Why are people nice?
 

This is off topic, but since there are several illustrations of the question here I thought I'd ask it.

I mentioned to my neighbor who specializes in old telephones that vintage TV collectors seem especially supportive of each other and polite. If someone mentions that they're trying for a particular item, then others often then refrain. He said the same is true of those who look for old telephones.

This certainly isn't true of the general public, so why are collectors of at least these two items different?

Of course unspoken codes like this are loosely formed. Once should never take offense if they call dibs and no one listens. Life is competitive and will likely always be so. But it's refreshing to see people being so nice to each other.

John

I don't know anything about phone collecting - I'm just happy when someone gets an item who:

A - Will take care of it
B - Appreciates it's significance
C - Really wants it
D - Doesn't already have a dozen

I got more than my fair share of stuff over the last couple years so I'm happy to spread the wealth.
I also get a kick out of helping someone find an item they've been searching hard for. Like when I found one of those big bakelite Admirals for Nixer :D

we are a very closed group of people.our hobby is unusual and most folks scoff at the idea of old electronics.when we find others with the same interest,we feel a kinship.almost like family.we appreciate the appreciation of these items.like we have to be our brothers keeper.i try to help as much as i can to any member.if i have it to spare,it is yours.that one certain part may get the next masterpiece fully operational.i get to see the pictures and know that i was a part of this.maybe a little selfish but knowing another classic is up and running is what i am after.you have to love the game!
p s -for every "favor" i have done,i have gotten back tenfold.being of my heritage-it was quite a good investment.oy vay!

I dunno why, but I've noticed it, too. Radio & TV people, especially TV folks, seem to have an "All for one, & one for all" attitude. We typically are supportive of each other, & when somebody makes a new "Score", its kinda like the whole group has made it. Maybe we just ARE a nicer bunch of folks than the Average Bear- Altho admitting THAT would be uncharacteristic...I LOVE it when I hear that somebody's rescued another CTC-5 or something-I know I'll never have one, but just knowing another neat old TV has been saved is GREAT...

Car people are the same from what I've seen. On a Mini Cooper board I frequent, we even have an 'Ebay screenames' thread, so we don't step on each other's penises if an item that many want comes up for bid. Perhaps something like that could be done here? The feeling is that first come, first served applies. Helps avoid bidding wars, and helps keep parts prices low.

When you have a passion for something, having others with the same interest gives you someone to share a common experience with. When I tell people I collect old color tv sets from the 50's and early 60's most people just look at you with a strange expression.

...Yeah, an' then they come to my house 'n' all these TVs are starin' back at 'em, along w/about as many radios that are in 3 stores...Then I take 'em in "The Ship's Radio Room", & there is this 4-tiered industrial rack full of forbidding looking strange equipment, & some get this wild look in their eyes, like they've stumbled into the lair of Ed Kemper or Ed Gein, & then they wanna leave...But once they overcome their trepidation, they leave fascinated...If its a kid who seems especially appreciative, he/she likely as not will leave w/his very own AA5...An' maybe, just maybe, we-the Hobby-may have gained another convert...Mbwahahahaha....

I've fooled with "classic" cars for almost twenty years - all of my adult life. I stopped joining clubs years ago because of infighting (even on some online forums) or attitudes towards particular cars. For example, 16 years ago I attended a meeting of the local Mopar club. My old Chrysler (similar to Doug's) was in excellent shape back then, yet received snubbing from the club president and some of the members because it wasn't a muscle car.

I have to say that I've browsed a couple of bulletin boards (VW Diesels in particular) were I was impressed with the amount of help offered by the members.

On the other hand, everyone I've met or conversed with in this hobby has been more than generous with offers of help or parts. Members of this forum whom I have never met in person have sent me schematics, parts, even a couple of radios. I'm not as experienced as most of you nor have a large stash of parts or sets, but I have been glad to do the little I can for others here - scanning schematics etc.

I think the above references to a "kinship" are correct, as there are very few people who see any value in what we enjoy doing.

I can say that over the past 21 years of this hobby, people have been very nice and helpful and I try to display the same attitude towards others.

As far as niceness, my first experience was when I was in the 7th grade (1990) and the local newspaper ran a story about me and my newly acquired antique radio hobby (I think some of my school teachers had something to do with that article). It wasn't long before people in the community, many of which I didn't even know, were tracking me down to give me an old radio or radios. These were mostly older folks and I think they were just happy to see a legally blind kid who was making an effort to do something constructive with life while the other teenagers of the day were doing drugs, getting drunk, and getting their girlfriend's pregnant only to leave them "high and dry".

The second experience was about a year later, when I was advertising for old radios on a local call in "buy & sell" program on a local radio station. One day, an older man, who I found out only lived less than a mile from the house, called and wanted to come by for a visit. It turned out that his wife had recently passed and he had heard me several times on the radio. He said that on the day that he called me, he said to himself, "Loyd, are you just going to sit here all the time wasting away or are you going to get off your butt and help that kid out". After that first meeting, he came over here most every Saturday for several years and we spent the day fixing radios. Or, should I say, we spent Saturdays with him showing me how to fix radios. This went on for several years until he re-married and moved to another part of the state. Even though he left town, we still stayed in touch until he passed away about 6 years ago. In fact, this guy ended up blaming me (in a nice way) for getting into antique radio collecting. He closed his TV shop in the early '70's and pretty much walked away from it. I think the only things he held on to were one or two old radios, his Weller soldering gun, and his trusty Eico 232 VTVM. When he died, his widow ended up selling me most of his radios at a good price.

Also, there were two or three other older guys who used to be in the radio/TV business that I used to pester; but, they have all passed on, as well.

I will say that everyone here and on ARF has gone above and beyond to help me out and I'm also glad to see that there are actually people in my age group who enjoy the same things as I do.

Part of it may be that we reallize we are all saving bits and pieces of history. If we didnt, then who would? Fact is, we do need each other and in that we appreciate each other. What a wonderful human element!

I think that is a LOT of it... if we cant get them or don't really want them or have room or money... we would rather SOMEONE who is "in the know", get things like CTC-5's, CT-100's, prewar sets, nice stereo amps, etc, than for them to end up as "fish tanks"(in the case of the TV sets), or even worse...meet a packer truck hopper, and then be buried forever!!

And another things is, we often look "hard and long" for our "prizes", so, when another one does come along, after we get one of some particular item ( Say, a CTC-5), that we can afford/and/or is somewhat local, BUT another collector ALSO wants one, MOST of us will then 'back off" and let the other guy have it. MOST, I say. Not too long ago, A 5 at an auction near Chicago I think DID cause some harsh words and accusations, between some members here...and that is unfortunate!! Friendships, especially real ones are MUCH too hard to come by---to risk ruining one over an old tv set, radio, stereo or such. As I said...better that SOMEONE get it, that will protect it...than a lot of harsh words, ruined friendships, or the worst...the "rumpke" treatment--for one of our prizes.

I am about to part with a few things I have,some parts and maybe a couple of sets, just sitting around...--that others here need or want more. After all, I have NOT really done much with them, and someone else NEEDS them, to get their sets running--or get their 'prize".

And BTW Sandy..don't EVER say"you will never own a CTC-5" I waited since I was 11 years old(after wasting a table model set back then), to get another one. They ALWAYS seemed to just"slip away" somehow..., either too far away, too expensive, too many problems, or someone else got them first...sometimes ALL of the above!! I even lost out on a blonde 5 special in 2004, and I did my BEST, to prevent it and some other old things, mostly in a big dumpster, --from disaster....but failed. Some old B1TCH would NOT let me take, or even BUY it, or the ctc-7 chassis and tube--and when I was a bit persistent about not leaving it in the dumpster, she threatened me with the pigs. At the time...I was with Circuit city and in uniform, and I could NOT do anymore....otherwise I WOULD have been more persistent!! I HOPE the 5 got a home...but I KNOW the 7 or 9 chassis and tube did NOT. I alerted others to the stuff in the dumpster...but it was just too late.

And since then...I lost out on one after another 5.....Till a couple of weeks ago. Now, my westcott, with a GREAT tube as far as I can tell, is in the garage, undergoing " gentle warming" to keep things fresh, and next month...when my mom and sis go on a short trip....the 5 will ALSO be taking a short trip...to the climate--controlled basement!!

So, don't give up Sandy...one WILL come your way, just hang in there. Mine was in the rural part of Illinois, not too far from Missouri. That is NOT a "big city area", either.

I have lost track of the number of people who have gone way out of their way to help me over the years. It's usually impossible to pay them back, you just try to "pay forward" to someone else.

I own a GMC Motorhome from the 1970's, and almost every owner of them is extremely helpful and friendly as well.

Here is the flip side of the "support your fellow collectors" experience: A couple of years ago, I sold my 1960's Sears Lady Kenmore chocolate-brown washer and dryer on Ebay. Really, I only put them on there because I figured it could be cheaper than paying the dump. Well, I started getting all kinds of questions about them-asking for the exact model numbers, verifying other details, and so on. There were a couple dozen or more "auction watchers" for them as the end date got closer. But, when the auction ended, I had exactly one bid, for my $9.99 minimum. The buyer was from out of state, and he had a trucking company pick them up, and he said he had been looking for machines in that color for years. I figured what had happened is exactly what was described above, that there was a forum for appliance collectors and they all agreed to let him have them. Still, I didn't have to haul them away myself or pay a disposal fee, and there is a collector who is happy out there.

My Col-R-Tel came from a NJARC ham who found it in the van of a repair shop he was buying from/out(?). He knew I collected tv's and made sure to ask me if I wanted it as he was not interested. A few dollars later, it was mine and one of my prize pieces. Dave S knows of who I speak.

oh, that's it - I just thought all people looked at me with that expression...:D