[NJARC] Another Rochester Report

[Ray Chase]

Arrived mid afternoon Tuesday, we were allowed to set up a little after 
5 PM.  There was quite a bit of buying and selling during the evening, 
some dealers were told to stop, others were left alone, not a consistent 
policy.
Took out my goods on Wednesday morning at 6 AM or so.  Got a couple of 
sprinkles of rain in the morning but rest of day was beautiful.  Parking 
lot was half empty, lots of empty spaces and others with just cars 
parked on them.  Hotel parking lot also had open spaces.  Had good sales 
all day.
Inside, the book fair had the usual suspects minus Gerry and Marsha.  
The Canadian dealer packed up after one day, said he was not making any 
money.  Had good books but quite pricey.
Thursday was very cloudy and overcast, I set up all my stuff under my 
tents and had good sales.  Then a front came through and the skies 
opened up and it poured for 20 or 30 minutes.  Water was an inch deep on 
the tarmac and I had a group of customers stranded under my cover, was 
considering charging them rent.  Some of my stuff got wet, others were 
worse off.  Rain stopped about 11 AM but many had had enough (myself 
included) and packed it in.
I did not go to any programs as they did not interest me or I was too 
busy trying to stay dry.
Tube auction quantity on Thursday evening was down from last year, some 
good foreign tubes though.  Average stuff went low, good stuff went 
high, spherical audion with open filament sold for $630.00.
Friday auction also was low on quantity but there were some quality 
items present.  Not much of interest in the books and paper but a 1898 
hard cover book, "Edison and His Inventions" sold for $460.00.  The 
radios & equipment all brought fair to average prices, there was enough 
of a crowd with money to hold off getting any real bargains.  The 
auction total was $37,000.00 down from $45K last year and on a par with 
the $31K two years ago.  Not close to an average monthly Estes auction.
Still about a dozen hardy souls in the flea market on Friday.
But the contest entries were outstanding.  The contest room was 
completely filled with truly wonderful displays, it never ceases to 
amaze me at the work, craftsmanship, attention to detail and research 
that is displayed here.  Well worth the trip in itself.
The hotel accommodations were OK, the food; better left uncommented on.
I did buy some books and a few smaller items, nothing exceptional but 
I'm not in much of a buying mode these days anyway.
Not sure what the future holds for this meet, it sure was not the right 
time of the year to schedule it and how many new collectors can dedicate 
mid-week days to it?
Ray