[Boatanchors] New vs. old - Hamfest and other stories.

[rbethman]

Our local club, Northern Virginia Old Hams, puts on a pretty decent 
hamfest every year.  I've never gotten a "flea market" feeling.

We get folks from all over.  Lon Cottingham, K5JV, has even made 
appearances on his trek back to TX coming south from Dayton.

We normally don't get too much computer "junk" turn up.  A Dealer from up in Maryland comes and sells NOS in-box meters made by some odd number of manufacturer's.

There is usually the normal boatanchors of Heathkit, Hallicrafters, and Hammarlund there.  We get varying amounts of Collins rigs.

I don't know what others are seeing in terms of hygiene, but I can't say that I've seen it an issue.

I will say that if someone turned up in a shirt, tie, and coat, it would be "different"!

It isn't free, but that is a matter of necessity.  The club rents the county's fair grounds.  The parking is well controlled.

As to "gifting" and other such stories, I donated my first AM station to the High School Science Department.  The only thing they needed was to add an antenna and feed-line.  One of the Department members is a ham.  That's where the HT-37, SX-101A, Shure-737 and a DowKey Relay went.

I help anyone that exhibits interest in this hobby with learning whatever they need to.  I do NOT teach the question pools!  I teach the theory.  I help them with their old rigs that need work.  I've repaired dozens.

Hope all of us do these sort of thing.

Bob - N0DGN