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Phil Kane · May 6th 08, 10:18 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.moderated

On Tue, 6 May 2008 14:05:11 EDT, wrote:

I think the equipment flow was both an incentive for the volunteers
and a recruiting tool. It certainly was better than simply scrapping
older stuff, or getting a few pennies per pound in surplus.

I am told by a ranking MARS member that the loan/giveaway program
stopped many years ago. We used to see a lot of military surplus gear
on the market even up into the late 1950s - I remember the ARC-5 stuff
that you and I got started with, and the surplus tank low-band FM
receiver that I had for monitoring the Sheriff and the Highway Patrol
before crystallized receivers and scanners became consumer items --
but that's all history now. Post-Korean War stuff never hit the
market.

I am told that what the military doesn't give/sell/loan to foreign
governments and even our own National Guard is scrapped (i.e. crushed
beyond usefulness) , no doubt due to the pressure of the equipment
manufacturers (yes, there are still quite a few left in the USA) who
are more than happy to sell new stuff to amateur and commercial users
alike at listed prices.

There was also the influence of well-known amateurs such as Gen.
Curtis LeMay, Barry Goldwater, Art Collins and even Arthur Godfrey.

Ah yes, the legendary Friday-night Poker School.... (I'm still a
member of the SAC Memorial ARC, as are several others in this group).
--

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

e-mail: k2asp [at] arrl [dot] net