The Mississippi Historical Radio and Broadcasting Society
| Vol 5 #2 | December 18, 1996 |
News Letter
Gee - it seems just like yesterday that we got the last News Letter out - oh that's right - it was yesterday! But that news letter was written 8 months ago - and just now printed and mailed. This news letter is fresh out of the oven!
First a bit of club business: Dues, Memberships and a year's hiatus. As noted in the last news letter - there was about a year that the news letters were silent - and club activities were diminished while your club president was deeply involved in a business activity. Things should be getting back to normal now - but there is still one point that the officers of the club feel needs to be dealt with: A years dues paid for very little "club". It is the unanimous decision of the Officers and the Board that all memberships that were in force at the last annual meeting should be extended through 12/31/1997.
The Radio Collecting Today column in this issue is going to revisit a subject covered some two years ago - the impact of the Web on all of us is becoming stronger everyday --- a year ago - the "few" were the ones ON the Web - today the "few" are those NOT ON the Web --- Let's face it - the Information Superhighway is roaring along - and soon it'll roar right through your living room!
Even this club now has a presence on the Web: The Mississippi Historical Radio and Broadcasting Society's Virtual Museum is NOW OPEN
Open 24 hours a day - 7 days a week - already over a hundred visitors from around the world!
The address:
http://www.cybertron.com/~comcents
The site contains four "halls" each depicting a part of radio's history as it relates to Mississippi. The basement contains archives of our newsletters; schematics; a copy of our charter and By Laws; and other stuff. It's part of the Common Cents Super Site - who - coupled with Cybertron's generosity - supports the site at no cost to the club. A note of appreciation to Cybertron would be Very nice!
Radio Collecting Today
Nearly two years ago - we talked about our hobby and the possible impact the "Info Super Highway" might have on it. Here is a small quote:
Technology is bringing changes to the hobby in ways that are sure to make a permanent impact. Until recently, there had been very little interest in Radio collecting on the "Information SuperHighway". That seems to be changing. Along with at least one new "radio collecting" electronic bulletin board; the Info super highway is now offering "instant" buying, selling, trading, etc. How this is going to effect the hobby in general and "old media" standards like the "Antique Radio Classified" is unclear - but it is very certain that it will have a strong impact. MHR&BS Newsletter Vol 4 #6 January 1995
We'll - I'm not known for timidity in making prognostication - but this time - I'm well short of the mark! The impact of the Internet on the hobby is not just very strong - it's changing the hobby daily -- and is reaching far in to every area of the hobby. In my observation - I noted "instant buying and selling" of radios and related items. Turns out that this is probably the least effected area - while it can and does happen - most people don't like that kind of "trading" and avoid it. Where the explosion of growth of sales on the InterNet has taken place is in Auctions - conducted live 24 hours a day - 365/6 days a week. One such auction is conducted by eBay. Located on the west coast - eBay runs a very solid auction - well managed by the system - and policed (very well) by the participants themselves. In a typical week there may be 20 to 100 radios bought and sold - ranging from ubiquitous 40's and 50's AC/DC sets and relatively common transistors -- right up through Cathedrals, TransOceanics, Regency TR-1's, and other very esoteric sets. Since a typical auction runs a week (though they can run anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks) - everyone has a fair chance at each radio. Each item for sale is listed - with a description, opening bid required, current high bid, and other pertinent information. If you wish to bid - you click on the "bid" button - and enter the Max amount you'll go. The system automatically enters a bid - only high enough to outbid the other bidders - to the limit of your maximum. If someone comes along and places a bid higher than your current bid - the system will automatically raise your bid - again to the limit you set. If the other bidder's max is higher than yours - then they become the "new" high bidder. You can up your max bid at anytime (even before you are outbid - the systems will not let you bid against yourself). Like any auction - up to the closing time for that item (which is plainly stated) anyone can place bids - and the price goes up until no one else bids - and/or the closing date/time for that item passes - in which case the system advises that the bidding is closed - and the seller and the high bidder are each notified by E-Mail that they have a contract. Via E-Mail - details of payment and shipping info is exchanged - and once that is done - the item is shipped. eBay not only has radios - but antiques, jewelry, clothing, CD's, trading cards, stamps, coins, cars (yes - I've seen $15,000 cars in the auction!) Houses and yachts (Yup over $200,000 worth in one case!)... Sometimes it even gets a little silly - like the guy who was mad about his new puppy poodle pooping his floor - so he scooped some into a baggie and placed it on the auction- worse yet - somebody bid on it ($2.75).
Auctions aren't the only place to buy and sell - several individuals and companies have antique stores on the Net - though their prices for radios are what you would expect from an antique dealer - HIGH! Nothing new or different from "the old way" here. Buyer Beware! Be Careful - and Be patient!
Another area where the Net is having a very strong impact is in information and entertainment. Virtual Museums, data archives, areas like our site that educate, entertain and enlighten. This is an area where the Net is fullfilling it's mandate - it's reason for being.
We would like to expand the Museum - we need ideas - pictures - stuff. All suggestions welcome - so be thinking about it!
Calendar of EventsHouston Vintage Radio Assn.
MEGA AUCTION
Jan 17- 19
Tides II Hotel, Lai Lai Suite Houston
Florida Wireless Group
ESTATE SALE
Feb 1 Orlando Florida
Until next time ---- GOOD COLLECTING!
© 1996 The Mississippi Historical Radio and Broadcasting Society.
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