Does anyone have any idea, statistically, of how many scopes die from
beginners trying to repair them verses those that die to tube harvesters or
relatives who have no interest in "Bob's" old scopes who send them to the
recycler?
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On Wed, May 27, 2020 at 8:42 AM LarryS <vision1@...> wrote:
In answer to your question, ANY time you bring in fresh blood, it's better
for everyone. Every time. No exceptions. A rising tide floats all boats.
Right now, Harley Davidson is facing 'massive restructuring'. Why? Their
rider base is literally dying off.
I'm involved in several other hobbies and pursuits where young blood is
not entering. They are dying. And with it comes a similar intellectual
cannibalism.
As any discipline dies, like analog scopes, the entry price will be lower
and lower. Soon, for rummage sale prices, the once-crown-jewel pieces
become affordable. In 1983, how many 60s fastback Mustangs were parked
behind gas station garages (remember those?) and could be had for a couple
hundred? Many were chopped and otherwise brutalized in ways I can't
describe. But such is the price. Today, they're worth more than most
people's financials.
There were many thousands of units produced of scopes and cars and organs
and everything else. Some will live nice lives and some will die horrible
deaths and grownups understand this. I've been the careless kid and the
fastidious curator, but at both extremes I remembered the Prime Directive:
this thing is MINE, not yours. If you're worried about it, you can buy it
from me and store it away. If not, tough.
If we want a growing following, then we have to let the newbs make their
mistakes and learn as we did - yes, even on top tier equipment. If it
grows enough, someday my old junk might be worth as much as I think it is
now. If not, someone will speak poorly of me as they shovel it all out
into a dumpster after my demise.
Besides, if it tracks like everything else, one day some others will join
your song and these units will skyrocket - at least temporarily. I own a
Hammond console. In 1988, it was dumpster fodder. By 2010, it was $10K.
Today, it's maybe $4k. These things have a cycle and scopes are certainly
no exception.
Anyway, help every newb you can. If they want to try their hand, the
answer is NEVER "let someone else do it". They're gonna do it wrong. Just
as wrong as you and I used to do stuff. The sooner they learn to do it
right, the sooner everything gets better.
L.
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Roy
Thistle
Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2020 10:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [TekScopes] Encouraging beginners: What are we accomplishing?
Hi all TekScopers:
Reading through a long thread, recently posted, caused me to wonder.. just
what are TekScopers accomplishing with threads like this... and why are we
encouraging someone who is "... new to electronics..." to dig into a
475?... one of the most complex, and compact, analog instruments ever
designed.
I suppose.. in consideration... Michael discouraged the use of a Mr.
Carlson super Weller-kluge special, on the 475's pcb(s)... but, ya know...
somewhere the thread... the 475 owner hints he paid 20.00 for 475?, and
he's also got a nonworking? PM3218 too.
So why didn't someone just recommend/... right off the bat... to take the
475 to someone who knows what they are doing... drop another 100.00 on
it... and then he'd have one of the best scopes ever made.
Or alternatively... and better... just start in on the PM3218...itself a
very fine instrument, with a double insulated power supply... and way
overkill, for a beginner.
Look, I'm not unsympathetic... it's just that...too often.. after parting
with some scarce cash... or finding some Tek picked apart in a basement
somewhere, where its been languishing for a generation...I've witnessed the
havoc wreaked by someone trying to "fix" them.
If you want to call me a dumb ass... for thinking this way... well fine...
just PM me to do it. I can't promise I'll reply to that... but, I'll read
your message.
Best regards and wishes.
Roy
