Are the days of big woodies over?

[Bushbaby]

Hi All,
I feel in a somewhat similar position to a former member of the this forum (from some while ago) with regards to big old radios. 
I collected a number of these many years ago with a view that I would work on them nearer retirement. However, I didn't make allowance for health issues (severe spinal problems) which means that I can't readily move them and to make matter worse I do need the space too. As such, I am trying to find homes for them albeit no one seems to be interested anymore. Even on a well known auction site, I have noticed that some really good old radio brands from the past are now not selling at all, where they were going easily some 10 years or so ago. 

This leaves me with a big decision - do I scrap what I have (gives me more space and saves money I am spending on storage); do I take components out of them (and scrap the case, chassis etc) to sell, or really cut my losses in try to sell them cheaply / give them away?

I'm at a loss what to do.

Best Regards

Rob

[ppppenguin]

If you're paying for storage then you need to cut your losses. Ask yourself some questions. How much would I make by scrapping them and selling the valves and possibly a few other bits? How much effort would this entail? How would I make by selling them cheaply/giving them away? How much effort would this entail? Is the difference between the two approaches significant?

Let's try putting some numbers on this. Assume there are no PX4s or suchlike lurking that will skew the numbers heavily. My guesses could be miles adrift but what I'm trying to do is help you answer the questions you need to ask of yourself.

1: Take them to the tip. Cash value is zero or slightly negative. Effort is purely transport.
2: Sell/give as complete sets. Let's guess you might make £200 from this but some work needed.
3: Strip, sell bits, remains to tip. Let's guess £300 but a fair bit more work.

My view would be to sell them cheaply/give them away.

[Refugee]

Space is the main problem. It started with radiograms and is working its way down the size scale as new homes get smaller.

[peter scott]

I think there will always be an attraction for big old radios and young and health folk will lap up the interesting ones. The biggest and heaviest I ever worked on was a Murphy A40 and even in my 70s I could almost be tempted to give one a home. (fool that I am.)

Peter

[Nick]

Think about selling to film/TV company props departments... or even offering to local museums... drama groups... scrapping should be a last resort...

[Doodlebug]

Surely your financial situation comes into the equation here.
If you are well heeled I would take the easy way....the local tip.
If you are hard up, then eBay the parts. Study how others sell components,
singly or in small lots first.

[Bushbaby]

I'm thinking that I will let these go relatively cheaply rather than dump them (they don't deserve this).

Best Regards

Rob

[Murphyv310]

Hi Rob.
Selling for parts is not likely to be a very profitable way to go. Valves can fetch reasonable money but beware selling untested used ones. Chassis's rarely make money. Woodies these days unless rare are cheap. Try selling first here, other forums or ebay, don't put them on to expensive as that puts some off.

Nicks idea is excellent.
Lastly don't scrap them if no interest, just give them away for a donation to charity or to a teenager that has a genuine interest, easy for us in the old days but not now.

[G4XWD Jim]

Have a collect only giveaway day and ask for donations.

Jim

[Crackle]

Hi Rob
I am in a similar situation, my interests have changed, and my back is playing up a lot these days.
I had about 70-80 old "woodies" and have slowly been reducing them. The house is not cluttered with them now, we can even see the walls in the living room.
Only the one  now remains in the house occupying space, my KB 888. I still have more smaller wooden radios and a large collection of Rhapsody radios on shelves around the pelmets, but you hardly notice them as they are not on the floor.
My intention was to sell as many as I could privately. I did not offer any courier service, as it seemed such a daunting prospect if say a sudden rush (unlikely I know) resulted in me having a production line of packaging dozens of radios. They take a massive amount of packaging to keep them safe if they are to be thrown around in and out of multiple vans by a courier. I have sold 2 small 1930 radios lately and it took about 1.5 hours for me and the misses to pack them safely and book them in for collection.
It has been going fairly well, nearly all of my more interesting 30's and early 40's radios have gone. Quite a lot of post war radios still to go.
In one case someone bought 14 in one go and had for themselves a ready collection. He sent a van who packed the radios with cardboard and blankets between each one. Other persons have bought them either singularly or at 4 and 5 at a time, and have either collected personally or used private couriers who would pack the radios carefully.

So I think wooden radios, if they are in good condition, are still popular with collectors, and nearly all of my ones were restored to a working condition and reasonable appearance.

How many have you actually got for disposal. If your radios are mostly in an unrestored condition and are not particularly rare then advertising on ebay at a start price of say £10 will probably help ensure they do at least go to a collector rather than a dismantler.
You should still get interested parties at that price, even if postage is not offered, but it may take a while for them all to go.
Its my opinion that the later radios will become more popular with collectors, as nostalgia for the 50's and 60's starts to creep in more. Or at least that's what I am hoping for..

If the BVWS events were still happening I would consider taking some for sale there. I had considered boot sales because they are easy, just rock up and take them out of the boot, no need to cart them dozens of yards from the car to the hall. But the situation changed with the virus.

Good luck.
Mike