"Keith G" wrote:

I base my opinion only on the fact that Technics was a smaller brand than
some other famous names and that, in many years of reading various mags, I
don't recall ever seeing anything like 'made by Technics' or similar when
referring to a different manufacturer. Obviously, I could be wrong - moot
now that the Technics brand has been buried!

I am continually impressed and sad by the fact that mags like HFN have many ads for
second hand equipment and rarely any Technics is offered. Given some of it is highly
sought after I have resorted to thinking that they never did penetrate into England
by much, mostly because it was not kosher to buy japanese if you were in England and
need a stereo component. I am inclined to believe that sales people would turn you on
to english brands, or failing that a european/american brand rather than something
from Japan.
This tendency makes any used Technics out there either not available for those of us
who cannot gauge the actual availability by showing up on fleamarkets and fairs. Or
it was thrown out long ago in favour of something else that floggers thought might
better attract customers at their stall. Noone wants to drag something heavy around
to markets when they think any other brand and model would sell better.

As a foreigner I can of course use any online market place to scour for the stuff I
collect, but having already gotten two each of the ESL57 and Quad II required to feel
sufficiently old-school-on-a-budget, I am also looking at a whole lot of a appealing
other old english stuff - while I am actually trying to fullfill my Technics
collection. I cannot count the times when I have wondered if I should add something
like a Radford amp as well. I still need a tube preamp. But logistic of getting these
things to me and the probability of poor handling by the carrier means I am looking
for something for my Technics collection, but the few things I need are far between
and usually requires a lot of work too, which also ties up funds. One should always
add sufficiently to restore an item of the past, as usually noone else did much to it
since it was bought. I also fail to see the fascination many sellers /(and buyers)
have with New Old Stock. To think that something that sat around unused for 20+ years
will be like it was just made. Rubber parts and caps will need tending.
For 5 years of collecting I am only short a few items in my Technics collection, but
I am running out of affordable ways to get the device to then spend money to restore
it. Typically now I am left with all the expensive ways to obtain it, and then face
spending even more making it just somewhat semi useful as well as tolerable to listen
to.

There are still a lot fo Technics equipment around, but mostly it is turntables and
perhaps cassette decks. They made fine equipment but all of it needs servicing just
like any other in order to perform its best. A collector may place mroe value in
ownership than anyone else. But people relying on top performing gear may want to
stick with current productiongear, or acknowledge that they have to pay dearly to
aquire, refurbish and maintain vintage gear - of any brand.

-Mikkel