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

[pmalvasi at aol.com]

I am sorry I missed this great event once again .. I used to go regularly because like the MARC and NJ groups there are very nice and friendly people I enjoy seeing each year.

I appreciate these comments on the event, but I cannot help but say that nearly every time I see someone mention slow sales it is almost always because their prices are unreliastic.  The more the complaint, the higher the prices.  And additionally, those people speak of "investment".  I know there are people who do make radio collecting a living with being dealers, but the fact is THIS IS a hobby and most of us do not look on our stuff as an "investment" despite the fact many of us will sell or trade some of our items at a gain.

In 20 years of going to hamfests and radio meets, when I bring stuff to sell, I seldom return home with much of what I bring, if I have anything.  I price the items to sell - not to make a profit. I do not like pulling them around fest to fest hoping for the maximum dollar. Fair enough for those who do - I don't take that away - but then don't complain.

To me it's nice to go to these and schmooze, get new stuff and get rid of old stuff.






-----Original Message-----
From: John Dilks, K2TQN <oldradio at comcast.net>
To: njarc at mailman.qth.net; DVHRC <dvhrc at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Mon, Mar 29, 2010 5:38 am
Subject: [NJARC] Report: CC-AWA Conference - Part III


Just remember 
eply = Poster
eply All = Everyone
_________________________________________________________
y Paul Farmer

art III:
Viewing the Hite Auction lots before the auction on Thursday afternoon
revented me from attending every program that was scheduled during that period
nd also the membership meeting. I will say that John Dilks' 
resentation on the
on Mix adventure as a radioman for the Arctic expedition was superb. John has
ccess to Mix's diary and photographs from the expedition, and he (John) is
lanning to write a book on the subject. Such a volume would likely be a huge
it among readers of early 20th Century adventure travel and
mportant scholarly documentation of the expedition. Not to mention the radio
spects of Mix's experience and the social cultures of the time depicted by the
iary and photographs.
  Although I purchased
ery little in the flea market and sold not much either (both new experiences
or me at a radio meet), I did witness lots of sets and parts changing hands
ver two days, mostly low-end sets and parts. Of course there are always
ransactions in the flea market involving valuable sets that do not 
ise to common
nowledge. I am aware of a significant cash of Dynaco stereo equipment that was
old but because of pre-meet notification of the equipment to a limited few,
he transaction occurred so quickly it was beyond my radar initially. (There
as a Fisher 500 with no reserve in the Main Auction that I did sit through.) I
elieve there was a blue and ivory plaskon Setchel-Carlson frog eye set that
old on day 2. Asking price was $450 initially. My high-end Catalin, plaskon,
olystyrene, and painted sets of the 40s and 50s were much appreciated by
umerous lusting browsers but were not easily moved at prices that were not
ntended to represent rock-bottom bargains. I might have done better had I
pent a lot more time in my booth but what's the chance of that? Not bloody
ikely with so much to see and do at a meet like Charlotte's.
  As we have become
ccustomed to at the Rochester, Maryland, Michigan, and Charlotte 
eets, the Old
quipment Contest brought out some wonderful equipment that was worth the trip
n and of itself. I am hoping this gets represented well on the CC-AWA website
ecause in my usual rush I did not take good notes. The South African
treet-made radio from available trash and junk parts was one of the most
ascinating (and visually appealing) things I've seen to date in an Old
quipment Contest. It was presented well enough to beat out my well-documented
ear-Mint-In-Box Crosley Book Radio (a hybrid) in the Novelty Transistor Radio
ategory. 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
o record who offered the South African Street Radio. (Help, please, someone.)
  I was very much
ttracted to Merrill Bancroft's comparison of two versions of the Tuska Model
25 (Early/Late). His mention of vintage Montgomery Wards advertising of a
hird version (with no known examples extant) was interesting as well. Wouldn't
ou like to find the missing Monkey Wards T. 225?! Merrill of course had
everal other fine entries in the contest, as seems always to be the case. I
ish I had recorded more info on the contest but I will mention Bob Slagle's
eautifully built miniature wooden horn reproducer from vintage instructions.
hat beautiful workmanship, artful shape, and finish!!
I missed the Banquet
s usual to enjoy a fabulous dinner with Kathy at the very upscale and
elicious Indian restaurant known as Copper, on West Street going 
nto Charlotte. Dinner there is by itself worth
he 12-hour round-trip from home in Virginia and Kathy deserves something
pecial after hanging out with old, obsessive, crusty, old-radio nerds (self
ncluded) for two days non-stop. If you enjoy Asian cuisine, put Cooper on your
chedule for next year. You won't be disappointed. Reservations required. The
hai restaurant across the street is very good as well, much less formal, and
on't cost you the price of a quad of NOS WD-11s.
  Unless something else
f significance comes to mind, I don't plan to send a Part IV. (You are
elieved, right?)
  Happy collecting to
ll.
See you at Kutztown
n May. Or RadioActivity in June.
Paul Farmer, K3YFQ
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