Speculation that a lot of Hams back in the day wanted to make it look less military, that explains some of the bad paint jobs and other Hacks people did. Would propose at least ten to one hundred times more stuff was released thru regular government surplus channels then thru MARS Between the massive amounts that was produced in WW2 and after was disposed of before the government became obsessed with destroying everything that can remotely be considered to be used against it lots of surplus was around.

Ray F/KA3EKH