[Milsurplus] Unknown "DF" Mechanical Filter and digressions

[Hubert Miller]

> I'd bet coffee and donuts it's 455KC Upper Sideband, 2.3 KC bandwidth.
>TYPE D.F-455-U-2.3-H      ( may be DF or D.F. )
>P/N  7232-528-3

Yes, exactly. I of course knew about the "other" makers of the R-390A, but I am still surprised to learn that another builder even made their own mechanical filters.
I would think it would be smarter to source these from Collins - if Collins had the capacity - instead of building the whole thing from the ground up. I mean, this filter
is not a simple bend and shape metal job. 

At the Rickreall Oregon hamfest yesterday, I saw a couple fine condition R-390A for sale. One had, I think, $350 on it, and sold. I didn't follow the other. There was a
KWM-2 in a suitcase jdeal with a list of a lot of accessories. The sign said, "$750 or offer". It sold, but I don't know price. There was a good condition Halli SX-101 marked
$215 and it sold. A TMC GPR-90 with MSR-2 sideband unit beside it for $650, no sale. For my taste, with the MSR-2, just too huge a desk footprint. An RME-45, good, 
marked something like $275, no sale. ( Surprise ? )  A quite used looking, but apparently unhacked, TCS pair for $100. I think it sold, maybe not. I saw a good looking 
Hammarlund SP-200 series Super Pro, with PS. The PS had a burned out resistor in it and the receiver meter was dead. Otherwise, looked great. Marked $45 and I was 
very tempted, but I had to realize I have enough large receivers already that I am not getting to. It sold for $35 to Tommy, a 20s-something young recent recruit. The 
kind of recruit we need, a sharp fellow. Tommy also showed us 3 volumes of Navy electronics texts he had bought, great stuff, we all admired his find. It's a real good
indication of a person's character when they value something like mil radio manuals. 

My table partner Brad Whiting and I were discussing prices. We conclude we're at an "inflection point" were prices are going to inexorably go down from about here on
out. What brought about this discussion was he said that 'Command Set' prices were trending down now. I would say, interestingly enough, the "second nadir", with 
maybe the first being around the 1980s. Unfortunately it seems, there aren't enough new recruits willing to take up arms. Well, I think at least for quality items, as seen
with some mentioned above, there will continue to be a strong market. Attendance at this hamfest looked to be about 85-90% of "normal", sellers and tables.  I wish I 
could give you better numbers but I can't find the emails from the organization right now. I think I recall "normal" figures were attendance around 1000 ?  I don't know if
that is weather related or what. My drive over the coastal range both ways that day was in the dark, with lashing rain, drifting curtains of fog, at times hard to see the fog
line, headlight glare, and people who you cannot drive fast enough for; not a great deal of fun. I took a clue from the Battle of Britain pilots and am taking lutein and bilberry 
now regularly, and it does help, but it's not the magic bullet. I also found, for myself, when under those conditions, it helps if I have the dash lights turned up max, so there's 
less contrast between full oncoming headlights glare and no oncoming cars. That way the older person's eyes light level recovery time doesn't have to deal with such a great
difference in light levels. Still, it's no fun when it feels like you're driving thru a carwash at highway speeds.  So anyway with my back aching today from moving heavy stuff, 
today is a low productivity recovery day. 

I sold my own RAL-7, front panel good, but cabinet much scratched, for yes, $25. And yes, I am relieved to be done with it. Size is a big discouragement, gentlemen. I have
seen this with RBC for example; at hamfests; it's just too huge for most people to even  contemplate owning. The big sets do crowd out room for smaller toys.

Some of the hamfest sellers need a reality check. That Harvey Wells TBS-50  transmitter for $75, with no cabinet ?  Or that tired looking EICO transmitter ? Better be 
prepared to practically give it away to one of the very few people who would take it, or lug it futilely back and forth until your clock runs out. 
-Hue Miller