On May 6, 4:18�pm, Phil Kane wrote:
On Tue, 6 May 2008 14:05:11 EDT, wrote:
I think the equipment flow was both an incentive
for the volunteers
and a recruiting tool. It certainly was better
than simply scrapping
older stuff, or getting a few pennies per pound in surplus.

I am told by a ranking MARS member that the
loan/giveaway program
stopped many years ago.

Well, it still existed when I became a ham in 1967. But that
was quite a while ago...

�We used to see a lot of military surplus gear
on the market even up into the late 1950s - I remember
the ARC-5 stuff
that you and I got started with, and the surplus tank low-band FM
receiver that I had for monitoring the Sheriff and the Highway
Patrol
before crystallized receivers and scanners became consumer
items -- but that's all history now.

I still have some ARC-5 stuff in working order, and lots of parts. A
couple of LM frequency meters, and a couple of ME-297 VOMs.

I got started with stuff a lot more basic than an ARC-5, too.

At least here in Philly, WW2 surplus was common well into the 1970s.
Fair Radio Sales, to name one mailorder place, was still selling WW2
surplus at low prices in that same timeframe. The N2EY library has
some of their catalogs....

For example, the 1976 Fair Radio catalog lists the BC-457 and BC-458
at $14.95 each (new condition), and the R-23, R-25 and R-26 at prices
from $15.95 to $22.95. Earlier catalogs have a much wider selection at
much lower prices.

�Post-Korean War stuff never hit the market.

Not in the quantities of WW2 stuff, obviously.

I think that one factor in the enormous amount of WW2 surplus was that
American industry was pouring the stuff out in enormous quantities by
1945, building up for at least another year of full scale combat, when
the war suddenly ended. That situation has not recurred since.

---

A look in the 1994 Fair Radio catalog shows the following:

Collins 490T1 (CU-1666) antenna coupler for 618T, $400 used

AM-6155/GRT-22 RF power amplifier, 225-400 MHz, 50W output, $235

R-1051B/URR HF receiver, used, $750

RT-618C & AM-3007 HF transceiver set, $795

RT-749/ARC-109 UHF transceiver, 225-400 MHz, $495

RT-594/ARC-3A HF transceiver, $210

R-390A receiver prices from $135 to $330

(you get the idea - there's a lot more)

So there must have been some path for some surplus to the US market,
although except for a few things the prices would be a problem.

I am told that what the military doesn't give/sell/loan to foreign
governments and even our own National Guard is scrapped (i.e.
crushed
beyond usefulness) , no doubt due to the pressure of the
equipment
manufacturers (yes, there are still quite a few left in the USA) who
are more than happy to sell new stuff to amateur and commercial
users alike at listed prices.

I have been told that a lot of stuff is scrapped rather than have it
fall into the wrong hands.

There was also the influence of well-known amateurs such as
Gen. Curtis LeMay, Barry Goldwater, Art Collins and even
Arthur Godfrey.

Ah yes, the legendary Friday-night Poker School.... (I'm still a
member of the SAC Memorial ARC, as are several others in
this group).

Excellent! I am delighted to hear that, but not surprised.

Add K2ORS, aka "Shep" (though he used the name Parker on the ham
bands) to the above list.

73 es tnx for the info

Jim, N2EY