Hey, please don't rain on my parade.

[Kevinpreston3]

What is it with some people that just want to rain on your parade when you are excited about something?

Looks like my search for a vintage hi-fi MAY be over (I will believe it when I see it, a guy I know supposedly has something I might want). I have a lead on this unit, and the guy tells me that it is sharp, but that it may need a little work on the amp. Ok, sounds fine.

So I start looking on the internet for old stereo repair guys that really know this stuff. I found a guy not too far away with a site, and he looked knowledgeable.

So I rang him up. I immediatly noticed that he was the knowledgable, but outspoken kind of guy. You know the type.

Yes he could fix my problem. No, you don't have to replace all the caps like some "hobbyist" guys tell you one should. Yes, just unbolt the main unit and bring down, he has all the parts and schematics. Ok, sounded good.

But what annoyed me was the undercurrent to this guy, his attitude towards what I had. He kept saying, oh yeah, people junked alot of those, they are really not worth anything. And, I hope you didn't pay alot for it. And, they were made by the appliance division of so and so, and not really that good quality. He asked me why I wasn't into Marantz or any of the vintage high end stuff, and I said I was not an audiophile and I didn't want a bunch of components, I wanted a "hi fi".

Before I got off the phone, I knew this guy would not get my business. I want a guy working on something of mine that he hates? I can't imagine someone bringing a car over to me and I say something like "Why did you buy a Porsche 924? It's just an Audi, and really plasticy". That might be true, but why would you say it? Wouldn't you just get into the positives of the car with the guy?

I have heard this so many times. Why would you want to live in Chino, too many cows (nearest farm many miles away). Why would you want an old stereo? What's with the old cars? Why do you race Eldon slot cars, they're the worst! Anything made by American Motors is junk. Why do you drive a domestic car, they are built poorly. Why do you collect those old antiques, they might catch fire when you use them!

URGGGGGGG! Maybe because I appreciate something better than the cheap, Chinese made garbage at WalMart. Maybe I have a sense for good design and aesthetics.

Not sure why people are like this. I almost bought a Pontiac Aztek once--not only because I found it appealing, but just to pi$$ off people like that!

Ok, my rant is off!

 

[petek]

Kevin, what you describe is very common I find as well. Sometimes I think it has to do with the person not knowing what to say at the time, so they grab whatever thoughts, heresays, etc, they have heard or know about on the related subject and just start blabbing away, not always meaning to offend but to carry a conversation.

 

[super32]

Its a wonder anybody would go to his shop! Guys like him give us good guys a bad name. Good a/v service is hard to find, at least around here.

P.S. We drive 2 of the big 3 lol

Scott

 

[maytagbear]

Old saying-

"Opinions are like a-holes. Everyone has one, and they often smell."

So does mine, however, I sometimes admit it.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[mayken4now]

Had this experience before and not even a dollar spent, I said F**K You before I could hang up the phone, angry. why are these folks still in business? I would never!

Steve

 

[dalangdon]

Don't get me started....

On the subject of repair people in Seattle. It's gotten nearly impossible to find one who will even look at anything more than just a few years old. The attitude is always "you should just buy a new one." I can totally understand a repair person not wanting to take a chance on something old that they aren't familiar with, but I'm talking stoves and refrigerators that are only 10 years old.

I once had a guy tell me that the reason that Frigidaire isn't making flairs anymore is because they were a fire hazard, and that if my insurance company knew I had one, they would cancel my policy. He was another one of these know-it-all types.

Personally, I liked Seattle better when there wasn't as much money in town. People were a little more realistic in their expectations of things.

 

[frigilux]

dalangdon----Here, here! While I don't live in Seattle, it's my second home. I spend a few weeks there every summer, then I usually return around Christmas (several close friends in The Emerald City). Anyway, I first noticed (not-always- for-the-better) changes in the mid-to-late 80's when so many Californians sold their properties for huge sums, then moved up to Seattle and drove housing prices through the roof.

I can remember when the Fremont shopping area was full of very independent/non-chain businesses. Ditto the U District and Capitol Hill. I can remember when there wasn't a freakin' name-brand coffee cart every two blocks. Most fondly, though, I remember walking around Pike Place Market and rapping on people's trunks as they drove by, yelling "Don't bring your car to the market!" after them. Ah, yes, those were the days.

Having said all that, Seattle is still my favorite city, hands down. I love to approach downtown from the south on I-5 at night and see the lights reflecting off the water.....

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Dalangdon, more outrageousness

You reminded me of one of the big AMC parts resellers.

I rarely call him, now when I do its mostly for laughs. The whoppers he states are just outrageous.

He's one of those guys that says if you run an old muscle car without adding real lead to it (which you can't really get) you will just blow up your motor. (Of course HE has a source for real lead, but, well, it's a secret you know.) What he's referring to is the fact that lead when used in older cars had a cushioning effect on the valve seats, and without it, you can damage your valve seats. Of course, you can add additives that do this for you. You can also have special work done on your heads to take care of this problem with no performance loss. Me? I have run my 70 Corvette, 69 AMX and 71 Super Bee thousands of miles with some additives. No problem. No one I know running old mills does anything different than I do, and guess what, all the engines are running fine. And if worse case your valve seats were hurt, how is this "destroying your whole engine"? What exactly would "blow up"? Is their plastic explosive in the engine I don't know about?

I called another supposed "Pontiac specialist" about these little oil caps that go on older Pontiac valve assemblies. I needed a few. This guy gives me the old song and dance that an engine that old needs to have special machine work done on it, and special holes drilled here and there and on and on. Like I would allow my vintage 389 anywhere near that ape. Funny how I had the heads done, did all the assembly and reassembly myself, and then super tuned it...and it runs like a watch. I was supposed to drill a hole WHERE?

My buddy is a police officer and he says the same idiots are in the gun collecting hobby. And in toys, and in Sci-Fi, and on and on.

I wish they collectively would go away.

 

[air-waycharlie]

Dealing with our

Kevin and other posters,

I am one of the vacuum "nuts" out here and have had to listen to quite a negative verbal recital over the years about collecting and restoring vintage vacuums. One of my work colleagues went into a loud questioning mode, a few years back, trying to make me look like a kook in front of other workers. I am an airline attendant and we were in the crew room. Most of the other 2300 attendants based in Charlotte know of my hobby, the VCCC and that I had been on QVC selling vacs as well and think it is kind of cool.

After she finished her rant, I calmly said, you know, it's not like I'm an addict, a child porno producer, a pediphiliac, spouse abuser, glue sniffer, animal torturer, arsonist, thief, etc. I simply enjoy vintage vacuums for personal reasons and it is quite harmless in the great scheme of things. After a period of silence, she said, "You know you are right." Then I said, based on your rant, who is the crazy one here? Justice was served!

I offer this opinion, I think those of us that have an appreciation for vintage anything, particularly where form over function or vise-versa is involved, or extreme creativity is shown, it is because we are more evolved than the rest of the folks out there. Just my thought!

Charlie

 

[drmitch]

Well put, Charlie!

 

[perc-o-prince]

Hey Kevin,

I'm pretty new to this forum but I really wanted to chime in. I hope nobody minds

Just smile and keep in mind that all those old "junky", "kooky" things that everyone threw away are just the things that are so rare today. Many of them were failures and discarded because they were not as good as the competition but that makes them all the more interesting. It does to me anyway

I will share my own personal experience with you. More than a decade ago my partner and I picked up an antique typewriter that we found interesting then we were bitten by the bug (I sure that many of you can relate) and started looking for these fascinating "mundane" items. It was almost embarrassing to ask dealers for typewriters because we would generally hear "Why would ANYONE want those boat anchors" or they would just shake their heads while making some stupid remark about how they don't deal with them because nobody collects them. "We do! " was our answer which would usually elicit some more stupid remarks!

Now more than a decade and over 800 typewriters later (yes I'm sure that most of you think me crazy) We have major museums contacting us for information as well as participating in a History Channel production. Not to mention several large cover stories on the antique trade papers.

Am I bragging? I don't think so or at least I don't mean to. I am proud of the things that we've accomplished but I am much more pleased that we didn't let anyone discourage us nor tell us what we should collect. Collect what you like, how you like and when you like and spend what you want/can regardless of what the "trend" dictates. Trends change!!! We've never been disappointed and have a lot of wonderful memories and friends for it. Also keep in mind that while these non-understanding people are coming home to a place that just screams "which way to radiology" with their cheap, plastic, mass produced toasters and just as dismally boring, poorly made appliances / furnishings you still can come home to a place that will make you smile and be truly happy about where you are and the choices that you've made. What more can you ask for? In the wise words of Martha Stewart....That's a good thing!

OK you can all wake up now!!! Hope I didn't put y'all to sleep

My very best,
Rich

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Rich great post...

I am glad you "chimed in" and I don't think you are crazy at all. Let me know when you reach 1000 units. If I ever travel to the east coast I would love to see your collection. I have my dad's college "Remington Rand" unit in original case, and I bought another very similar one that is a slightly different color. These would be from around 1947.

As far as trends are concerned, my wife and I started using "New Fiesta" for our own everyday dishes over 11 years ago because we hated all the floral "daisy" patterns out then. This was back when about the only people who even knew that Homer Laughlin was still making Fiesta was the restaurant trade--and a few others. Since then, you see Fiesta contantly on commercials and wanna-be's in everthing from the mall stores to Target. We were retro, as I am sure people like Versatronic and dlangdon and many others here, before retro was retro. Now suddenly retro is "out" in some circles. I could care less.

What is in and out is perpetuated by the same dimwits that I went to high school with, and now they have grown up. I remember when I was in high school, you were wearing "highwaters" if your pants did not scrape the floor. Kids were ripping the hems out of their jeans just to get that extra 1/2" to the floor. And you never, EVER wore anything but dark socks with jeans, or you were a geek.

A few years later, Michael Jackson walks on stage with high pants and then, hey, its ok to wear any length on pants. And if you wore any thing but white socks with jeans, or bare feet, you were wierd.

That's around the time I gave up caring what people think, beyond the annoyances I have outlined previously.

 

[michaelman2]

Charlie...Great story about the idiot in the crew lounge..you handled that wonderfully!

 

[petek]

Hi Perc o Prince... don't be afraid to post some pics of your typewriters. While not a typewriter collector per se.. I did happen to drag home today,, an SCM Electra 120 with manual carriage return.. LOL I just couldn't let it sit there and only $5 including the wonderful hard case. Hmm and didn't I drag home an IBM Selectric a few months back. Would love to see some pics of very vintage electrics and/or non electric office biggies if you have some.

 

[petek]

Coincidentally reading todays Dear Abby or whoever it is now touched on this subject but was about a woman who was getting p offed with all the negative commentary because she has 4 boys and a baby enroute. I thought the Abby's answer was a bit to genteel, I tell them to p right off.

 

[Kevinpreston3]

Fun for Pete and others

Just pulled the answer from yahoo Dear Abby. Won't print the whole letter for copyright considerations, but I have modified her answers below.

DEAR MOM: There is no end of presumptuous comments that people make, trying to be funny, trying to be "helpful" or simply out of intrusiveness. Rather than losing your temper, try to handle them with humor. For those "wits" who say, "You DO know how to prevent pregnancy, don't you?" smile and reply, "Of course we do, but our dream has always been to have a large family."

-------------------------------------
Nah. I would go with "Yes I do, too bad YOUR mom didn't."
-------------------------------------

And to the person who lectures you about the cost of higher education, give a wink and grin, and say, "Thanks for pointing that out. When the time comes, we'll hit you up for a loan."

-------------------------------------

Nah, I would go with "Let me know which college you went to so I can avoid sending my kids there. If they graduated you, the bar must be set really, really low."

 

[perc-o-prince]

did someone say they want to see TYPEWRITERS

Hi Kevin and Pete,

Glad you didn't nod off from my long winded post <laugh>

Anyone is welcome to see our typewriter collection (With a little notice. Gotta make sure the spoolies are out of my hair!) Toys aint no fun unless you can share them with others!!

If you would like a peak at some of them then just go to our website at typewriter.rydia.net . I think that you might just find out that you never knew that typewriters were so different. Check out the Child's typewriters as well as the Gardner typewriter. VERY funky!

Because of space limitations we decided to limit our collecting to mostly typewriters from the 1870's thru 1930's. I'm not that familiar with the SCM Electra but I don't think you could go wrong for $5. The IBM selectric is a paper pounding beast that is still being used in offices today (though nobody will admit it and they keep them hidden) for filling in forms as well as envelopes.

Pete, I will see if I can get a couple of shots of the prototypes / inventors models of the 1st electric typewriter as we all know it. These came from the IBM collection which was disbanded a few years ago. They are very cool. One was built to be driven with a jack shaft powered by steam or water. They are some of the favorites in our collection.

Till later,
Rich

http://typewriter.rydia.net

 

[ironrite]

Kevin, I e/mailed a couple of my phono/record collector friends in Northern CA to see if they could suggest someone for you. No luck in anybody specific. What was recommended was checking for any Southern California Radio clubs that may have a list of technicians that can work on the new HiFi.

Also, a couple of years ago my Aunt and I went to downtown Pomona, their antique row. I recall a large store there, 3 levels and in one section was large phonograph dealer. They may have some leads for you. Sorry, don't recall the name of the store, but it's on the north side of the antique row street and close to Geary intersection of that street.

I've posted this link, it used to be Antique Tube and Radio Supply in Tempe, AZ, appears they changed their name. When I lived there, I found them to be very helpful and friendly. They may have leads as well on a good technician in your area.

http://https//secure.tubesandmore.com/

 

[bostonwash]

Charlie, You handled that so well. I probly would have just ignored them. It wouldn't have stopped me, but I wouldn't have bridged that gap so well like you did.

I also think your right about people who collect things. We are harmless in general and aware and rational about our interests. There are those who may not be comfortable with their own interests.
Life is a journey of discovery it is said.