This part of V-R has been showing as *** WILL RE-OPEN SOON *** for a long time now ... maybe a couple of years?

If there is no intention of re-opening it "soon" as stated, then maybe delete it altogether.

It will re-open though there is no target date. The reason it hasn't been removed is for search engine optimisation reasons. Sites go down in search engine rankings when they become significantly smaller in a short space of time.

I am going to go with a suggestion that was e-mailed to me a while back - last year I think. I will revert to the original code that existed before but there will be a blanket ban on commercial sales. This basically means that if a collector or restorer wants to offload some surplus stuff that he owns (cabinets, chassis, valves, knobs, etc) then this type of sale will be permitted. Sales offering new parts such as dial glasses, capacitors, resistors, flexible cords, etc will not be permitted.

To be honest, whilst enjoying the relative peace and quiet since this forum was locked, I'd long forgotten about it. What I can do in the interim is alter the text in the forum description so it doesn't stand out as much as it does now.

there will be a blanket ban on commercial sales

Works for me.

WILL RE-OPEN SOON

Soon is a relative term ... I think that area has been closed off since before covid came along.

EDIT: actually I didn't realise it was still open for reading, just assumed it was inaccessible.

The padlock symbol means that people cannot contirbute a post. Every thread here is still accessible though, apart from Forum 13 which was changed from the unused Club News to a temporary feature suggestion forum that was a part of a project I never got to finish - replacing this website with a new one.

This happened at a time of great change in life for me and I was never able to go back to it.

It's hard to imagine that this site turns 19 around June or July and the forums turn 17 in November as they were added after the original site was published.

Brad, going the way you describe, no commercial sales, sounds right to me.
When I want a new part, I just log onto ebay and go from there, the guys who have new dials and caps and cords and resistors advertise there in bulk anyway.
This forum does not need the silly stuff that went on previously with children sniping away.

However, if I want a special valve or some small part, I would prefer to ask on this forum and buy from a member.
I do not belong to any other forums or clubs or groups in order to reduce my exposure to scams.
Try having your bank account raided through an innocent app and you will know why.

Example, I could do with a 1M5-G valve for the farm set I fixed up last year.
It would be so easy just to drop a line in the forum first up, forum members know what a 1M5-G is!

If the Forum could be opened up in that way it would be a benefit.

Fred.

100% in agreement with Fred.

I have a collection of parts specific to this forum's field left to me by a deceased friend and mentor. I give away what I can't use for the sake of keeping radio gear from another century 'alive' for future generations to enjoy. (and hopefully think about their predecessors knowledge)

I will not advertise nor sell these parts. From time to time I read members' requests for parts, and if I have such parts I pass them on freely.

The Forum works well for me in this respect.

+2 for Freds comments

Perhaps if it was just a section for "Wanted or Needed" for the one offs only and omitting the "For sale" items. This would help people source parts that are otherwise unobtainable. We all have bobs and bits lying around that can sometimes help out others. These forums are usually the best place for this type of outlet.

I believe the for sale capability should remain, with the limitations proposed by Brad. It was working fine for years.

IMO, if a member steps out of line, then that individual should be dealt with. The reminder of the membership should not be disadvantaged.