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Foxhunter
Member
Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 76
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 3:21 am: | 
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Hey I'm posting in the "Ham Gear" section asking for some pricing advice for some older "vintage" radio equipment I am considering buying from a person I've been talking with recently.
I know already from both current experience and what I've read, that buying older Ham Radio (or any older radio really) equipment is risky, parts are scarce & expensive and "repair shops" can't be found at a nearby truck-stop. Aside from shipping costs which are high due to their weight and the fact that their are not that many repair centers compared to say CB shops-------Antique and tube repair rates are NOT cheap.
I know that the power supplies or transformers as well as the capacitors are usually bad, or will turn so before long. Tubes too are/can be expensive and getting harder to find. Vintage tube radios & amps are not a "poor man's hobby" so I try and keep that in mind. So should others considering I think. Am i wrong?
I already have a few tube pieces: A Palomar 310M Bi-Linear amplifier, A Kris Boomer 300 amplifier and two Heathkits (SB301 receiver & SB401 transmitter) plus an antique circa 1932 broadcast/shortwave/police frequencies standing console.
Anyway here is what he e-mailed me------and no this is not through Ebay I am not bidding. I have not yet been told the asking price but wanted to have a better idea before discussions. Yes I can (and will try still) to look all this up somehow-----but wanted to ask some of you who are actually familiar with older Amateur equipment to venture an opinion if you would. Here's the list/letter...
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QUOTE< "All the vintage tube gear I recently purchased from the estate of a deceased Ham. His "shack" was in an upstairs bedroom so no damage from being stored in a damp basement or garage. He had an Amateur Extra Class license and an engineering degree from Columbia was hanging on the bedroom wall so he obviously knew what he was doing.
*Heathkit SB-401 80 thru 10 meter transmitter
*Heathkit SB-301 80 thru 10 meter receiver
*Heathkit SB-200 - 1000 watt 80 thru 10 M linear amplifier
*Heathkit HW-30 "Lunchbox" 2 meter transceiver
*Lafayette HE-45B 6 Meter transceiver (looks just like one of their vintage tube CBs)
*Heathkit HO-10 scope
*Heathkit HO-13 rare Ham Scan scope
*Heathkit SB-630 phone patch
*Homebrew antenna matching/switching unit
*Hallicrafters SX-100 general coverage SW receiver
The SB-200 alone brings $500.00 or more on ebay. I can sell these for more there, however I have back issues and therefore cannot pack and ship. I can make a good deal on all- not going to give them away but will be quite fair". >UNQUOTE
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I'd appreciate if anyone who has a better idea than I what a "package deal" price would be approximately?? Without seeing them yourselves I know that's hard to say. I'd imagine cosmetically they appear in reasonable condition. Whether they are working/functioning units----that is another story altogether.
I would ask hom if they power on and if some of them receive, but whether they actually work and if some actually transmit (or amplify) that is another case entirely and would prefer he not try it. Without proper antennas and being set up it's near impossible. They would be bought "as is" with only the outward appearance and a look under the case as a guide, to see if they look intact with tubes & wiring or the appearance of damage/missing parts or burned spots.
Anybody help? I'd appreciate it. Thanks-----Foxhunter |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4770
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 6:09 am: |
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The HEATHKIT SB radios are nice radios but OLD with little support As for those scopes you will at best find little use for them AGAIN NICE STUFF NO REAL USE.
NOW FOR THE BOATANKERS ............
" Heathkit HW-30 "Lunchbox" 2 meter transceiver "
That was the radio I wrote about on COPPER when talking about the good old days .... USELESS on 2 meters today TOTALY USELESS !
*Lafayette HE-45B 6 Meter transceiver (looks just like one of their vintage tube CBs)
I have one and again 99.99% USELESS on 6 meters The CB one was know as a HE-20C I have one of them too. BOTH shaired many of the same parts.
The HE-20C is no longer legal for CB but the HE-45B IS legal on 6 meters.
Now the problem is the HE45B if you can find someone on 6 meter AM ( 50.400 mhz ) it's a NICE RADIO finding someone to talk too is the problem
On 6 since 66
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Foxhunter
Member
Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 77
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 11:49 am: |
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Hey thanks Bruce I appreciate the response/reply. Any clues please as to what a fair price or value may be for these items? Even if they are functioning? Or not?
They would make nice (I hate to say this) "decorations" so-to-speak, or really "radio-room centerpieces" I should say, even if they aren't useful compared to today's modern equipment.
H-e-l-p I could use some $$ estimate figures (?) |
Foxhunter
Member
Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 78
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 12:15 pm: |
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Sorry for the double post I wanted to add a little more...
Thank you and that is a start. Bruce do you or any other of you Forum members out there agree or have anything to add?? I'd appreciate any additional input.
I already have a few tube pieces: A Palomar 310M Bi-Linear amplifier, A Kris Boomer 300 amplifier, a Hammarlund HQ100 receiver and two Heathkits (SB301 receiver & SB401 transmitter) plus an antique circa 1932 broadcast/shortwave/police frequencies standing console-----all in very good condition.
I want what I buy to be in working-condition really as I plan on using them intermittently/occasionally. I like the looks & styling of older equipment and enjoy the vintage pieces I already own----but don't have a proper "shack" yet and will be setting up a decent-sized "radio room" devoted entirely to my radio equipment and it will be nice when I'm done, for sure.
My big fear is that I see ALOT of people selling are using "the same line" so-to-speak about "the old Ham" or "silent key" who died and had all this equipment left over.
Kind of like buying a used-car----" a little old lady used to drive it" sort of thing. On the other hand I think that it is entirely possible and that there are older guys who may pass-on who have had lifetime collections going and now they are going onto the market. Others may additionally use that situation/scenario to unload faulty equipment to the unsuspecting. I may worry too much but at the same time I've "nearly seen it all".
I appreciate the input I'll definitely need a $$ figure in-mind as well. I'm hoping I might get a couple of other's too to add in. As always I appreciate the replies and responses. Thanks----Foxhunter |
Tech291
Moderator
Username: Tech291
Post Number: 515
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 8:37 pm: |
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Foxhunter,
I'm not questioning the former owners abilities but keep in mind that all the Heath items you listed above were sold as kits to be assembled by the buyer.That being said,I would recommend against a new or begining "ham"starting out with such equiptment.It could lead to frustration or worse which could discourage you from enjoying a rewarding hobby or livelyhood.There are a lot of collectors out there that would jump at the chance for a"boatload" like that,but they have a sense of what there value(or lack of)is.
There real worth though is only as much as you yourself are willing to part with to have them!
Tech291
cef291/cvc6
kc8zpj |
Foxhunter
Member
Username: Foxhunter
Post Number: 81
Registered: 4-2008
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 8:53 pm: |
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"Supposedly" (I am told) therw was a local estate sale 5-months ago becasue an elderly ham had died. Here is what I've been told:
QUOTE:---"All vintage tube gear recently purchased from the estate of a deceased Ham. His "shack" was in an upstairs bedroom so no damage from being stored in a damp basement or garage. He had an Amateur Extra Class license and an engineering degree from Columbia was hanging on the bedroom wall so he obviously knew what he was doing."---UNQUOTE
I'm not sure this could be true or it could be like the story buying a used car "a little old lady drove it". I told the seller that one thing that's unusual is that an educated man such as would usually have a shck-room downstairs and not upstairs, am I wrong? Pwerhaps for some reason (like a wife?) he couldn't do things the way he wanted to, who knows.
Well----the selling price agreed upon is $750 for all and I think I'll be getting them tommorrow afternoon. Wish me luck, I need it. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4771
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 - 10:27 pm: |
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At that price you should be able to get your money back.
On 6 since 66
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