I really enjoyed reading this thread, especially Walt's comments.
Part of the reason that sellers get the ridiculous prices on Ebay
is that some of us have more money than patience. If we adopt
the point of view that we will get exactly what we want, at a good
price...eventually...it is likely to come true.
When I was a new ham in 1966, naturally I admired the revered
Collins S-Line, but could afford only a Drake R-4 and T-4X, which
I have to this day. As an 18-year-old college student, Collins gear
was well beyond my reach then. While that is not true today, I
refuse to pay exorbitant prices for that gear. In fact, I signed off the
Collins list for that reason.
A good friend recently acquired a KWM-2, in nice condition and at
a reasonable price. While I joke with him about always being in the
right place at the right time for a good deal, his patience was
rewarded.
It is easy to succumb to the temptation to pay too much for used gear.
In my case, I paid about $500 for a Ten-Tec Argonaut 515 about a year
ago, although it's a beauty, and came with the semi-rare model 208-A
notch and CW filter box. Later, I bought the matching power supply
from the same seller. My friend kids me to this day for paying $75
for a 1-amp power supply!
On another front, I had pursued a HW-9 for over a year, willing to pay
an inflated price. Fortunately, some of you on QRP-L and the Heathkit
lists pointed out that the HW-9 is fine for the sake of nostalgia, but
isn't up to the performance of today's QRP rigs.
What's the old saying? Good things come to those who wait?
73 de Jim - AD6CW
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