A: I am fine, how are you?
Q: Why aren't your books in stores?
A: My books are not mass-market items, they are unique specialty books
produced
by me personally in small quantities. Unit cost is very high. If they
were
in stores, they’d have to be $50-$75 each! “Real” publishers know that
our hobby is
not
widespread enough to justify mass-market books of a high caliber. That
my
books exist at all is due to the fact that for me they are a creative
expression
and a labor of love.
Q: Do you have any threes?
A: Go Fish.
Q: How big are your books? How
many
pages?
A: As you know, these radios and TVs are very interesting to look at. I
make my books very interesting to look at too, in the same way. If you
like the way these little radios and TVs look, you will love my books.
Now to
some people, all this is irrelevant. They want bulk. But is “bulk” the
way to measure the value of a radio? A sports
car? A pretty girl? Why
someone more interested in quantity than quality would be interested in
these little radios and TVs at all, I don’t know.
The best measurement of my books is
not
the number of pages,
but the number of objects they show, and the total number of images
they
contain. That’s why I give those numbers in each book’s description.
These books are chock full
of pictures–they’re a visual feast!
Q: Yes,
but
will I get
my money’s worth?
A: Yes you will indeed. I guarantee it! Thousands of collectors
worldwide enjoy my books. I’m so confident you will too that I
guarantee your satisfaction or your money back, including the
postage.
Q: What makes these books so
special?
Well, we’re talking about two basic categories of books: black &
white and color. The black & white books make
no pretense to fine photography, but offer comprehensive coverage of
each radio brand with photos of each model and comment. Though not
visually on par with the color books, they are unique and valuable
to
collectors.
The
color books are a new concept in
collector books. Specialized to a single brand or theme, they contain
more images, and of far better quality,
than in other collector books three times as thick! Most other books
out there cheap out on pictures and waste page after page with long,
meaningless
descriptions. Fewer than 10% of the items described are even pictured
in
many of those books! And for the most part, the pictures you do get are
poorly-lit
little snapshots. In my books, pictures are king! Every
item described is pictured. The text is lively and informative,
yet
it never gets in the way of the big, clear, well-lit photos.
Q: Can I get a
discount on your books?
A: We collectors are bargain-hunters, I know that. Anyone who combs the
flea markets as you and I do is a bargain hunter. But my books are not
used items sold at salvage value. Don’t let the flea market experience
skew your perception of the true value of research, design, labor, and
production. Many radio collectors
buy each one of my books as soon as it comes out. They are loyal
supporters
of
my efforts and I appreciate them very much. It would be unfair to those
who
have supported my work all along if I were to give a discount to others
who
come later. I do offer the discount of a single shipping charge as an
incentive to multiple purchases.
Q: When are you
going to
combine all your books into one volume and sell it to us for less than
it
costs you to make?
A:
I’ve found that those who ask this question usually went to college in
the ’60s or ’70s, when economics departments were generally staffed by
people
who were Marxist, just plain silly, or both. Losing money on each
transaction does not sound like a great business plan to me. I'm sorry!
Q: Do you have any
fours?
A: Go Fish.
Return to bookstore to see more transistor and crystal radios