[NJARC] Lansing Radio Extravaganza by Paul Farmer, MAARC

[John Dilks K2TQN]

From: "Paul R. Farmer" <oldradiotime at hotmail.com

Lansing Radio Extravaganza
Still the Best
by Paul R. Farmer

Well it is still the vintage radio Meet that most deserves to be called
Extravaganza, but Michigan's July Lansing Meet is not quite the huge blowout
that it was when it peaked just two years ago. MARC's Lansing Meet had been
the one Meet (besides the twice-a-year DVHRC Kutztown Meet) that was
consistently growing attendance year over year. Still, at 247 occupied flea
market spaces at 10 AM on the first morning, it dwarfs all other radio
Meets.

In contrast, the once giant AWA Rochester Meet last August (2006) drew just
96 filled flea market spaces at 11 AM of the first flea-marketing day. Our
own Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club's (MAARC) RadioActivity 2007 was on the
rise again for the first time in several years, with 110 flea market spaces
operating at 9:30 AM on the first morning this June. This was a moderate
increase from the year before, an accomplishment we should be proud of, and
which we should work to build upon.

Of significance, the Lansing flea market did not exhaust itself in just a
few hours, but kept its energy right through until almost 4 PM. And on Day
Two it was off and running again with vigor, even though rain was
approaching and before long, dampened things considerably. The MARC
organization continues to get the word out to the general public, so once
again "civilians" were in evidence and the selling was very good.

Lansing is a '30s, '40s, and ‘50s meet, but it is still large enough to
sport something significant from all radio eras and related fields, from
'20s battery sets to '60s transistors, from broadcast radio to TV to ham
gear to fine tube audio.

Forgetting the time, 30 minutes before the official flea market start, I
snagged my first find, the somewhat elusive 1954 Sparton "Easy-Goer" (no
model number) in ivory polystyrene, un-cracked and only $80, a good price.
(I did get busted by the flea market police however.) The plastic for this
set is a little harder to distinguish from plaskon than later polystyrenes
and the set has an appealing aesthetic simplicity that in addition to its
scarcity (especially undamaged) set it apart from the vast majority of late
plastic r adios. Last year at Lansing I found the red version of this set but
in that color it set me back $300. The remaining color examples, black and
green, still elude me but if there is a hot spot for these sets, it is
Michigan, home to Sparton.

Next I found a very well-preserved example of the small, cloth-covered,
ivory plastic-trimmed General Television Model 47, a relative of the plastic
Models A and 9A5. The Model A in black bakelite with various trim colors and
secondary brands is a favorite of mine. The cloth version set me back $85.

For years I have been finding exceptional transistor radios at the Michigan
Meet, largely due to two sellers who spin-off some fabulous sets from their
personal collections. Both brought many examples this year and the
competition for them was lower due to the absence of several of the usual
high-end transistor collectors this time. But unfortunately, I could only
find two sets among their offerings that interested me; an American Joni 7
7-transistor set (in box) and a 2-transistor Boys Radio. The fun part is
that both of these sets are orange, a very scarce and desirable color for
early transistor radios. The tab was $150 each, steep for the Boys Radio
considering that it has a hairline in the grille even though the set is
otherwise exceptionally nice.

My final purchase on Day One was a very well-preserved Silvertone Model
4212, a little portable in faux-leather plastic and with an interesting fine
leather carry case. $30 was a lot for this very small and pedestrian tube
set that no one else was in danger of buying, but the condition is great and
best of all, the little battery set is a hybrid of sorts, utilizing two
miniature and two micro (the Raytheon type) tubes.

Selling on Day One was terrific for us. Although I brought two cases of
transistor radios including a dozen Regency TR-1 family sets priced from
$285 to $950, unlike recent years, we only sold two transistor radios. But
we did sell one better model catalin, a high-end bakelite midget set, other
odds and ends and a numbers of collector books, mainly several copies of the
new Radiola book by Eric Weenas. All in all, we nearly equaled our best
selling day ever, anywhere. Considering that without our van we travel to
Michigan with only about one third of our usual inventory, this demonstrates
the buying aggressiveness at Lansing.

On Day Two, I essentially declined to display sets for sale due to the fast
approaching storm that arrived before mid-morning. But I did make one more
flea market purchase, an Algonquin ship speaker in cast iron with the faded
original colors stil l adhering and a very nice mottled patina, perfect cone
previously replaced by Buford Chidester, and good driver – a good price at
$385.

We stayed for the entire auction this year so I could purchase a perfect NOS
Astatic microphone for $85 right at the end. Along the way I also captured a
1920s wood panel two-dialer by Hartman that uses four 99s. I was probably
nuts to buy it (sans tubes) at $105, but it appears to be a very unusual set
by a small, if not entirely unknown, maker. The set’s serial number is 41.
On the downside, one of the two very unusual lever-type tuning “knobs” is
missing. It also appears to be missing a power supply/battery eliminator. If
any reader can supply the correct control lever, I would be very grateful.
Also, any info on Hartman would be of interest. Auctionere Richard Estes
brought 100 lots with him from an Estes Auctions consignor. This lengthened
the auction and added some interesting items. Once again there were many
consoles offered, especially Zeniths but also a variety of nice early
consoles.

As is too often the case, I only found the time to attend one of the several
seminar programs. The talk on the ubiquitous (but important for audio) 6SN7,
its history, applications, and sonic qualities was exceptionally interesting
and well-presented by Mike Dale.

Due to our traveling to Lansing in our small, 44-MPG diesel VW Jetta wagon,
I only brought one item for the old equipment contest; my very early Acopian
Solar Radio with box and all the documentation that won a blue ribbon at
RadioActivity 2007. The display took first in the transistor radio category
at Lansing as well. The Lansing contest, which has been so huge for a number
of years, was, like the flea market, off a bit this year. Nevertheless it
was still a large and well-competed contest.

By the way, Dan Gutowski, who runs the Extravaganza old equipment contest,
demonstrated a fine singing voice in the evening entertainment program with
his talented guitar and song rendition of Folsom Prison Blues.

Unless you are a 1920’s radio collector, my advice is the same as last year:
If there is just one Meet that you can attend beyond RadioActivity, it
should be MARC’s Lansing Michigan Radio Extravaganza!

Regards to all,
Paul