Well, who can disagree but no going back.
Now that we are here again, lets discuss if anything has changed in ten years.
My guess is that most VK'ers are here because the TV hobby has very limited online forums. The midwest seems to be the epicenter of TV collecting
and I seem to be an island of TV insanity in my locale anyway.
I became obsessed with late 50s early 60s color sets 38 years ago.
after learning how to use a B&K 1077B TV analyst.
Had I known the prices of today, I would have looked much harder for roundies and saved more sets
.
Antique radio is popular due to the smaller size and large variety, allowing collectors to indulge without comitting a large space. (or being comitted
) Plus, you need to practice working safely on radios before you ever go down that old TV rabbit hole.
Most observations at the Kutztown swap meet (past weekend) is that its mostly about radios and parts, with an emphasis on getting more projects for oneself. I took home about 8 fixer-uppers and spent the $$$ I made selling other things. I see many folks there with interesting, polished-perfect, even rare radios and related items at market prices, which are justified by their efforts. I hope they do well with the visitors but I'm a budget shopper. My favorite seller is this couple from Mass. with a trailer full of radio bargains!
Radios locally do command higher prices, when sold alongside other antiques. Few radios are found in antique places for some reason, but furniture, glassware signs, etc are in all of them here.
Fortunately, I can still find 1930s-60s project radios for $5-15 just like I did over 40 years ago. You can then spend 2 hours and capacitor money on a plastic set only to get $40-50 for it as "restored". If you spend more time on a floor model and it plays super, you could get $300 or more, but only from the right buyer.
The northeast US is radio-oriented and even local CL is full of projects (cheap to delusionally overpriced) right now.