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I got a box of old parts, any chance any of it is useful?

At a fundraising event I found a very nice wood box in the electronics section. It has what appears to be a broken decades old multimeter at the top, and drawers full of parts below. There are a couple of small things like switches in there that I know I could use, and a lot of stuff that probably works but modern versions are smaller and easier to fit into things.

I'm basically curious if it would be a shame if I discarded any of the contents. I've got a blog post with photos of the drawer contents here:

https://qaz.wtf/qz/blosxom/2020/03/11/white-elephant-sale

It was labeled as a 1930s "transformer repaare kit", and while I've never repaired (or "repaared") a transformer, I really can't see it as being very useful for that task. Well, except the multimeter, once.

Elijah

------ picks up a soldering iron only a few times a year now

Reply to
Eli the Bearded
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If I had that box and removed anything I thought worth keeping, I would devide the contents up in to what would fit into the post office boxes that are around $ 6 for priority mail shipping. Then put them on ebay for bids starting at $ 1 plus the postage.

You never know what some will buy. I have put some things on the local Craigs list that was basically junk for free just so I would not have to haul it off. Most of it was picked up in a few days. Had some old plastic shutters that I replaced with new ones. Had 3 people wanting the old ones.One was a boy scout leader that wanted them for a project.

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

Maybe, but I expect the hassle to exceed the value. I did find the crystals on ebay, priced ~$5 "as is". I don't know if anyone is buying them, though.

Elijah

------ didn't try searching for the other stuff

Reply to
Eli the Bearded

Those parts are needed for restoring old radios. You don't "repair" an old radio using new parts, do a restoration or repair with original parts.

New parts in an old radio make it worthless for the collector.

w.

Reply to
Helmut Wabnig

Some of those parts are of use/value, some not. If you cba to ebay it, offer it for free, there are people that can use the stuff.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

I did not notice any of the socalled bumble bee capacitors. The black ones with stripes near one end. Those things are scooped up at high prices by the audio nuts.

I have some older radio gear for my ham setup. HOwever I used modern parts as I just wanted the stuff to work and not for the collector value. The outside looks origional and the parts inside make it work like they did about 70 years ago.

Reply to
Ralph Mowery

Not a tube guy, so I'd toss the stuff, myself.

Fun tool though.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

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Reply to
Phil Hobbs

That panel meter, if it works, would fetch a pretty nice price. Neo-vintage / steampunk builders love that stuff. If nothing else, just post that on eBay. Cheers. Rich S.

Reply to
richsulinengineer

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