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Author
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Topic: Finding and collecting 'unflown' hardware?
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gcarlspace
New Member Posts: 1
From:
Registered: May 2024
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posted 05-31-2024 09:24 AM
  
I'm interested in collecting hardware from the Space Race - particularly anything from the Apollo program (Saturn, CSM, LM). Flown hardware is definitely well outside of my price range.Being an engineer myself, I'm well aware of the sheer amount of hardware that gets made that doesn't reach space — development parts, test parts, qualification articles, training mockups, flight spares, etc. I'm assuming the Apollo program was no different and has a wealth of very cool hardware that never went to space. My question is, anyone have advice for finding/buying such hardware? Most internet searches result in flown hardware, which is mostly outside of my price range. Searches like 'NASA surplus' result in some findings, but it's mostly junk. I'm interested in just about anything, as long as you can distinctly tell what it is and where it goes on the rocket or spacecraft. I'd like to avoid things like connectors or bolts that could be used anywhere. Things like struts, panels, brackets, etc., would be great and probably more within my price range if they're unflown. |
Axman
Member Posts: 463
From: Derbyshire UK
Registered: Mar 2023
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posted 05-31-2024 09:46 AM
I think your major problem would be provenance, or to be more precise a considerable lack of provenance.(If a part is up for sale saying it is a Saturn V 'thingamajobby', how do you know it wasn't created in my Albanian grandmother's garage yesterday?) Being an engineer yourself, and as you have pointed out the caveat regarding ordinary parts such as bolts, etc., I think you might appreciate the problem. Stuff for the Apollo program was made by the million. Anything worthwhile collecting on an obvious basis would have provenance going back to the part not being used, but being curated. I would imagine curated parts to be as rare, if not rarer, than flown items on the open market. Any part which was neither flown nor curated would essentially fall into the 'bolt' category. Whichever way, it would be worthless and thrown; or so common as to be worthless or unrecognised as being valuable, and therefore not up for sale. I understand and feel your frustration around price, but to be honest, as you didn't collect at the time then like any hobby as a newcomer you will have to pay top dollar or be the best sleuth in order to get anything worthwhile. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 3069
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-31-2024 10:07 AM
I would try Norton Sales in California. While their website is now Norton Space Props they typically have space type hardware. Worth a conversation in my mind. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5351
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-31-2024 11:22 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Axman:
I think your major problem would be provenance, or to be more precise a considerable lack of provenance.
Provenance determination is significantly less of a challenge for unflown hardware then items which are claimed to be flown. Norton sales has long ago depleted the majority of its inventory of flight vehicle hardware available for retail sale and altered its buisiness model. What remains is principly retained by the owner for other applications (leasing to the entertainment industry). | |
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