The edge of the pile
Do you ever wonder about what happens to materials no longer used by the government? Especially the armed forces? There is an old tradition that the cool stuff gets sold to civilians, to be transformed into fun things. At least, that’s how I was first introduced to the world of amateur radio. An impossible to describe electronic block, after careful poking and prodding, would become a core piece of a radio station.
In fact, there used to be so much military surplus (electronic) around that it was almost a synonym for ham gear. Not so much any more. But, I do remember my first “command set” with nostalgia. I can’t be sure, but it might have come through the hands of a company called Fair Radio Sales, in Ohio.
Today, albeit a bit late to the party, I had the chance to visit their warehouse, and come away with some variable capacitors withdrawn from older gear. The place was fascinating, in a tech-nerd universe way. A room, filled to overflow with things that can only be guessed at by their cryptic military labels. And, as the genial staff member explained, this was just the edge of the pile. There was a larger room, beyond a mysterious door, and then several acres of stuff stored out back in open-faced buildings.
I was humbled. Any company that can continue to exist for decades in a truly niche market (I think they might be alone against the world) deserves a nod. I inquired, and the military no longer releases useful stuff to the market; fear of an unseen enemy, apparently. However, there are tons of matter held in private homes that will, eventually, find its way back to the pile, for another round in the marketplace. My purchase was just a drop in a very, very large bucket.
