My wife is getting REALLY nervous
 

I stopped at a garage sale down the road Saturday. Poked around bought a couple of records, then noticed a sign "antique radio: inquire". I inquired, the woman said her dad had been a collector and the garage and basement were full to overflowing with radios, parts, tube amps, receivers, and she wants to sell as one lot. Of course I got the "where are you going to put all that junk if you buy it". Anyway, waiting on her call on thursday so I can go through everything and give her a price.

That is exciting, you never know what you will find! Tube amps, maybe Macintosh, Marantz, Heathkit, you never know. Keep us informed.

Let us know if you need help with purchasing any or all of that gear. I'll bet some of us would love to have a chance to participate or cooperate with your score.

Regards,

Bart

Will do, I plan on taking inventory and if a fair offer comes to more than I want spend I ll post whats available.
Could be a treasure or a big pile of junk. Im just hoping he took better care of his "collection" than he did his vinyl, most were in rough shape.

I can help with that. That would be a fun project. Didn't AK members BarrynSue do something like this where they bought a collection of Mac gear and sold it on eBay?

I am looking for a nice preamp so keep me in mind if you need to move some of that stuff.

How'd you make out with that Crosley? Or was it a Strom-Carlson? Don't remember now :D

I'll be watching this space too...

If you find a nice vacuum tube stereo tuner, a vacuum tube FM, multiplex adaptor or a vacuum tube preamp that you don't need let me know. Also if you happen to find a SEP 6BQ5 stereo amp that you don't need I would be interested in that too (doesn't matter who made it as I would be putting my own circuitry in there).

Will you post a list here after your meeting? If so, I'll be looking forward to that-

Must....follow......this......thread.....

got to see the goods
 

I went last thursday for a tour of the basement and associated sheds.
There really weren't any audio treasures. It looked like the guy was a "collector" of vintage radios. I have a 3 page inventory of what was there.
It didnt look like this was actually a "restorer" lots of boxes of tubes, but virtually no test equipment. There were dozens of chassis in various stages of disrepair. but also some nice intact units, Atwater kents etc.
I will scan the inventory sheet and if anyone is interested the owner has given me permission to give her phone number to anyone interesed in bidding on the entire lot. Drop me an email and I will forward the list.
I am not going to bid on the lot, I just dont have the time to deal with everything there. The items are located about 30 minutes north of Albany NY. A quick quesstimate is that it would take 3 good pickup loads to get everything (maybe more).

Crosley
 

Hey Bob,
The Crosley is still in my garage, hopefully I'll get to it during the cold weather. I have severaly outside projects going at the moment that are on "her" list. lol
Thanks again for the radio, I will get to it eventually.

I did but out of all of the pieces I purchased, there were only 9-10 pieces of McIntosh equipment.

I still have quite bit. Anyone looking to do something like I did should get a partner or two as selling HUNDREDS of pieces of gear, manuals, tubes, etc. is quite an undertaking. I still buy but usually only highern end or somewhat immaculate equipment.

You will tire quickly if everything is a restoration project so make sure you have a partnership were one knows how to repair and another knows how to sell and pack. Trying to do everything will wear you out, especially when you have a job that takes up 10-12 hours each day.

Buying a project in one lot is not recommended even IF the price is right unless it is good stuff :no:

You made the right decison.

Barry

That looks like excellent advice to me. :yes:

Thanks
 

It's still tough to walk away, I've been on the old radio hunt for about 35 years, of course back then people Begged you to take them away. Times do change

Come down to Virginia as I have quite a few that would be excellent projects. Not in bad shape whatsoever but need new caps, etc. Soem very nice pieces actually but I am always hesitant to sell improperly working items on the auction site as some don't understand what "as is" means.

I do have a few that I will not get rid of including a McMurdo Silver II in the cabinet with beautiful chrome chassis, AK 10B breadboard and a few others.

Barry

thanks
 

Damn, was in Richmond two weeks ago on business

Next time, let me know when you are coming down. I am about an hour away.

Barry

Thanks will do,

That, Folks, is the beauty of AK - 20,000 people just reaped the benefit of Barry's knowledge and experience. Thanks Barry, you're a credit to AK! :thmbsp:

Always willing through my .02 in and thanks.

There is a big difference in buying quality and going into someone's basement and finding a bunch of unfinished projects that take forever. Starts out as fun but can quickly wear you out. How do I know? Other than the large collection I purchased, I also have done the above and it can get overwhelming not to mention frustrating.

I helped this poor woman out who's husband had dementia and a ton of what I would come to consider JUNK. Yes, I made a few bucks but I had to store it (still have most of it) and with the exception of a few quality pieces, most of the rest are things that while they do have value, I was not interested in it. A lot of test equipment, old electronic parts, cumputer stuff, etc. It just got in my way and remains there somewhat although I have either given or thrown away much of it. Some will cringe knowing that there may have been some good and useful stuff but I was so overwhelmed I couldn't deal with it anymore. I am STILL feeling this way and have cut back my selling tremendously as I am just burned out. And it took us two full days. The old lady was smart as she made some money and got us to clean out her basement!

Packing alone will frustrate the heck out of you if you do it properly not to mention all of the moving, cleaning, repairing, pictures, questions, posting of auctions, etc. that you do.

So did I may a good move when I purchased the collection? Absolutely, as it has brought me more friends around the world than I could have ever imagined. I feel like there are very few places where I could travel and not have a someone who would be willing to assist me if I were in their neck of the woods and have reaped those benefits as far away as Venice, Italy! The money has been quite good also but that has really been secondary. I have had a unique opportunity to have owned and listened to some (most) of the finest vintage audio equipment ever produced. That was my goal and it has ben accomplished. I have kept a few of the items for my peronal use although not very much. More of the radio collection which I knew absolutely nothing about remains in my home. Looking back, I should have kept a few more pieces but you can't keep it all.

IT has been a great ride and would have been quite a bit easier IF I had a partner. The gentleman who does my repairs was super helpful in helping through as he grew up repairng all of this same stuff in the 60's and early 70's. Gave me great counsel but happens to live in Kansas. If I would have had someone like him here in VA, it would have been so much easier.

Sorry for this rant as I will stop now. The story however of all of my dealings is long and so much has happened because of it. This is not to discourage anyone but understand what you are getting into when you happen to see this dark basement filled with STUFF. You know it may be the Mother Lode but can also be somewhat of a folly.

Tread carefully and best of luck!

have her place it or help her put it on Ebay bet she would sell it all make the ad asy One Lot Deal
Pick up only
hope this help-s from radioman56

PS I know I purchased a lot for $50 form a friend i got a few goodies a crosley fiver all orignal excpt 2 top chassis filter cans missing someone recapped it years ago and many many plastic radios as well Even one with a cigerette lighter on top LOL.