[R-390] R-390/URR on Ebay

Mon Oct 31 11:20:13 EST 2005

A while back, 5 years to be exact, Rick Mish offered 10 restored R-390
(non-As), "best I've ever done", for $2,000 each plus shipping, half were
Collins and the other half Motorola.  He sold them all.  Just a perspective
on prices.

Joe, WA9MSD

-----Original Message-----
From: r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:r-390-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Cecil Acuff
Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 10:11 AM
To: R390list
Subject: [R-390] R-390/URR on Ebay

Good Morning folks.....

            In an effort to minimize any confusion and idle chatter of the 
negative nature concerning the merits of the radio I have listed or the 
perceived value of the radio listed, here are things you should know. 
(maybe more "Crapola" Mr. Lawson...use delete key as needed)

I am R1051shop as listed on Ebay.  Not to be deceptive but because I ran a 
small business restoring R1051's a few years back and at that time the ID 
was appropriate.  Appears it still is today as I receive responses from past

customers when they see me list things for sale on Ebay as has happened with

this 390.

I am also a member of this group and have been since the days of Nolan 
Lee...  One would think you guys would be cheering for one of the home team 
as opposed to finding whatever fault you can in the workmanship and/or the 
perceived value of the product of many hours of labor by fellow list member.

I am not trying to make a commercial venture out of the R-390 series of 
radio's....I do love and enjoy working on them as many of you do.  Instead 
of picking up one and restoring it and putting it in my station (which I am 
doing) and that be that....I'm afflicted with the disease of buying 6 or 8 
or 10 because I hate to see them sitting around looking sadly as many do.  I

enjoy the work but like anybody expect a fair return on the time spent.  I 
have 2 and a half months of evenings and weekends invested in the radio 
listed and while the "Buy it Now" price is a fishing trip, the reserve is 
not!

When is the last time you looked at the price of a fairly nicely restored 
50+ year old car for sale.  Something that sold for 2K when new that is 
considered a classic design....not unusual to see 20K to 30K selling prices.

What makes you think that classic radio designs have not been effected in 
the same way...besides the desire to wish it wasn't so.

Is the radio I have listed perfect....Nope.  Is it Museum quality....don't 
know, I've seen some pretty crappy stuff in museums...but I didn't list it 
that way.  Is it rare....well judging by the production numbers some might 
say so.  What I do know is that there are probably 20 to 30 "A" models sold 
on Ebay for every R-390.  I haven't seen any that were restored to the level

the one I have listed has been restored to.

I watch Ebay daily with the exception of the two months after Hurricane 
Katrina when I had no electricity and/or internet connectivity....maybe I 
missed the market surge of sales on R-390's. (probably not) I do know many 
that listed as R-390 by their sellers seem to end up having an antenna 
trimmer knob in the middle of the front panel...so validate your search John

by checking the pictures....I've seen only one in OCT.....

I sold one a while back to a fellow in Washington DC who has been delighted 
with it...through Ebay...went for $860.....it was nowhere near as nice as 
this radio but performed extremely well once finished up. That's two I know 
of....there may have been others.....

I am open to and able to accept constructive criticism of my work and 
welcome it....a GURU of things R-390 I don't claim to be.....I manage to 
learn something new almost daily.  I can say that just because my name is 
not Mish, Medley or Rippel doesn't mean I or many of you cannot produce a 
product of equal or greater quality and performance.  It just takes 
technical experience, the right tools for the job, a desire to do the work 
and an eye for some level of detail.

Hope that clears up a bit who has the radio for sale and where I stand on 
the subject....

Any negative reactions to this note can be sent directly to me at 
chacuff at cableone.net

Sorry for the length of this post for those of you not really interested....

Cecil Acuff
WB5VCE
Gulfport MS
R1051shop 

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