Sometimes the reverse can happen. Quite some time ago, I put out a 'wanted' for a replacement transformer for a Heathkit valve-based VTVM. This transformer is really quite small: there isn't the space to fit a generic substitute. Anyway, a forum member (whom I shall not name) kindly offered me one. Yet despite repeated promises of "I'm getting round to it!" and the eventual ignoring of my subsequent polite reminders and enquiries, everything has gone dead. Of course, there may be very good reasons for all that, but at least some sort of communication to that effect would have been nice.
Al.