Kutztown XXXIX

On Wednesday, 12 September 2018 21:41:22 UTC+1, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:

John Robertson:

I don't think there's anything "trollish". In my circle,
I'm the only one who owns at least three vintage
blasters. Plus I actually use them, on occasion.

I'm not rich you know, but still want to collect one
or two good working examples before I retire and
my income heads south faster than geese in the
fall.

some on ebay are very cheap. Though it's funny what passes for a boombox sometimes.


NT

 

[Michael Black]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2018, tabbypurr@gmail.com wrote:

On Wednesday, 12 September 2018 21:41:22 UTC+1, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:
John Robertson:

I don't think there's anything "trollish". In my circle,
I'm the only one who owns at least three vintage
blasters. Plus I actually use them, on occasion.

I'm not rich you know, but still want to collect one
or two good working examples before I retire and
my income heads south faster than geese in the
fall.

some on ebay are very cheap. Though it's funny what passes for a boombox sometimes.

There's also that period when you sort of had hybrids, things that were
portable like boomboxes (ie they ran off batteries, and they had a handle)
but the speakers could be unhitched and moved remotely.

And there was a period when boomboxes were "stereo systems" to some
people, not just to be portable but that's what they used at home. The
sad thing is even small systems like that were traded in by many, they get
rid of something that was somewhat reasonable, and replace it with a
docking station for their MP3 players. SO the speakers are relatively
small, and it's not like that Advent FM rado from the seventies where
Henry Kloss put a good FM radio with a decent external speaker.

But then I remember gettign into an argument not that many years ago with
someone because I said I used a used AM/FM stereo receiver and some
Minimus 7 speakers as my "computer speakers" and he just knew that you
had to use the right thing for the right task. So obviously you have to
toss out your good stereo system, or even good boombox, when a new wave
comes along like MP3 players and docking stations.

Michael

 

Michael Black wrote: "
There's also that period when you sort of had hybrids, things that were
portable like boomboxes (ie they ran off batteries, and they had a handle)
but the speakers could be unhitched and moved remotely"


Portable AM/FM/SW/cassette/aux systems with hardwired
seperable speakers were considered 'boomboxes' or blasters
by the vast majority of the population back then, as now.
Evolution added CD players, but collectively they were
considered just as much a boombox as a solid unit.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 4:41:22 PM UTC-4, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:

John Robertson:

I don't think there's anything "trollish". In my circle,
I'm the only one who owns at least three vintage
blasters. Plus I actually use them, on occasion.

I'm not rich you know, but still want to collect one
or two good working examples before I retire and
my income heads south faster than geese in the
fall.

What forms of payment are accepted at the show?
I guess it varies per vendor?

Kutztown is a cash venue. Some few vendors take checks from known buyers. I could use a check as I have been a known quantity for 20+ years as an example. Some extremely few full-time vendors take credit cards. However, most of those are selling new goods and/or services.

Sadly, around here the (Canada) geese don't migrate. So, you might be better off than you think!

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[Michael Black]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, pfjw@aol.com wrote:

On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 at 4:41:22 PM UTC-4, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:
John Robertson:

I don't think there's anything "trollish". In my circle,
I'm the only one who owns at least three vintage
blasters. Plus I actually use them, on occasion.

I'm not rich you know, but still want to collect one
or two good working examples before I retire and
my income heads south faster than geese in the
fall.

What forms of payment are accepted at the show?
I guess it varies per vendor?

Kutztown is a cash venue. Some few vendors take checks from known
buyers. I could use a check as I have been a known quantity for 20+
years as an example. Some extremely few full-time vendors take credit
cards. However, most of those are selling new goods and/or services.

One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

 

Thanks, PF and Michael B!

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:21:19 PM UTC-4, Michael Black wrote:

One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

The only quibble is that Kutztown is not, and carefully differentiates itself from a hamfest. It is dedicated to vintage equipment, mostly radios, mostly tube, mostly from the 1950s and before. Keyword being *mostly*. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of audio, with mostly the same "mostlies" - but pushing into the 1960s and 70s. A fair smattering of TVs, same parameters. And a fair amount, and increasing number of transistor radios. But, one will find everything from steam engines to three-wheel Roebling lawnmowers on offer over the years.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[jfeng@my-deja.com]

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 11:21:19 AM UTC-7, Michael Black wrote:

One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

I deliberately do not load up on cash to reduce the likelihood that I will add to the clutter in my place. Even so, I have had boat anchors follow me home from both TRW and Foothill/DeAnza.

 

[John Robertson]

On 2018/09/13 1:14 PM, pfjw@aol.com wrote:

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:21:19 PM UTC-4, Michael Black wrote:


One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

The only quibble is that Kutztown is not, and carefully differentiates itself from a hamfest. It is dedicated to vintage equipment, mostly radios, mostly tube, mostly from the 1950s and before. Keyword being *mostly*. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of audio, with mostly the same "mostlies" - but pushing into the 1960s and 70s. A fair smattering of TVs, same parameters. And a fair amount, and increasing number of transistor radios. But, one will find everything from steam engines to three-wheel Roebling lawnmowers on offer over the years.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

Ever see any early 1970s GE portable TV? I am looking for the B&W 15"
thin sets, tube chassis, turret tuners...

Thanks,

John :-#)#

--
(Please post followups or tech inquiries to the USENET newsgroup)
John's Jukes Ltd.
MOVED to #7 - 3979 Marine Way, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5J 5E3
(604)872-5757 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
www.flippers.com
"Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <b1316f85-c71b-456e-9cf1-2ba714eee73d@googlegroups.com>,
jfeng@my-deja.com says...

I deliberately do not load up on cash to reduce the likelihood that I will add to the clutter in my place. Even so, I have had boat anchors follow me home from both TRW and Foothill/DeAnza.

Sometimes the deal is just too good to pass up.

We have a local very small hamfest. A fellow showed up with a trailer
about the size of those lawn mower services. It had many 'boat
anchors' on it. I am not sure how long he had been there,but when I
walked by he was saying $ 40 for anything on the trailer. I bought a
Johnson Viking ll. He said he did not know anything about the shape of
the items. When I got home, I did a few resistance checks and then
powered it up. It worked fine in the CW mode, but no AM. Found a bad
audio tube and two bad resistors. It now works fine. Wish that I knew
more about the equipment of those days and would probably bought a few
more things at that price.

Another local ham bought some old receiver from him and it seems to work
very well for its type and age.

 

[Michael Black]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, pfjw@aol.com wrote:

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 2:21:19 PM UTC-4, Michael Black wrote:


One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

The only quibble is that Kutztown is not, and carefully differentiates
itself from a hamfest. It is dedicated to vintage equipment, mostly
radios, mostly tube, mostly from the 1950s and before. Keyword being
*mostly*. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of audio,
with mostly the same "mostlies" - but pushing into the 1960s and 70s. A
fair smattering of TVs, same parameters. And a fair amount, and
increasing number of transistor radios. But, one will find everything
from steam engines to three-wheel Roebling lawnmowers on offer over the
years.

No, but for any of these things, knowing that there's an ATM handy is
pretty useful. I don't want to take out a lot of cash, but what happens
if something is there that I am willing to spend money on? Having a bank
machine handy, and knowing in advance that it's there, solves the problem
of most of the vendors only taking cash.

Michael

 

[Michael Black]

On Thu, 13 Sep 2018, jfeng@my-deja.com wrote:

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 11:21:19 AM UTC-7, Michael Black wrote:
One of the local ham flearmarkets, claiming to be the largest and probably
is, puts on their posters that an ATM is close at hand. So you don't have
to load up with loads of bills in case you find something great, you can
take out the money as needed.

Michael

I deliberately do not load up on cash to reduce the likelihood that I
will add to the clutter in my place. Even so, I have had boat anchors
follow me home from both TRW and Foothill/DeAnza.

Oddly, I was thinking about having too much cash around if I didn't find
anything. For most visits to hamfests, I can get by with just a little
cash, the things I"m interested in won't be expensive. But there's always
the chance that something I would like would appear, something I'd be
willing to spend some money on. I'd hate to miss some "find" because I
had no way of paying the seller.

Michael

 

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <alpine.LNX.2.20.1809131945100.22816@thrush>,
mblack@pubnix.net says...

Oddly, I was thinking about having too much cash around if I didn't find
anything. For most visits to hamfests, I can get by with just a little
cash, the things I"m interested in won't be expensive. But there's always
the chance that something I would like would appear, something I'd be
willing to spend some money on. I'd hate to miss some "find" because I
had no way of paying the seller.

Michael

Something similar to that happened to me. I had plenty of money to buy
an item of around $ 1000 I was looking for. Found the item for
somewhat less. However I had forgotten to take the money with me and it
was about a 2 hour drive each way. Had to pass that one up.
No way could he take a credit card..

I did find the item about a month later at another hamfest.

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 5:18:38 PM UTC-4, John Robertson wrote:

Ever see any early 1970s GE portable TV? I am looking for the B&W 15"
thin sets, tube chassis, turret tuners...

Can't guarantee there will be one there this year - but there are always a few dozen (at least) TVs ranging from water-lens very early units through Predictas. And parts, sometimes CRTs.

Go to the radio venue and post a "Wanted at Kutztown". You might get lucky.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

> I deliberately do not load up on cash to reduce the likelihood that I will add to the clutter in my place. Even so, I have had boat anchors follow me home from both TRW and Foothill/DeAnza.

I bring enough cash to cover basic needs - food, soda, beer, etc. And I bring my culls and duplicates to sell. Not many, but a few. What I generate from selling becomes the source for 'things new'. It is a dead-certain fact that there is nothing I *need*, and I try to operate with that in mind. Not always successfully, I might add.


Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

https://www.google.com/search?q=ATM+at+renningers+Kutztown&npsic=0&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=40522075,-75771340,924&tbm=lcl&ved=2ahUKEwjasqHmuLrdAhUOVa0KHWXXB28QtgN6BAgAEAQ&tbs=lrf:!2m1!1e3!2m1!1e16!3sIAE,lf:1,lf_ui:3&rldoc=1#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:!3m8!1m3!1d26194.44470482811!2d-75.76490816759178!3d40.511233297173334!3m2!1i1500!2i829!4f13.1

The Show Venue is Renningers Antique and Farmers' Market on Noble Street. There is an ATM on-site, as well as a number nearby.


Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 9:42:00 AM UTC-4, thekma...@gmail.com wrote:
> Vintage 'boom boxes'?

There were, perhaps, 15+ boom boxes that I saw more-or-less equally distributed through both pavilions, from a very nice looking, quite large Grundig to a "Sonic" approximately the size of a modern aircraft carrier.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[Fox's Mercantile]

On 9/24/18 6:01 AM, pfjw@aol.com wrote:
> There were, perhaps, 15+ boom boxes that I saw

And how many of the "antique" radios in comparison?

--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWi
http:foxsmercantile.com

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

On Monday, September 24, 2018 at 7:35:15 AM UTC-4, Fox's Mercantile wrote:

> And how many of the "antique" radios in comparison?

At least thousands - and as we are now in 2018, some few of the homebrew battery sets are at the magic 100-year mark this year, with some of the commercially produced radios reaching that mark next year.

There were two coherers on offer, thy also make that grade.

But, on the range between, say.... 1919 and 1963, at least thousands. Lewie had over 60 radios on his table alone, and he was one of roughly 200 dealers in all. I write 'roughly' as some dealers share tables - the guy who sells reproduction dial covers shares with the guy that produces (yes, produces) reproduction grille cloth, radio pointers (including Zenith Zs) and fasteners (those little brass flower-head nails and screws). As one of several examples. For those who have been there, the show covered 4/5ths of the second pavilion, and that pavilion is now entirely sold out for the spring show. Despite the marginal weather (damp and cool, but no activities cancelled or shortened), things were very busy right up until closing - about 2:00 pm Saturday.

Note: One seller even had a stock of various-sized D-springs for wooden friction-fit knobs. Go figure.

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA

 

[pfjw@aol.com]

https://john-h.smugmug.com/Kutztown-XXXIX-Video-Slideshow/i-Tk6zmR7/A

Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA