[NJARC] Repair Clinic

[amagoun]

Here's a mea culpa: All of the Library's publicity for the open houses
combined with the clinics have proudly announced, to quote
www.davidsarnoff.blogspot.com/, "Many radios can be fixed in less than
60 minutes, and the New Jersey Antique Radio Club’s experts will do it
for free! Parts are not included but are generally surprisingly
inexpensive."

This was the initial offer when the club agreed to open alternate
clinics to the public three years ago.   In addition, appointments were
to be made in advance.  My impressions since then, as the one making
appointments and passing by the Lounge during the open house, is that
there are a lot of unannounced walk-ins and no limits on time.  Nor does
anyone have a number at the end of the day on the number of radios
evaluated or repaired.

Regarding the public, there are uncertainties about the motive for
bringing it in the first place.  It could be emotional, it could be
curiousity, it could be financial gain or the illusion thereof.  If we
knew which it was, we would know better whether it's worth the owner's
time and money to hump the radio somewhere else--if we encourage them to
take or ship it for a repair that takes more than an hour and costs more
than the $20 I might propose as a contribution.  As some members have
entreated us to give it up "for the children" when it comes to club
auctions, I'm inclined to give it up (it not being my time) for the
little old ladies.  As for Ebayers, how much is their time worth, and
how much value did the repair add to the broken radio?  Consider the
time that an Ebayer spends driving to and from the clinic, watching an
expert fix his radio, then photographing, listing, answering questions,
and shipping it, and weigh that against their hourly wage.  In the
meantime, did the expert learn something?  Did the apprentice at his
side learn something as well?

As for concerns regarding liability, the example of Japan banning the
sale of 2nd-hand electronics (www.blogd.com/archives/001713.html) was a
sop to the electronics industry, not a fear about safety.  It was
modified to allow "rentals."  Yes, there are liability issues, but
bringing in the lawyers and intimidating little old ladies with waivers
should be weighed against the good will, common sense, and the
understanding that if people get something for nothing, they can hardly
complain if it turns out to be nothing after all.  Not that that happens
with our experts.

In keeping with the original spirit of the public clinics, I suggest the
club enforce the one-hour rule, limit people to one radio each, charge
market rates for parts, and organize people with no appointment at the
entrance.  Since these are advertised as public by appointment only,
members should be held to the same standards.  For longer sessions with
particular club experts, members should arrange to meet during the club
clinics or at, say, weekend clinics at InfoAge, which sounds like a
great idea.  Additional educational sessions could certainly be held
alongside the clinics here, but as Ray points out, these are only part
of a broad array of educational opportunities available via tapes (which
could be digitized and streamed to members with access on the website),
books, apprenticing at public clinics, and NRI courses.

Best,
Alex

--
Alexander B. Magoun, Ph.D.
Executive Director
David Sarnoff Library
201 Washington Road, CN 5300
Princeton, NJ 08543-5300

609-734-2636
amagoun at davidsarnoff.org
(f) 609-734-2339
www.davidsarnoff.org
www.davidsarnoff.blogspot.com