[cwmoser]

After reading postings here and pondering on this subject, my thinking is evolving
back moreso to restore the electronics working condition. Within 50 years, there will
be few folks, much fewer than us, who will have the capability to restore the
electronics anyway. Preserving working restored sets I think is a good thing for our
grandchildren to cherish.

As far as cabinetry, I like the patina of an original finish but if the finish is not
presentable then refiniishing is in order no matter how rare the set.

As time progresses, I wonder *who* is going to take ownership of all these carefully
cared for television sets we now possess? There are only a handful of museums and
most of the young folks are not interested in antiques much less an old black
and white television they don't identify with from *their* childhood.

Do you think there will be a renaissance with the younger crowd where they will
someday seek out the things we cherish, like antique radios, televisions, and telephones?
Or do you think their restoration activities will be restoring IKEA-like furniture they identify with?
If not, where is all this stuff we are "hoarding" going? Perhaps it will be sold at
our Estate Auctions to numerous individuals in "shotgun" fashion. The high bidder
most likely a curious unknowledgeable person who will quickly tire of the item
puts it in his damp basement, attic, or storage shed -- back where we ourselves
liberated the sets. But then, there will be no one to rescue them.

Carl