[Milsurplus] Dayton Findings, Ebay Pricings

[Mike Morrow]

>> "It's just a thing. You need liquid assets- not an albatross on a shelf
>> costing you money."

The substantial inventory I have acquired since 1967 costs me nothing after
acquisition except the cost of storage.  That's so small, in proper perspective,
that it would be nonsense to worry about it.

> I have a few nice things out where I can see them.  The truckloads collected 
> during the 80's is my investment, currently some 20-75 times what I paid 
> when sold.

You might want to test those waters, if you are *counting* on such returns.

I have assessed every bit of my radio gear, common or rare, as having a total
cash value of $0.00.  When I buy something, I assess its "investment" value
as $0.00.  I have absolutely no need for nor dependence on getting a dime from
what I own.  Collecting this old oddball stuff is pretty much outside the
norm, and typically such "investments" will disappoint fiscally in the long
run.  I can't begin to imagine our oddball stuff as any sort of fiscal investment.
There's no practical use to any of it, with respect to its original design
function.  Solid-state ham gear has long been available at near give-away prices,
compared to what was available 50 years ago, with orders of magnitude better
performance.  I do get great joy from owning the gear, and studying its
non-ham history, and examining its construction, of which nothing has been
altered since it was made.  But to me it's all worth nothing financially.

I have other collections of a more traditional nature that are each worth far
more than even the most optimistic assessment for my radio collection.  Each
is very readily negotiable, and all of them together occupy a very small space.
Even those I expect only my estate to realize a return.  I have never collected 
**anything** for investment purposes, not even the "normal" stuff.  I collect
only because the item is interesting to me.

Mike / KK5F