[NJARC] AWA meet was sparse

[John Dilks K2TQN]

Hi gang,

this is from another news group.

John Dilks
>-------------NG report------------------
>
>Well,  Im back!  Actually, nearly all my buying was done by 8AM.
>
>I arrived at 5:45 with my yongue buddy Dave and we all waited at the
>registration tent (That was staffed early last year).  Being half-cognisant
>that Im even awake I did realize that  by 6:05AM that nobody had come out to
>give us our badges and a long line had formed.  Then an official came out
>and announced that it had been moved inside... this started the Stampede
>which had the last in line becoming the first in lead... and the older less
>agile folk eating dust.  Just when you thought the AWA had topped
>themselves.... Next year were all going to scarf up the donuts that RIT came
>out with if thier late!
>
>6AM the Flea was VERY SPARSE, moreso than last year (the only other year Ive
>been insane enough to get up that early).  Talk in line is that starting at
>this hour is just nuts! A quick walk around didnt turn up too much... other
>than flea spots being used for Parking.  By 7AM the more normal folk were
>starting to unpack thier trailers, and the Rule of the day was indeed that
>if you priced low, you sold and sold quickly but if the prices where higher
>the stuff lingered. People were out for Bargains and projects.
>
>By 8AM I had found several project sets, very reasonably priced by a couple
>vendors in particular (one I have bought from before) and Dave (who was on
>overload as this was his first antique radio flea) had picked up 4 consoles
>that were very nice restoration candidates. Vendors I delt with seemed quite
>freindly this year, but the frenzy of the early birds is starting to wear
>away on thier enthusiam, some had suffered damage to thier displays and
>atleast one had knobs stolen. the weather cooperated and was cool and only a
>couple breif showers early on.
>
>By 11AM the party was still mingling but what was going to happen already
>had and the Flea was about on par with last year, which was a ghost of its
>former self. Leaving little for the restorer like me to be interested in.
>Parking the the RIT lot was PLENTIFUL... but none of the AWA members that
>were attending and not staying at the hotel could use them.  WHY must we all
>take shuttle busses when there is so much unused parking at the site?  The
>busses may be necessary... but lets use the parking we have too!
>
>I was on the road by Noon... I dont have vacation to burn in the middle of
>the week for these things and cant stick around for all the other wonderful
>events... but Ive barked up that tree before.  I left very happy with what
>Dave and I did find, although without 3 or 4 select vendors we would have
>had slim pickings! Lots of great folk to talk to though and I *MAY* return
>next year but only because its a convenient 3 hour drive out there for me.
>Im also planning on Kutztown this year and may not see a need for Rochester
>after that. and Id LOVE to make Elgin! One thing that I DID see was that the
>project sets are more complete than in the past... people seem to do less
>parting out of the essentials like Tubes, speakers, knobs before selling
>them which was a HUGE help for yongue restorers of limited resources that
>are just starting out. Thanks to all those that have held off on making the
>quick buck on Ebay at the expense of the Future restoration project.
>
>Dave took most of the space we had in the car and van for his sets, but at
>16 he is an increasingly rare fresh interest in such a neat hobby that the
>AWA needs to cater to with more vigor.  I  already have plenty of stock for
>the winter and who knows... I may yet find me a new console or 2 at
>Kutztown!!
>
>Keith Park
>"on the east coast of upstate NY"