[MRCA] Frostfest AAR

[Ray Fantini]

Frostfest was another good turnout. Saw lots of stuff there although starting to see the new equipment dealers and bin sellers crowed out the people who are just selling their own stuff. Keep in mind that all tables were sold out at least a month in advance. The good thing is that now it appears that it's only Ham related material and not the people selling crap like holistic foods or socks.
I saw for sale at least three R-390A receivers including my own that did not sell for $450 but did see a table across from me sell there R-390A with cabinet for $475 being it was a genuine Collins R-390A along with a R-390A that was in poor condition up the isle from me that sold for $200. There was also a ratty looking R-390, non A along with a SP-600 that I saw but do not know what they were asking and if they sold or not. Other radios sited were things like a restored BC-342 that sold for $250 and a regular BC-342 for $100, a PRC-25 along with its vehicle adaptor for $400 and a Watkins Johnson 8716 that sold for around $500. I sold one of the PRD-11 Watkins Johnson receivers I had for $300 and some odds and ends and have to say that I have always done well selling at Frostfest.
There were other radios that were less noticeable like URR-35 receivers, SX-28 and at least one BC-348 but did not look at them. Noticeable in their absence were any of the ARC-5 Command sets or TCS sets, although there were lots of vintage parts from the ones that were gutted years ago. There were handsets, microphones and headsets for VRC/PRC radios at prices ranging from $10 to $30 and as always lots of NOS Tubes both military and commercial.
Aside from a H-161 headset the only other thing I bought there was a Motorola HT1000 handheld radio along with its convertacom , speaker and microphone with the idea of installing it in my truck for Ham opps, don't care how cheap or good the new Ham stuff is just can't accept the idea of running anything form a Ham radio manufacture so thought the old Motorola would be a good choice. All the Motorola stuff cost a total of $30 but now the new problem is that I have to find the Motorola RIB programing cable and get a copy of the Motorola RSS software.
The next sale will be at the NEM over near BWI outside Baltimore on the 24th and after that will be looking at shows like the MVPA up in Aberdeen and then Dayton.
Hope to have at least three or four R-390A receivers finished and ready to sell at Dayton this year and although did not sell one at Frostfest maybe I can do better there? Between what they are costing me to buy and the amount of time that's being spent disassembling, cleaning and verifying that everything on them is working I thought asking $450 was a good price for selling them but now starting to wonder if the day of the R-390A is done?

Ray F/KA3EKH
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