Technology

[lynxreign]

This morning I heard a story on NPR about an ex-Los Alamos employee who quit an became an anti-nuke activist in 1969. In 1980 he opened a store called the Black Hole where he primarily sells surplus Engineering and Scientific equipment from Los Alamos.

Or doesn't sell, really. He runs it like an Army-Navy store and only manages to sell 1% of what he buys at the surplus auctions. He apparently has tons of scientific equipment, in great condition, some like new, sitting in a warehouse and his store. Refractometers, Centerfuges, Vaccum Butterfly valves, Oscilloscopes, Geiger counters, and so on.

I thought "Hey, you know who could use this stuff? Universities! It'd be cheaper than what they normally get and they usually operate under tight budgets."

I then thought "You know who's been telling me he occasionally needs new or replacement equipment? jeffwik."

I just wanted to mention it in case any of you are connected to science departments at your universities.

Or if any of you wanted to start a business buying this stuff from that guy and selling it to universities.

Comments

[jeffwik.livejournal.com]

eBay does brisk trade in this stuff.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

I'm just sayin', apparently this guy doesn't use eBay and his prices might be better. He's 85! What does he know from eBay and you whippersnappers with your small first letter and big second letter. The e is a bicycle and the B is pants!

[allegedly.livejournal.com]

The e is a bicycle and the B is pants!


Very, very nicely done!

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

Thanks. : -)

[qahawthorne.livejournal.com]

Zed and I went to see a one man show in which this place was discussed extensively. Apparently he got it started by just driving around and dumpster diving, essentially. They throw out crazy stuff. I wish I could remember how the one man show described the Black Hole because it was fantastic, some of the things he listed as there, and the owner, Ed, seems like such a character.

Zed and I are planning on visiting Trinity someday (drive hours to see a hole, and be exposed to trinitite? awesome!) and we're definitely going to try to check out The Black Hole.

[lynxreign.livejournal.com]

Make sure you go soon. Ed is 85 and has cancer.