combat perspective, did not have the same impact on the  civilian 
population as did military surplus electronics in general.  
 
    Let's face it.  There was so much over  production of communications 
electronics towards the end of WWII that we will  never fully know or 
appreciate the magnitude of that adventure.  And with  folks like myself hoarding a 
lot of the junk for reasons I can't fathom myself,  there is a good chance 
that it will continue to enthrall hams and other folks  who admire the units 
both for what they were and what they became thanks mostly  to the hams who 
bought, converted or adapted , and used them in their pursuit of  the art of 
ham radio.  
 
    And to that end I'd like to see more discussions  about how we hams 
made use of this equipment, how they converted it, how they  adapted it, how 
they used it, where they got their inspiration from and the  periodicals of 
the day that gave them guidance whether it was well informed or a  stab in the 
dark.   I see no need to create  yet another sub  group that addresses the 
"Adapt and Use It" side of the interest group.  If  the few folks who find 
this use of the military surplus list distasteful,  perhaps they should form 
a subgroup for their views.
 
    Cheers
 
    Bob, KE6F