Why I Love Military Surplus

jlsem · 26th December 2004, 12:29 AM

One resistor in box:

jlsem · 26th December 2004, 12:31 AM

Wrapped in foam rubber:

jlsem · 26th December 2004, 12:33 AM

With foil-lined pouch:

jlsem · 26th December 2004, 12:38 AM

Wrapped in crepe paper. A beautiful thing. The value of this resistor (written around the body) is 1,590,539 ohms +/- .03%!

mpmarino · 26th December 2004, 01:39 AM

That's pretty funny.

I see similar things at work all the time, such as buying a single rack screw from Lucent Technologies. Ya know, 2 bags(1 anti-static of course), a warranty card and a manual.

It's just plain funny...

Happy holidays all!

Sch3mat1c · 26th December 2004, 01:44 AM

Hahah. Bet the cost is through the roof!

Unless you're in the military... then everyone pays exactly one (insert absurd fraction here) 'nth the cost.

Tim

Geek · 26th December 2004, 05:28 AM

Ah, yes! The well-known "secret" of the $10,000 resistor - $1 for the resistor and $9,999 diverted to fund "non-existant" places, like Area-51

sam9 · 26th December 2004, 06:26 AM

I once worked for a company making microwave systems. The government wanted $10 worth of spare parts and isuused a full scale RFQ. It wasn't worth while from our point of view because the adminstrative cost was greater by a couple of orders of magnitude than the value of the parts. "Why don't we just give them to you?", customer service suggested.

BIG, BIG ensuing flapadoodle!!! The suggestion was taken as an improper and corrupt atempt to influence future procurements.

Geek · 26th December 2004, 12:21 PM

Oh, for * sake! Even 7-11 is like that. A good 30% of their profit is from penny candy. I sourced a supplier for them (I was an assistant manager) that could supply the same product (brand name and everything) for 1/4 the cost. I was officially reprimanded for my suggestion

The bigger the organization, the stupider they get

jackinnj · 26th December 2004, 01:51 PM

at the end of WW-II, my father, stationed in the Pacific as a "Torpedo Mate, First Class" , was ordered to dump overboard all of the tools, milling equipment, lathes etc. in order to prevent another depression. Of course, the administration of FDR believed that inflation was the big problem when they took over in 1933 !

Mil stuff has been a boon to people learning electronics -- our ham radio clubs were given the Navy electronics courses, everyone cut their teeth on an AN/ARC-5 transmitter with its 1625 (like an 807) finals, used BC-348 receiver -- even got to experiment in the low microwave area.

the military keeps giving -- search the web for their auctions of used test equipment -- my HP3336B signal generator with a 10MHz ovenized reference -- was full of sand and dust when it arrived but works like a champ!

26th December 2004, 01:44 AM	#6
Sch3mat1c diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Milwaukee, WI	Hahah. Bet the cost is through the roof! Unless you're in the military... then everyone pays exactly one (insert absurd fraction here) 'nth the cost. Tim __________________ See my Electronics webpage -- the home of Vacuum Tube Drag Racing. The key to being a successful Audiophile: "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

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26th December 2004, 01:39 AM	#5
mpmarino diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Crunchville, where I don't fit in.	That's pretty funny. I see similar things at work all the time, such as buying a single rack screw from Lucent Technologies. Ya know, 2 bags(1 anti-static of course), a warranty card and a manual. It's just plain funny... Happy holidays all!

26th December 2004, 05:28 AM	#7
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Ah, yes! The well-known "secret" of the $10,000 resistor - $1 for the resistor and $9,999 diverted to fund "non-existant" places, like Area-51

26th December 2004, 06:26 AM	#8
sam9 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Left Coast	I once worked for a company making microwave systems. The government wanted $10 worth of spare parts and isuused a full scale RFQ. It wasn't worth while from our point of view because the adminstrative cost was greater by a couple of orders of magnitude than the value of the parts. "Why don't we just give them to you?", customer service suggested. BIG, BIG ensuing flapadoodle!!! The suggestion was taken as an improper and corrupt atempt to influence future procurements.

26th December 2004, 12:21 PM	#9
Geek diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2004	Oh, for * sake! Even 7-11 is like that. A good 30% of their profit is from penny candy. I sourced a supplier for them (I was an assistant manager) that could supply the same product (brand name and everything) for 1/4 the cost. I was officially reprimanded for my suggestion The bigger the organization, the stupider they get

26th December 2004, 01:51 PM	#10
jackinnj diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Llanddewi Brefi, NJ	at the end of WW-II, my father, stationed in the Pacific as a "Torpedo Mate, First Class" , was ordered to dump overboard all of the tools, milling equipment, lathes etc. in order to prevent another depression. Of course, the administration of FDR believed that inflation was the big problem when they took over in 1933 ! Mil stuff has been a boon to people learning electronics -- our ham radio clubs were given the Navy electronics courses, everyone cut their teeth on an AN/ARC-5 transmitter with its 1625 (like an 807) finals, used BC-348 receiver -- even got to experiment in the low microwave area. the military keeps giving -- search the web for their auctions of used test equipment -- my HP3336B signal generator with a 10MHz ovenized reference -- was full of sand and dust when it arrived but works like a champ!

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