[NJARC] Report: CC-AWA Conference - Part III

[John Dilks, K2TQN]

By Paul Farmer


Part III:

Viewing the Hite Auction lots before the auction on Thursday afternoon
prevented me from attending every program that was scheduled during that period
and also the membership meeting. I will say that John Dilks' 
presentation on the
Don Mix adventure as a radioman for the Arctic expedition was superb. John has
access to Mix's diary and photographs from the expedition, and he (John) is
planning to write a book on the subject. Such a volume would likely be a huge
hit among readers of early 20th Century adventure travel and
important scholarly documentation of the expedition. Not to mention the radio
aspects of Mix's experience and the social cultures of the time depicted by the
diary and photographs.

  Although I purchased
very little in the flea market and sold not much either (both new experiences
for me at a radio meet), I did witness lots of sets and parts changing hands
over two days, mostly low-end sets and parts. Of course there are always
transactions in the flea market involving valuable sets that do not 
rise to common
knowledge. I am aware of a significant cash of Dynaco stereo equipment that was
sold but because of pre-meet notification of the equipment to a limited few,
the transaction occurred so quickly it was beyond my radar initially. (There
was a Fisher 500 with no reserve in the Main Auction that I did sit through.) I
believe there was a blue and ivory plaskon Setchel-Carlson frog eye set that
sold on day 2. Asking price was $450 initially. My high-end Catalin, plaskon,
polystyrene, and painted sets of the 40s and 50s were much appreciated by
numerous lusting browsers but were not easily moved at prices that were not
intended to represent rock-bottom bargains. I might have done better had I
spent a lot more time in my booth but what's the chance of that? Not bloody
likely with so much to see and do at a meet like Charlotte's.

  As we have become
accustomed to at the Rochester, Maryland, Michigan, and Charlotte 
meets, the Old
Equipment Contest brought out some wonderful equipment that was worth the trip
in and of itself. I am hoping this gets represented well on the CC-AWA website
because in my usual rush I did not take good notes. The South African
street-made radio from available trash and junk parts was one of the most
fascinating (and visually appealing) things I've seen to date in an Old
Equipment Contest. It was presented well enough to beat out my well-documented
Near-Mint-In-Box Crosley Book Radio (a hybrid) in the Novelty Transistor Radio
Category. I was able to take firsts in the Pocket Transistor Radio Category
(Regency TR-1/1G in Chrome) and 30s, 40s, 50s Bakelite/Catalin Category
(display of 7 different DeWald Bantams). I am embarrassed to say that I failed
to record who offered the South African Street Radio. (Help, please, someone.)

  I was very much
attracted to Merrill Bancroft's comparison of two versions of the Tuska Model
225 (Early/Late). His mention of vintage Montgomery Wards advertising of a
third version (with no known examples extant) was interesting as well. Wouldn't
you like to find the missing Monkey Wards T. 225?! Merrill of course had
several other fine entries in the contest, as seems always to be the case. I
wish I had recorded more info on the contest but I will mention Bob Slagle's
beautifully built miniature wooden horn reproducer from vintage instructions.
What beautiful workmanship, artful shape, and finish!!

I missed the Banquet
as usual to enjoy a fabulous dinner with Kathy at the very upscale and
delicious Indian restaurant known as Copper, on West Street going 
into Charlotte. Dinner there is by itself worth
the 12-hour round-trip from home in Virginia and Kathy deserves something
special after hanging out with old, obsessive, crusty, old-radio nerds (self
included) for two days non-stop. If you enjoy Asian cuisine, put Cooper on your
schedule for next year. You won't be disappointed. Reservations required. The
Thai restaurant across the street is very good as well, much less formal, and
won't cost you the price of a quad of NOS WD-11s.

  Unless something else
of significance comes to mind, I don't plan to send a Part IV. (You are
relieved, right?)

  Happy collecting to
all.

See you at Kutztown
in May. Or RadioActivity in June.

Paul Farmer, K3YFQ