Well, I dont want to start a fight, it really doesnt matter. But I have been to Dayton since 1972. I was there on the years of over 30K people. The rows were JAMMED, couldnt walk five feet with having to struggle by people. The aisles at Hara were as wide or wider than the infield at Xenia. The insides of the arena were PACKED back then, not now.

This is not even close to what I saw this year. Folks, you are being lied to. It may be "whistling past the graveyard" because if word gets around Dayton is dying out, it will die faster. But 31K? NO WAY. Maybe there were ticket sales for (a fraction of) that, and people didnt show because of Covid or Gas or whatever. But they were not at the show. Even my kids, who have only been a couple of times said "Hey Dad, there is no one here!" on Friday and Saturday morning. A friend who runs a big surplus establishment in Texas came up by himself, sans family. He told me Saturday morning he did not think he would make his gas expenses. Dont think he will be back at the current rate of Gasflation.

I wish for the best, but am a realist. Hamfests are going out, Dayton included. Manassas VA, last weekend, I am told, was a bust this year: filled an entire show grounds field years back, so many cars got tired of walking to the end to see the new arrivals, this year 45-50 tailgaters, and hardly any buyers. Report from a reputable observer who I trust.

That was my observation with Xenia this year: No real number of buyers, just other vendors buying stuff from each other. Say what you want, but I go to see my friends, many of whom are regular vendors (remember Billys tent full of High end TE on Metro racks, he doesnt go anymore). They just dont come out. Sad.

I also judge by what I bring home: usually fill the truck up. This year, it all fit in a copy paper box. And no, its not because I am picky or already have stuff: I look for the eclectic. Tommy, from Maryland, who has the standup "Vacuum Tube Betty" sign (cute!) was not there. He usually brought a load of stuff gleaned from the surplus sales at various Wash DC institutions, cool stuff. Not this year. A lot of what I saw should have been in a dumpster, but hey, if you dont build anything in a country, there is no surplus stuff to go to the HF with. I did better at HoCo fairgrounds near Baltimore, a week later, where I "gave away" a trailer load of old test equipment (yah, that was me, made a lot of guys happy with old Tek & Heath stuff, Simpson 260s by the double handfull). It was given to me by my old job, and I wanted to get it out there, I didnt need it. That was FUN.

Sure, you are seeing stuff from estate sales. Maybe things you always wanted. Good on that, its always fun to find something cool. Give it a new home for a few years.

I really miss the old days, but nothing lasts forever, especially not us. At >$5 a gallon, those 150 mile one way hamfests will not see me, I cant even make expenses and dont find much. I know a lot of folks hate eBay, but its really become one of the only outlets for past treasures.

Jeff Kruth