I'm planning on tagging along with my wife when
she goes to some yard sales this weekend. I have
to admit that I'm not a big fan of these things, but
I figure that if I can at least poke around to see
if anything electronic shows up, it can't be all
bad.

My question revolves around the receivers that you
see on eBay; a majority of them seem to have come
from either an estate sale or yard sale at some point.
Would I have any luck hunting around a yard sale
for a piece of shortwave equipment, or would my
time be better spent going the estate sale route?
Not that I want to encourage my wife in this any
more than I have to; I just figure that if I'm going
to be going along as the muscle, I'd like to know
what my chances are for finding something interesting.

For my money, I'd rather look at a hamfest, but I
can also see people parting with a shortwave receiver
for less money at a yard or estate sale because they
don't know what they have.

--Mike L.

"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...


because they don't know what they have.


You've got it. I live in a medium sized city and am retired so time isn't a
problem and I probably hit 20 sales and find nothing but there is gold at
the 21'st. In the last four or five years these are some of the items I can
recall picking up at estate sales. McKay Dymek DA 5 $10, National NC140 $1,
Sony 7600a $5, DX 380 $8, Sony 2001 $15, DX 394 $30, DX160 $10, MFJ 949
tuner $5, GE Super 1 $2, B&K 1801 freq counter $10, Simpson 260 $5, Mantis
tiller (looked like it was used once or twice) $30, Delta 16' scroll saw
(still in box) $30.

I know the above sounds like a fairy tale but it's the gospel. There is not
a dog in the above, I did have to use the deoxit on the DX160 but it looked
like someone used it for a year or two and put it in storage, there was not
a scratch or blemish on it. RM~

PS, Most of the above came from non-professional ran estate sales, most of
the pro's price things plumb out of sight but every once in awhile they slip
up.

You never know what you will find when you get out and look around.
cuhulin

"Rob Mills" wrote in message
news:CK2Se.7431$UI.3448@okepread05...

"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...


because they don't know what they have.


You've got it. I live in a medium sized city and am retired so time
isn't a
problem and I probably hit 20 sales and find nothing but there is
gold at
the 21'st. In the last four or five years these are some of the
items I can
recall picking up at estate sales. McKay Dymek DA 5 $10, National
NC140 $1,
Sony 7600a $5, DX 380 $8, Sony 2001 $15, DX 394 $30, DX160 $10, MFJ
949
tuner $5, GE Super 1 $2, B&K 1801 freq counter $10, Simpson 260 $5,
Mantis
tiller (looked like it was used once or twice) $30, Delta 16' scroll
saw
(still in box) $30.

I know the above sounds like a fairy tale but it's the gospel. There
is not
a dog in the above, I did have to use the deoxit on the DX160 but it
looked
like someone used it for a year or two and put it in storage, there
was not
a scratch or blemish on it. RM~

PS, Most of the above came from non-professional ran estate sales,
most of
the pro's price things plumb out of sight but every once in awhile
they slip
up.

I think you guys are right about what can be found.
We ended up at 7 yard sales (one was a street sale,
so 4 in one fell swoop), and I found a few interesting
items in the others, but the last one I scored a PRO-2035,
a couple of CB radios (one with SSB) and a Sony ICF-9650
AM/FM radio for $40 total. The Sony needs a little
work on the board, and I need to scrounge up some stuff
(like an antenna) to get the CBs operational, but in general,
I could have done worse. They were asking $20 for a pair
of Optimus Pro-7's, but I really didn't need one at the time.

No shortwave radios, but I'm sure that I'll survive.
When I finally get the Sony fixed, I'll probably give
it to my son (4 yo) and put it in his room, so he has
some music in there. As long as he doesn't decide
to play with the power cord....

--Mike L.

"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...


I think you guys are right about what can be found.


Now you can expect to go to another 20 or 30 sales and find nothing then
BINGO you'll hit one again. Just like a kid at an Easter egg hunt.

You will find more scanners that SW's because more people seem to have
scanners, they just don't seem to know any better.RM~

I've been going to garage sales for a lot of years, and hit just about every
one I pass (sometimes a dozen or more on a Saturday), but have never run
across a decent shortwave radio. I hear the stories, but it's never
happened to me. Maybe it's the area I live in.

"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...
I'm planning on tagging along with my wife when
she goes to some yard sales this weekend. I have
to admit that I'm not a big fan of these things, but
I figure that if I can at least poke around to see
if anything electronic shows up, it can't be all
bad.

My question revolves around the receivers that you
see on eBay; a majority of them seem to have come
from either an estate sale or yard sale at some point.
Would I have any luck hunting around a yard sale
for a piece of shortwave equipment, or would my
time be better spent going the estate sale route?
Not that I want to encourage my wife in this any
more than I have to; I just figure that if I'm going
to be going along as the muscle, I'd like to know
what my chances are for finding something interesting.

For my money, I'd rather look at a hamfest, but I
can also see people parting with a shortwave receiver
for less money at a yard or estate sale because they
don't know what they have.

--Mike L.

"Unrevealed Source" wrote in message
...

Maybe it's the area I live in.

No doubt the pickens are better in larger cities but the estate sales (held
by individuals) are much better than yard/garage sales that are usually run
over with baby items and etc.. I usually run an area of town that has a
fairly high income and normally has 8 -12 estate sales on a typical Friday
morning. Like another poster stated "it's an outing". RM~