[Milsurplus] A Visist to fair Radio PRC-47's and others

Sat Oct 1 12:54:43 EDT 2022

Hi

Based on a little math: 

Phill was born around 1945. Fair started in 1947. One would *guess* that 
either he’s been running it since he was 2 years old or that there has already
been at least one successful “hand off” of the business. I’d bet there have
been two, but maybe not. 

Will there be another? As many have mentioned, the odds over the years seem
to be stacked against that …. We can only hope they will beat those odds. 

A lot of this comes down to a combination of planning, there being somebody
somewhere with an interest, and enough cash being here or there. Nobody 
seems to get rich on this sort of gear. There’s a lot of capital tied up for a long
time sitting in those piles of stuff ….. I suspect that last part does not come as 
even a tiny surprise to anybody on this list…… 

Bob

> On Oct 1, 2022, at 11:55 AM, Jim Whartenby via Milsurplus <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net> wrote:
> 
> After a little internet research, it appears that you are both the same age.
> Jim
> 
> Logic: Method used to arrive at the wrong conclusion, with confidence.  Murphy
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Feher <n4fs at eozinc.com>
> To: 'Jeff Kruth' <kmec at aol.com>; milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Sat, Oct 1, 2022 10:11 am
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] A Visist to fair Radio PRC-47's and others
> 
> Hi Jeff –
>  
> I have not been to Fair since they re-located. I always thought that Phil was considerably older than me, and I am 77. 73 – Mike
>  
> Mike B. Feher, N4FS
> 89 Arnold Blvd.
> Howell NJ 07731
> 848-245-9115
>  
> From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net <milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Jeff Kruth via Milsurplus
> Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2022 9:47 AM
> To: milsurplus at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Milsurplus] A Visist to fair Radio PRC-47's and others
>  
> Yesterday, Sept 30, I had occasion to visit my friend Phil Selati at Fair Radio. I took him a pile of receivers that I no longer have room for. I looked in all the nooks and crannies of the place and came away amazed at the sheer volume and variety of stuff, as I always do. I noted in particular a skid and a half of PRC-47 transceivers, as they have been mentioned on the various reflectors. Many look very good, complete units, and of course there were some parts units as well. My main reason for this note is a conversation I had with Phil. He commented that his wife would like him to retire. I understand that. Like me, Phil is no "Spring Chicken". He looks good and still works his butt off, but everyone is finite. However, the day is coming when Fair may not be there. I do not know who would buy the business to continue it, it takes a lifetime of specialized knowledge just to know what all the pieces are. Phil shows no inclination in stopping, but from my experience with MANY surplus houses over the years, the end is often abrupt and final. When I lived in Baltrimore, I knew several places, that when the owner called it quits, the metal reclaimers were called and everything goes to the shredder. Now, I am not saying this will happen at Fair, but based on my experience, it could.
> So all you old retired guys who have time and like to play with stuff should think of making a road trip to Lima Ohio. Take the wife, put her up in a nice hotel, buy her some great dinners, and you go shopping. I think that Phil would negotiate on small piles of stuff better in person than on the phone and a great deal of the stuff is never put in the catalog. There is an amazing amount of everything: He evidently has become the repository for estate sales, in my estimation. He has a large pile of ARC-5 stuff that he did not have when I was there a few years back, for example. Came from somewhere.... Certainly not Uncle Sam these days.
> If you have never seen the place, you should! It is truly memorable and may very well be the last of its kind. If anyone knows of anyplace remotely like it, please tell me. He has an old lumberyard stuffed to the gills with trinkets.
> I wish I had know Radio Research in Conn. was going to the scrappers, I would have loved to have seen the place in person. Its a perfect example of what happens when the prime mover decides (or faces a fait accompli) to call quits.
> Regards,
> Jeff Kruth
> WA3ZKR
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