[Milsurplus] Dayton, final thoughts

[Ray Fantini]

Now that I am back at work and can relax thought I would post a couple final thoughts on Dayton. First on the subject of getting too much of a good thing, the weather was great maybe too good? Being in the mid eighties every day and not a cloud in the sky the sun would beat down on you and after several hours of standing around in the sun in the eighty degree weather on an asphalt parking lot my brain got fried. I have been there when it was hotter but not cretin about when it's been brighter. Second, think Nick's pictures give a great example of the stuff that was there. One regret I have about this year is that I did not get around seeing him in person. I did stop by his van a couple times but he was out, maybe taking pictures? I have said it before and will say it again that if you can't find something to buy or sell at Dayton you're in the wrong hobby. The AN/URC-94 that I bought was nothing I planned for or thought of but seeing it there and the price it was for sale at just had to buy it. Some of my best purchases have been items like that. Third, this is the first year I have noticed a real drop off in the amount of ARC-5 equipment. Saw no more then maybe ten or twelve radios total with at least half being hacked. In years past there has always been more around. Perhaps the day of the WW2 radio is approaching its end? I did see at least six BC-348 receivers but maybe only one was unmodified, three ART-13 transmitters that were stock, several big National receivers and lots of parts like tubes and coils. There were some things that were available like the Navy MAK transceiver that appeared to be unused that had the shock mount and connector on it along with a set of crystals installed for $100.00 that I thought would have been a good deal. If anyone on here bought it they can let us know what they have planned for it.
Fourth, I have noticed the return of the test equipment dealers. For a couple years now the people who buy a truck load of government surplus have been missing from the hamvention but they are starting to show up again. The AN/URM-38 antenna tuner I was looking at was at one of those sellers. I mistakenly referred to it as a 351 tuner earlier but like I said my brain was fried. But fried or not know that was not worth $500 in that condition.

Ray F