[Milsurplus] Selling an R-390A

[David Stinson]

Respectfully IMHO:

On 1/22/2021 11:13 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:
 > Today's radio technology is so advanced
 > and so inexpensive...

Good morning, Mike.
"Inexpensive" is a relative term.
Besides love of the history and romance
of reviving and using our gear,
one of the reasons I got into milradio at
a young age was that I could find it at
a small price.  It's still economical
personal satisfaction at a reasonable
cost, in many cases.

Even today, I have serious ethics
problems with paying $7000+ for what
amounts to a computer with an antenna.
Through its "features," it removes
every challenge to operating.
Might as well put "fill-in-the-blanks
DXCC and WAS certificates
in the packing material.  I saw
a dear friend's FT-8 station, which
can eventually get (I won't say
"earn") DXCC without him even
being in the room.  Each to their
own, of course.  "Abomination" is
too-strong a word, but it's
"not my cup of tea."

 > I believe that it is unrealistic
 >to expect high prices for
 >anything in military surplus today.

Agreed.  We are a vanishing demographic,
which means a quickly-shrinking market.
Our equipment is showing-up at estate
sales and on Ebay in large supply,
for the same reasons.   Our love for
our treasures does not exempt us from
the universal Laws of Supply and Demand.

While the gear in many cases does come
to market, more and more boxes of
irreplaceable restoration parts are
going to the dump every day.
Grampa kept fooling himself
about "gonna get around to it" until the
Grim Reaper got around to him.  With
no instructions and usually, no interest
or consideration by the kids,
the boxes go straight to the landfill.
This makes "restoring" sets
ever more difficult.

Moreover, the history of collapsing
collectables markets indicates that
"premium," unmolested examples retain
some demand (not peak demand) and
"projects-hacked" etc. are abandoned.
I will no longer take on "basket cases"
and/or major rebuilds unless they
are authentically "Rare," which I
define as less than 10-12 examples
known to be available to collectors.
I don't have enough sand left in my
hour glass for that.  To expend so
much money and time on something which
will have little or no market value,
when there are unmolested, easily-
revived examples coming to market
with every estate sale,
is an irresponsible use
of my family's assets.  It's also
a killer of the most valuable
and irreplaceable asset any of us
has: Our TIME.

 > My only hope for what I have
 > collected since 1965 is that much
 > of it gets saved from the land fill.

I'm certain you will have done more
than most of us to insure a better result.
If some instruction and provision
has been made, much will likely
be saved.  For the "get around to it"
grandpas, not so much.

Our passion is no different than that
of any other throughout time; it
has its day, then fades as those who
love it fade.  But take heart:
For those of faith,
nothing is ever forgotten.
For those without faith,
all starts and ends
in futile, pointless oblivion.
Our choice.

Enjoy your hobby for your own sake.
Don't waste your precious, precious
time "spinning your wheels;" there
are other sets that are worth
your time.
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,"
because "all good things..."

David S.




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