Hallicrafter 1946 Black & White-Television - $500 (Milwaukee )

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by ohohyodafarted

Looks like most of the collectors here don't agree with you Jim. And it sure is odd how you posted your opinion justifying this set's high value only minutes after I sent the owner a link to this discussion here on AK.

I have been in touch with this guy (he is in my town) and he tells a story that is quite unbelieveable.

Here is what he wrote me And note: he types in all caps yelling at me.

Oh yes, and BTW, that set in my avatar is a pristine fully restored 1951 Halli 820 with NOS crt and there is no way it would ever fetch $500. It just isn't that rare. And rarity, condition and age are what determines a sets value, not some story about how it was stored in the attic for 50 years and was never used. Yea Right!

To be honest, I wouldn't pay you $50 for your set. I don't care for the styling, and I certainly have no room for it. But a brand new one in the box, even at $500 would sure be tempting.

I have been collecting radios and televisions for well over 30 years. A pristine original radio or TV with all original packaging has always been worth more than a similar model used or restored. Rarity and supply/demand are often unrelated in this modern world, just look at eBay pricing for example. All you need to do is find the right buyer at the right time. There are many items from my youth that I would gladly pay big bucks for to have another of, especially in unused original condition, even though others would scoff at me for paying so much. Many of the high prices that are gained on otherwise common sets are because two or more people really want the item for reasons others may not be aware of.

And the same is true for almost any collectable old item. That's just the way it is. Whether as you say most collectors here don't agree with me, I couldn't care less if they do or don't. I do know there are people that would pay to place a set like this in their collection, even if none appear to be in the Milwaukee market and watching craigslist at the moment.

I know this because I have bought and sold many brand new in sealed carton radios over the last 30 years. A TV that may have been in a sealed carton for 40 years is not all together unbelievable, although the story in this case is quite odd. I myself have found lots of 30-60 year old NOS radios and other electronics in unsold store inventories that I bought when local TV/radio dealerships closed shop.

And a strange story, even a bizarre one such as this seller gave you, may not be 100% true, but it could easily have a lot of truth to it. With billions of people on the planet, almost anything can, will, and does happen. You were not present when the seller got the set in 1991, so you can't be 100% sure what he was told by the people he bought it from. His story could in fact be true, or at least the truth as presented to him/her.

And it sure sounds as though you are implying something with your second sentence. Are you alleging I'm shilling for the seller? If so, come on out and say it. For the record, I have had no contact with the seller at all, and I have no idea who he or she is. I merely made observations that many of the early responders here seemed to completely have missed, that being that the set was in new condition complete with it's original box. How many sets like that still exist? That's definitely worth a premium, even if it isn't a valuable set otherwise. I find it insulting that someone with an opinion different than yours would be treated to such an accusatory remark from you.