[AMRadio] Shelby NC Hamfest indicators

[donroden at hiwaay.net]

Bill, and Group

I have given up on bringing anything to hamfests. I can think of 
hundreds of things more pleasant than being insulted by ham "buyers" 
that are tire kickers.  Several years ago, I decommissioned a large UHF 
TV transmitter and saved all the nice ( expensive ) relays , switches, 
and meters. Most of the lookers didn't even know what they were looking 
at.   And Yes... I gave a large box full to one Atlanta area ham plus 
another when he followed me home.

Here's the thing.... I have collected most of the rigs I drooled over as 
a kid and have them displayed in the hamshack. A friend found my 
original Heath DX-40 at a hamfest several years ago and presented it as 
a Christmas gift ( thanks W1TV ) . It sits along side rigs I have either 
owned or lusted for.... Meissner Signal Shifter for straight key night, 
Johnson Valiants, Thunderbolts, two complete Collins S-lines, various 
"dc-to-daylight" "shack-in-boxes". Enough walkie talkies to equip a 
large community watch group.  I never sell anything because I won't to 
be insulted by "low-ballers".    If I never turn them on, I just enjoy 
looking at them.      My kids may think otherwise and someday someone 
will be getting perfectly working boat anchors at super low prices.   
"IF" I had gone to Shelby, I would have brought back at least one of the 
radios in the pictures.

Rant Off    W4DNR

On 2021-09-06 3:23 pm, Bill Cotter wrote:

> This year at Shelby the weather couldn't have been better, sunny skies, 
> temperatures in the 80's and humidity in the 60% or so range. The event 
> started out on Friday morning with modest attendance and fleamarket 
> spaces filled. On Saturday there were 25% or so more vendors, and 
> perhaps, 50% more buyers.
> 
> I have seen the parking spaces overflowing with cars in years past 
> years, and the entire fleamarket space sprawling to the fences. In 
> 2021, there was only one parking lot outside the hamfest grounds, with 
> the one across the street closed for construction. The one lot was 
> never filled to capacity, so I will venture to say that there were 
> likely one-third the attendees as in years past.
> 
> Another observation I made over the hamfest days was that prices were 
> at auction levels on first day and about the same on the last day. That 
> was telling in that it was a buyers market and they weren't wildly 
> enthusiastic. Likewise, the majority of sellers didn't seem to lower 
> their prices as time went on to encourage buyers or offerers. Those 
> that did drop cut, went away lighter in weight and dollars. What this 
> says to me is that it is likely that a lot of what I saw for-sale at 
> Shelby will likely end up in the dump after the SK sale of our 
> hoardings.
> 
> I suspect that COVID-19 put a damper on this year's Shelby Hamfest 
> attendance, as it may have on highway holiday travel. I thought the 
> traffic was lighter than usual.
> 
> Very few attendees under 35yr old, as expected in the digital age. As a 
> young 70yr old, the crowd just seemed to an older-than-before crowd. We 
> all have enjoyed a lot of birthdays, Thanks be to God.
> 
> I had a really good time meeting old friends, and connecting faces to 
> calls. Great seeing you guys!
> 
> 73 Bill N4LG
> 
> At 12:47 PM 9/6/2021, you wrote:
> 
>> Here's a link to the Shelby fest this past weekend.  Lot of vintage, 
>> lots of Collins (mostly Ebay prices on that), but not a lot of buyers. 
>>  Some folks sold everything they had, the others carted it all back to 
>> where they came from.  Weather was perfect, cooler than normal, 
>> probably the best WX in 50 years.
>> 
>> https://photos.app.goo.gl/ph9p6f9RFzFXthjV7
>> 
>> In addition to the pictured area, there are 3 buildings, but only one 
>> was full, plus a large barn for more vintage folks that want to be 
>> under a roof.  No major vendors, like HRO, DXE, MFJ or even some of 
>> our larger local vendors from the South.  Seems hams today are only 
>> interested in typing on their computer and using the hobby as a form 
>> of WIFI.
>> 
>> Charlie, W4MEC in NC
>> ______________________________________________________________
> 
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