[Milsurplus] USCG CGR-5 on Ebay ?

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Thu, Dec 21, 2017 at 3:15 PM, Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
wrote:

> Pure speculation on my part but what the hell. I think that much of the
> prewar radios have been in almost a free fall in regards to value. At least
> what I have seen. Maybe it’s because that generation that has the greatest
> connection to that hardware is fast departing? Maybe because a lot of the
> estate sales of collections are hitting the market or whatever but from
> what I have seen on line, at auctions and at Ham Fest is all this wooden or
> tin can Atwater Kent type radios are not bring the money they brought ten
> years ago. Some sets will always have value like the bread board stuff but
> they are now selling for less than they were. Don’t think the value drops
> down to nothing but not the demand that there once was, but is that a bad
> thing? I would like to have a bread board set but can’t see laying down a
> thousand dollars for one. When they get to a couple hundred then maybe I
> can get one.
>

That's Big Piece #1, Ray: the group creating demand is shrinking and/or has
also acquired much of what they have been seeking. Upgrading to better
examples and filling in the holes remains to create future demand. I base
that on my own habits and interests, being one of the 'younger' guys at 56
and the fact that there's no giant dust cloud on the horizon from those
following behind us. Big Piece #2. The few truly interested youngsters will
have an incredible banquet of gear to select from in future years. And for
a lot less than we paid.


> Will imagine that maybe some will P/M about the decreasing value and all
> this history will end up in the trash but don’t see that happening. Today
> more than ever with estate sales companies and EBay tons of stuff now finds
> its way on line and is resold so if anything once everything reaches its
> end value it would still be worth it for the resellers to hawk this stuff
> on EBay.
>

True - a set that brought $500 a decade ago and maybe $200 today could
still bring $50 or more in coming years. Worthwhile when you're hauling it
away for free to resell. I suspect the market change has already virtually
wiped out the speculators of Collins and other gear who bought high in
expectation of selling higher.

The reality is, this old stuff has been getting put out at the curb for
decades and still is. Ebay slowed that but didn't stop it. Many of those
who suspect the pile of metal boxes grandpa collected in the garage maybe
aren't toaster ovens often value their time more than the what they *might*
get for the stuff.


> I am one of those stupid people that has always bought just because it’s
> something I wanted to play around with or use just to have the experience.
> I have never considered anything I have as an investment and have always
> lived the motto “Buy High and Sell Low”.
>

Same basic approach I've always used, Ray - it's a hobby because it's fun.
If it was about money I'd be playing the stock and currency markets. If
you're into it because you enjoy the knobs, lights, gears, sounds and
smells of using old radio gear, you'll never lose a penny. If you bought
based on some perceived future financial gain, chances are better than good
you'll end up disappointed. Back in the 2006-2007 time frame I started
warning folks of the downturn to come. For the most part, it fell on deaf
ears. The only thing I was wrong about was the 'when' - it got here faster
than I ever expected.

In recent years I've focused on locating the parts needed to complete
current projects like the RAX-1/ATC, ARC-5, ARA and RU/GF stations I
started years ago. Aside from that I've refocused on the pre-war, early
gear that was my first attraction to radio back in the 70s when radio
became more than just a bedside companion or what we listened to in the car
on Sunday afternoon rides. There's a 1923 Atwater Kent Radiodyne in the
other room that I've had since '82, awaiting an audio transformer repair so
it can once again sing for its supper. The old stuff, as crude and basic as
it is, brings back a lot of that early 'magic' for me.

~ Todd/KAQ
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