[Milsurplus] Question about GRC-109

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 7:01 AM, Mike Morrow <kk5f at earthlink.net> wrote:
> On ebay your set would likely pick up bids
> well above $300.  The R-1004A/GRC-109 is the hardest unit
> to find and sometimes can bring that much by itself, at least
> in pre-Obama-Depression days.

I submit that the RR-2* pre-109 CIA version is the hardest to locate.
Nowhere near as many of them made, and many were apparently destroyed.
Same radio, different nomenclature. Screw-on covers, other minor
differences.

Peter McCollum's site has some great info and early history:

http://www.militaryradio.com/spyradio/rs1.html

Great little radios for what they are. Seems like $250-$500 is a
typical range. I'd put your find at the upper end of that range Ron,
and probably higher since you have both supplies. But as Mike points
out, the dollar jus' ain't what it used to be. Neither is disposable
income. So $350-$450 is more likely.

One word of caution: be careful adjusting the volume. I use the Viet
Nam-era pin type headphones with mine (Trimm?), and they will blow
your ears out of your head if you bump the control or turn it too
fast. Earpieces against the temples might be a better approach until
you get a feel for it.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4