Goodwill/SA/Thrift Store Discussions & Finds

Ironwolf said:
We have winners. The pieces are a hafler dh-200, hafler 500 and an onkyo a-10. I did leave my # with two different business with the hopes the owner will come looking for them. Did not tell the business what they were but said I found and took home something someone left behind and if the owner comes looking for them to give my # to contact me.
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You did the right thing. I wouldn't have been able to just leave them there, but I couldn't refuse to return them to the rightful owner either. The hard part is the painful period of waiting now for a call that may or may not ever come. ;)
 
janikphoto said:
I scored a Hickok tube tester this weekend! We'll see if I can learn how to use it.
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Which model?

They're all pretty easy to use, though I would download and print out the tube charts rather than relying on the roll charts. They're convenient, but often a PITA to roll.
 
johnebravo said:
You did the right thing. I wouldn't have been able to just leave them there, but I couldn't refuse to return them to the rightful owner either. The hard part is the painful period of waiting now for a call that may or may not ever come. ;)
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I agree completely. I would not be able to enjoy them if it was me and I didnt give due diligence to solving the mystery.
I am curious tho, how long did you stand there pinching yourself.:)
 
Ironwolf said:
We have winners. The pieces are a hafler dh-200, hafler 500 and an onkyo a-10. I did leave my # with two different business with the hopes the owner will come looking for them. Did not tell the business what they were but said I found and took home something someone left behind and if the owner comes looking for them to give my # to contact me.
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Good move IW, hope (or not hope) you get a call. What does one consider sufficient time without contact to consider them abandoned? Never?

janikphoto said:
I scored a Hickok tube tester this weekend! We'll see if I can learn how to use it.
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I can't believe you'd post that without a pic!

You know that :worthless
 
Ironwolf said:
We have winners. The pieces are a hafler dh-200, hafler 500 and an onkyo a-10. I did leave my # with two different business with the hopes the owner will come looking for them. Did not tell the business what they were but said I found and took home something someone left behind and if the owner comes looking for them to give my # to contact me.
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Dang, I'm always forgetting stuff. What's your number? Oh, and what city did I leave these in again? :D
 
mech986 said:
What does one consider sufficient time without contact to consider them abandoned?
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Many mechanics liens are 90 days. I would think that to be an adequate amount of time in this situation.

That said, I would leave them untouched for that period but then use them rather than sell them in case the rightful owner ever showed, but that's just me.
 
I found an ampex stereo console at a estate sale for $68....and had it completely rebuilt! Frequency range exceeds that of a Harmon Karmin.
 
Yeah, I remember when that one came out, and then the crash happened. Kasey Casem announced the artwork change on AT40 that weekend. A very sad event. A very rare print!
 
Snookered on Goodwill Auction Buy

Bought (auction high last bid) a Sansui 9090DB this week ($612, I think). Came fast from Indiana via Fedex, shipping alone cost $60+. Saw a few 9090DB's in past few weeks on GW auction site, fell asleep, got otherwise occupied, didn't bid, or got outbid. Wasn't gonna let this one go by(e). Well, maybe I should have let this one get away. Yup, red 'prot' lite blinking. Don't know how they photo'ed it, two of the bottom round black foot things missing, screen that should cover big heatsink in back missing. Leastwise and TG, all front levers, knobs, etc. are present. Wood case a bit beat up, but that's what I do ! May not work a lick, but that case is gonna look mighty purty!

Already found several bad diodes on the driver board F-2426, but all caps tested so far are OK. All 8 power trannies in back look like someone scraped all of them across a concrete driveway. The 4 NPN's (2SD424) test well w/ Hfe 41-45. The PNP's (2SB554) are wacky, test good(?) but w/ Hfe's ranging 13 28 68 and 74.

I wanted one of these beasts, I bought it, I'm gonna fix it. If it was easy, I guess I would not appreciate it as much as I will when done. In the meantime I will listen to my sweet 9090 bought in mid 1970's at a Sam Goody just north of Radio City Music Hall on same side of 6th and a block or so south of 'Blackrock' where I worked at CBS. Red light on that one was blinking away, too, until my good high school buddy, George Altemose, electronics engineer, 'par excellence', and his co-worker, Ed Palmese, helped me restore it this past Fall.

Moral of this ? Know what you're doing, or know people who do (and who are willing to assist), have a lot of time on your hands, and ALWAYS be wary of long distance buys from outfits like Goodwill. Buy local if at all possible where you can see before you buy.
 
TubeRelic said:
Bought (auction high last bid) a Sansui 9090DB this week ($612, I think). Came fast from Indiana via Fedex, shipping alone cost $60+. Saw a few 9090DB's in past few weeks on GW auction site, fell asleep, got otherwise occupied, didn't bid, or got outbid. Wasn't gonna let this one go by(e). Well, maybe I should have let this one get away. Yup, red 'prot' lite blinking. Don't know how they photo'ed it, two of the bottom round black foot things missing, screen that should cover big heatsink in back missing. Leastwise and TG, all front levers, knobs, etc. are present. Wood case a bit beat up, but that's what I do ! May not work a lick, but that case is gonna look mighty purty!

Already found several bad diodes on the driver board F-2426, but all caps tested so far are OK. All 8 power trannies in back look like someone scraped all of them across a concrete driveway. The 4 NPN's (2SD424) test well w/ Hfe 41-45. The PNP's (2SB554) are wacky, test good(?) but w/ Hfe's ranging 13 28 68 and 74.

I wanted one of these beasts, I bought it, I'm gonna fix it. If it was easy, I guess I would not appreciate it as much as I will when done. In the meantime I will listen to my sweet 9090 bought in mid 1970's at a Sam Goody just north of Radio City Music Hall on same side of 6th and a block or so south of 'Blackrock' where I worked at CBS. Red light on that one was blinking away, too, until my good high school buddy, George Altemose, electronics engineer, 'par excellence', and his co-worker, Ed Palmese, helped me restore it this past Fall.

Moral of this ? Know what you're doing, or know people who do (and who are willing to assist), have a lot of time on your hands, and ALWAYS be wary of long distance buys from outfits like Goodwill. Buy local if at all possible where you can see before you buy.
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GW is not the best place to buy equipment.
Often times their photos are vague and description overly optimistic.
There's no guarantee and the shipping is expensive - if not very professionally packed.

I used to watch their auction site very closely and became very suspicious that they were employing shill bidders.

IMO GW is not a trustworthy organization any more.
 
Yep. I am slowly learning my lesson buying vintage gear off of goodwill.com. Sometimes the stuff works fine (Carver 500T only needing bulbs), and other times not, (Carver T24 no output). It's a crapshoot sometimes not worth taking a chance on. :)
At least you know how to fix them. Good luck on your 9090DB project.
 
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