Re: Weekend Yard Sale score

[wmharps@xxxxxxxxx]

Richard wrote:
> I've been reflecting lately that eBay has destroyed the yard sale
> bargain. 

While ebay may have destroyed yard sale and pawn shop bargains for items like 
vintage Fender amplifiers and old Leica camera equipment, it has created 
marvelous opportunities in other areas.  For example, I have a fairly complete 
collection of pre-WWII manufactured Marine Band harmonicas, all bought on ebay 
for an average price of about $12 each.  I don't know how I would have found 
these without ebay, it might have taken a lifetime of scouring antique and 
second-hand stores.  

I also have a few vintage microphones purchased from ebay, including a pair of 
Lafayette crystal Slim-X clones ($20 for the pair), a Shure 545SD ($45 with two 
mic stands and three cables), a couple of Electro Voice 924s (crystal lavalier 
mics, less than $15 each) and a beautiful Geloso crystal mic ($45), which is 
easily worth three times what I paid for it.  I have also bought a few old 
handmade Meisterklasses for less than $20 each, and a couple of pieces of 
perfectly servicable Harman Kardon stereo equipment.  

- -tim