[R-390] $390A Price

[Barry Hauser]

See my 1/2 of convo below:

> This is a tough group.....

We have to be -- "tough love" -- it's for your own good -- like firing live 
ammo over you so when your in combat, you have been cured of the reflex to 
pop your head up (instead of duck down).

>
> You list a fully restored 390A for $1200 and get beat up.....you value a 
> surplus radio with two missing knobs, known full overhaul needed, 
> questionable origin (at that point), unknown cosmetics at around $300 and 
> ya get beat up....:-)

You almost have it right on.  The sequence is thus:  Ya get beat up, then a 
reason is (generally) provided.  It's a given.

I think the cosmetics were known in this case -- at lease generally.  Unless 
seriously distressed (corrosion holes), bent, mice, rats, etc. , --  
reasonably presentable, they go for more these days.  Also, a lot of nice 
looking radios are nonetheless, needy on the inside.  A missing knob isn't 
significant.

>
> I would have valued it a bit higher if I knew more about it I guess.....I 
> don't think $500 though.

That's about par for the course these days, maybe more -- and that doesn't 
buy an R-390A that's already cleaned, recapped and tweaked.  A lot of the 
pretty ones are overdue for an overhaul -- which is where the real fun is.

> Thing about the Fair Radio 390A's in the last few years...they all were 
> SJC survivors.  Not that I have anything against them they just require a 
> good  bit more work and some were pretty ugly...some were not...just 
> didn't know which you were going to get.

The slimmer the pickin's from the St. J. C. pile, the more labor has to go 
into them just to make saleable units, whether repairable or checked.  There 
were no more that were needing a module swap or two and a tube here and 
there.  They have to piece them together and, in some cases make repairs to 
the modules to get them out the door when they can.

>
> I personally don't mind that the price is going up....I think they have 
> been undervalued for a long while considering the performance potential 
> they have
 and the desirability relative to other boatanchor surplus receivers.  They 
are going to be the coveted of the litter even 20 years from now I 
believe.....may be paying 5K for a nice one then...who knows!

I don't know if that will happen, mainly due to the demographics -- namely 
average age of those interested.  Not much sign of younger guys getting into 
this, so supply and demand may do a flip, and a mint, restored radio will be 
down to $200-300 in a few years.  Of course, it depends....

Barry

> From: "Barry Hauser" <barry at hausernet.com>
> To: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>; "Pat McGrath" <ka6tya at arrl.net>; 
> <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 7:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [R-390] $390A Price
>
>
>> Cecil & gang ...
>>
>> Pat asked the price of a "$390A".  Like coinage with famous defects, a 
>> $390A is very @RARE@ and therefore goes for an appropriately high price. 
>> Unlike the cost-reduced R-390A, the "$" signifies a cost-increased 
>> version.  Back in the 50's, someone misread the engineering reports and 
>> went the wrong way, incorporating both L/C AND mechanical filtes, and 
>> crystal lattice filters, roller bearings, etc., but was stopped after a 
>> few units were made.  Someone noticed the gold plated front panel screws 
>> on the gray mother-of-pearl front panel and called the OMB.
>>
>> All seriousness aside, Cecil I think your pricing may be a bit out of 
>> date, unless it reflects only non-auction, non-internet, 
>> last-day-of-hamfest-and-it-ain't sold yet radios.
>>
>> Barry
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
>> To: "Pat McGrath" <ka6tya at arrl.net>; <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 6:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: [R-390] $390A Price
>>
>>
>>> Depends....Knew someone would say that....
>>>
>>> Depends on cosmetic condition....front panel engraved or silk-screened? 
>>> Mods....extra holes?  Meters?
>>>
>>> St. Julians Creek survivor.   (Blue or yellow stripe on front 
>>> panel...corrosion or rust on top side of chassis)
>>>
>>> I would guess average $275-$325 if just average surplus.  Less with 
>>> other problems as listed above but probably not less than $200-$225
>>>
>>> Just my 2 Cents worth...
>>>
>>> Cecil...
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Pat McGrath" <ka6tya at arrl.net>
>>> To: <r-390 at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 5:01 PM
>>> Subject: [R-390] $390A Price
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> What is a fair price for a $390A that is in working condition but need 
>>>> the two large knobs and a complete overhaul? Cleaning, alignment, 
>>>> testing components etc.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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