[jshorva65]

I've got several projects going at the moment that I hope will ultimately benefit the vintage video community. I hope to make restoration easier for everyone who is interested in restoring sets and make money where I can. I have a larger dream, though. Ultimately, I'd like to become a key player in the revival of the American electronics industry. I see no reason why it can't be American workers who are loading parts, setting up and supervising robotic assembly machines, tending wave-soldering tanks and doing quality control. Sure, it would mean the end of the $99 disposable color television, but it would also mean that the sets would be back to having an average life expectancy of 20 years or more. These cheapie sets are hard-pressed to hold up for 20 weeks. I wonder how many AK members are currently members of the Antique Wireless Association? I am. We may be able to gather enough like-minded people from the AWA to form a committee, research the issue, and present a case to lobby Congress for legislation that would help to pave the way for a revival of the electronics industry here. With sets that last longer and are built to be repairable when they do start to experience component failures, the lost art of tv repair would also be revived creating even more jobs for technicians, parts suppliers and dealers of used sets. That would put an end to our glutted market of technicians who are forced to work as telemarketers now since there aren't enough good tech jobs to go around (I did a two-year stint in a Customer Service job for a company that was a thinly-disguised telemarketing outfit ... and is now in deep trouble with the Feds for accounting fraud). Too many repair shops have been put out of business by the cheap disposable sets of today. Even with the rapid-fire development of new technologies and "obsolescence" factored into the equation, quality sets are still a good idea. Those who want the latest bells and whistles will still buy the newest sets as soon as they're introduced, trading in their used sets for a break on the price. The used sets could be sold to those who don't care about having the latest features. Much like the market for used cars, the used tv market could offer something for every budget. As for the argument that we Americans are greedy for wanting good jobs, I don't see anyone clamoring for the current manufacturers to pay a living wage to their workers in third-world countries. The environment? Pollution is going to be worse in countries with no environmental protection laws, so the tree-huggers are cuddling up to the wrong tree if they think that pushing industry out of the USA saves the planet.

Speaking of vintage sets, is there anyone out there who might want to team up with me to develop a set with a modern solid-state chassis in a vintage-replica cabinet and/or a replica cabinet designed for use as an aquarium to help discourage the destruction of authentic vintage tv sets for "color convewrsion" or "fish conversion"?

I suppose I should get off my soapbox and get back to work on that 10" B/W Fada recap in the basement. Please spread the word that there are some out here in tv-land that want to see some changes.