In article k.net, "KØHB"
writes:

"N2EY" wrote

If a 50+ year old transmitter on a wooden chassis can put out a legal signal
and make QSOs, what't the problem?

No problem at all if you want to waste your time with that, but to have the
National Association of Amateur Radio feature half century old technology as
feature article(s) in their membership journal speaks volumns.

§ 97.1(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to
contribute to the ADVANCEMENT of the radio art.

The thing being ADVANCED is the peace and tranquility state of
the amateur, Hans. That's important to their mental well-being.

Going back to past technology, rebuilding and restoring, is SAFE.
Such is a known quantity. It can be explained via many existing
texts. SECURITY. No problems about learning anything new. All
can become "expert" on things made long ago without undue
struggle. Such is already-proven technology...no struggling with
unproven ideas.

There's also the Nostalgia of the Never. Most restorers were not
alive or too young when old equipment was high-tech. They want
to relive a pioneering past they never lived in, indulging in fantasy
and make-believe through vicarious mental other-lives.

Old radio is SIMPLE. Everything is analogue. No need to learn
new things like digital frequency meters (why get direct numbers
when it is so much "fun" to beat a 221 and interpolate from that
little book?), or PLLs for VFO stability (let it warm up for a half
hour first then squint at a hand-scratched dial reading and hope
you are still in-band), or "product detectors" when everyone knows
a detector is a diode and must always have a BFO.

STABILITY. Not just in quartz crystal control of a single transmit
frequency. Known quantities are stable...all that is required is to
consult existing texts and pictures long in existance and praised
by mostly-gone users. If it was good then it MUST still be good.

SERENITY. Self-satisfaction of "accomplishing" what has already
been done.

Safe. Secure. Simple. Stable. Serene. Old ways are best...

LHA