[MRCA] WW2 Radio Prices

Sun May 24 09:47:51 EDT 2020

The military vehicle people I’ve dealt with have been somewhat shocked and angry at how much  more they actually had to pay when they decided to try to get their rigs working, and how hard it was to even find somebody to work on their rig at all after they were told by the seller they dealt with that their radio was ready for installation.   That extra $500 to $1400 really stings. With me, the radio is demonstrated to them when they buy it - if it doesn’t work then, I don’t sell it until it’s fixed.  I also supply the name, address, email address and phone number of the shop that did the work so that should there be problems further on down the line, the buyer has a repair contact. Yeah, the radios I sell cost a little more - because they’re worth it. 

Mark D. 
WW2 RDO

“In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 24, 2020, at 8:48 AM, Stephen Finelli <navrad at ptd.net> wrote:
> 
> Mark,
> You are so much more knowledgeable than I am it's really unbeleavable that I am even allowed to be a collector. I stand by what I said about marketing prices.
> The real answer is what someone is willing to pay.
> Most, by a long shot of military vehicle owners looking to add a radio to their vehicle do not care one bit if it works or not. They only care about how nice it looks.
> I prefer to move items at a reasonable price in order to move inventory rather than hold onto and move them from show to show.
> You advertised these radios a while ago at those prices and evidently didn't sell them. Then months later you send the post I replied to about the prices going nowhere, take the hint. You're overpriced.
> Not surprised on how you responded to my initial response.
> I stated all I need to say on this.
> Have a great day.
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: "Captain D." <mkdorney at aol.com>
> Date: 5/23/20 11:51 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: navrad at ptd.net
> Cc: mrca at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [MRCA] WW2 Radio Prices
> 
> Trans and receiver in NOS original condition almost guarantees that the caps, at a minimum will need immediate or near immediate replacement after 75 plus years in storage..  NOS still in the box PE-103 means at a minimum that the rotator will require lubrication because the 75 year old lubricant that was applied when the dynamotor was built has dried out and needs replenishment,  and the GN-45 will require near immediate PM to include lubrication in order for it to work.  Untested means working condition is unknown, NOS or not, period.  In original boxes means no PM has been performed before sale, period.    You can't claim the radios worked if you did not test them.  That lowers price.  I don't mean to be a downer, but you can't ask the higher prices simply because the radio is still in it's original packaging, especially after 75 years.  Like a car, major maintenance will need to be pulled to ensure the radio will work for more than possibly a few minutes after sitting that long.
> 
> Your radios were probably great cosmetically.   What condition was the PE-104 in?  And the power cables ?   How many ohms impedance did the microphones show?  Most T-17 carbon microphones, even NOS, will have an impedance well out of spec after 75 years sitting on a shelf.   What antenna base(s) and antenna did you sell with the set?  How many antenna sections, if you sold a sectional antenna, did you sell with the set, and how could you tell their condition if they were still in their original packaging??  Did your radio come with he manuals?
> 
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
> 
> In a message dated 5/23/2020 9:09:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, navrad at ptd.net writes:
> 
> Hi Mark,
> The BC-654 was in working condition. Had NOS GN-45 & PE-103 both in original boxes/crates.
> The BC-653 trans was  NOS. The BC-652 rec was in excellent original cond.. Both of those were untested.
> The rack was an NOS unit.
> While I don't claim to be a electronic tech. I do quite a bit of work on my radios. I familiar with what it takes to get a set going.
> If you can get those prices, all the power to you. I don't know of one ham or radio collector that would pay my price or higher. Only the mil vehicle
> guys wanting to complete their truck will pay it from everything I've seen.
> I started collecting antique household radios at approx 1971 and military communications equipment in 1990.
> Regrds,
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Mkdorney <mkdorney at aol.com>
> Date: 5/23/20 5:50 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: Stephen Finelli <navrad at ptd.net>
> Cc: MRCA at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [MRCA] WW2 Radio Prices
> 
> Hello Steve, 
>      Chat board on the G503 website dating to 2012. And if anything, it appears now that, for what they are, the complete, BC-1306 and  BC-654 I’m selling are actually now somewhat underpriced at $3500 reach, as is the complete and working BC-659 is at $2500. Do your radios work ?  NOS , especially considering the age of these set s and their accessories doesn’t mean it works. Caps especially go bad with age, as do carbon elements in microphones. And people were actually getting $3500 and $2500 respectively for these sets in 2012.   $2000 would be the price of a non-working, but cosmetically good and complete BC-1306 or BC-654.  Perhaps your buyer wasn’t interested in whether or not the set worked.
> 
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
> 
> “In matters of style, float with the current. In matters of Principle, stand like a rock. “.   -   Thomas Jefferson 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On May 23, 2020, at 2:24 PM, Stephen Finelli <navrad at ptd.net> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Mark,
> I would like to know where you saw these asking prices listed back in 2012 because for what those sets are I believe they are way overinflated. Even if they include most or all accessories.
> I have or had many of these sets and this past year at the 2019 MVPA Convention I was able to sell a complete SCR-284 (BC-654) with every accessory including the vehicle mount FM-41 and a SCR-506 (BC-652/653) with all accessories with chest CH-74 NOS with canvas cover and rack for $2000.00 Each, ready to install in vehicle.
> I felt fortunate to get those prices.
> These were both in excellent condition.
> I also had a SCR-508 set (BC-603/604) complete with CH-74 NOS with canvas cover and accessories for the same $2k that didn't sell.
> I do think it's worth every cent of that but to ask $3.5k is just too much. Maybe on some of those overpriced dealers online are asking it but for the average person to realize those prices is highly unlikely.
> Not trying to be a downer, just realistic in my view.
> I have many sets to sell. Just don't have the time it takes to assemble and advertise or go to shows.
> My back hurts thinking about it.
> Regards,
> Steve N3NNG
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> 
> 
> -------- Original message --------
> From: "Captain D. via MRCA" <mrca at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: 5/23/20 12:47 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: MRCA at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [MRCA] WW2 Radio Prices
> 
> I have just been looking into what complete, working BC-1306, BC-654 and BC-659 radio sets were going for in the past.  On the G504 site, in 2012, these sets, complete and working, were selling for $3500, $3500 and $2500.  Seems my asking prices reflect zero inflation in 8 years. 
> 
> Mark D.
> WW2RDO
> 
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