Some year I will take a table to rid my heirs of 50+ (i.e.60) years accumulated ham gear and electronics. I still have parts from a Remco crystal radio I was given when I had the mumps in the 1950's/
Dayton Hamfest day zero, bought two transformers, agreed to the sale of the 18 that I brought.
The countdown clock is now at 3 weeks, 1 day, 1 hour and a few minutes. https://hamvention.org/
Who's going?
Who's going?
With near certainty, I will be there... 🙂 Aside from a few no-brain-ers like 26LW6's I have no idea what I am hunting. Probably some Amphenol 33004 UX4 sockets.
Douglas
Douglas
I'll be there. In fact, I've snagged a single flea market space not too far from yours so I can offload some old 1930's boat anchors, tubes, and other assorted stuff.
Will be there too. I'm going to buy all the surplus Western Electric and Marantz gear and if I still have a space in my semi truck I'll take RCA,s theater stuff as well...short of this , I'm going to hang out by the dollar tables...
Nothing like going to the extremes. I'll take the meat in the middle.
Anything but a rotten compromise 🙂
It does bring a reflection that I haven't done anything with the stuff which I bought on the hamfest 10 years ago.
Some times I wish I was an American. I would love to be able to drive over there and enjoy the hamfest.
Meeting all those badly dressed mostly fat guys sporting fashionable beards is quite an entertainment. As is eating full of hormone growth and GMO delicacies from the food stands. I'm purposely growing my belly and vikings beard for the event. Only my ragged baseball cap is damn missing and I'm perplexed that I can't find the sucker
Ham fests are better now then when I was a kid. I remember traveling with my dad from Louisiana to Mississippi and spending the day in a smoke filled place looking for audio stuff. Came back with a turntable and FM tuner. Also with burning eyes from all of the cigarette smoke.
My last ham fest experience was in Golden, Colorado. Had a Collins R390 to sell and picked up a bunch of tubes I wanted cheap.
My last ham fest experience was in Golden, Colorado. Had a Collins R390 to sell and picked up a bunch of tubes I wanted cheap.
I believe that the indoor exhibits are smoke free, but I often spend my entire 4 days outside since that's where the mother of all electronics related flea market is. A friend from Florida may join me for a day or three this year which should give me some time to roam and spend money.
Back when the Dayton hamfest was actually in Dayton, I picked this up for $150. It has a few issues but is usable.
I will be bringing my usual van load of excess stuff to the same flea market spaces that I have occupied for every show since the move to the Xenia Fairgrounds, space number 9323 and 9324.
Attachments
I don't know what's involved with crossing into the USA and back into Canada in today's world since my only venture into Canada was in 1970. At that time crossing into Canada involved a couple questions and a show of ID for the adults. Cars were randomly searched while lined up for the ferry to re-enter the US.
We visited Terre De Hommes in Montreal, then drove route 1 all the way to the ferry south of Vancouver. We missed the Stampede in Calgary by a week, went to a ranch somewhere near Banff, then rode in a giant machine that went crawling out on a glacier somewhere near Lake Louise. Then we followed route 1 to the ferry. We saw Butchart Gardens, got a scenic flight in a Cessna from a pilot that my father knew in WWII, then hit another ferry boat ride that put us in the US and headed to the Space Needle. From there it was a real long ride in a station wagon back to Miami.
Google puts the ride from Georgetown Ontario to Xenia Ohio at 6.5 hours. People literally come from all over the world to visit the Dayton Hamfest. Dayton and Orlando are the only two mega - hamfests left. Each claim to be the "biggest hamfest in the world" with 3 day attendance in the 25,000 range. There is some speculation as to where these numbers come from and whether they count me 4 times or once. I will be there on Thursday, setup day, through Sunday.
Hi George,
The last time I drove into the US, we oly needed a driver's license and answer a couple questions. If you or anyone looked sketchy, you went to secondary for more questions and a search. By myself, they would just wave me through.
Today you need a passport. I do have one, so no issues. The real problem is the exchange rate, then they want to charge duty and taxes on whatever you buy. Back in "the day" the were only concerned with new products, not so anymore.
The last time I drove into the US, we oly needed a driver's license and answer a couple questions. If you or anyone looked sketchy, you went to secondary for more questions and a search. By myself, they would just wave me through.
Today you need a passport. I do have one, so no issues. The real problem is the exchange rate, then they want to charge duty and taxes on whatever you buy. Back in "the day" the were only concerned with new products, not so anymore.
Last year I was held at CA border for 2 hours and I was only taking a shortcut to Connecticut. CA customs wanted to know what business I have in CT for whom I'm taking sweets and wine ( it was before Christmas) . They searched the car. To their defense I do sort of look like a Chechen assassin. : l ) On the Buffalo crossing a few hours later it only took 15 seconds for US guard to say " welcome to US bro" and geez ,after quarter of century in US for the first time it felt sort of like home haha
There is no excuse for the silliness at our border. Canadians simply do not pose any risk to the USA, nor do US citizens pose any risk to us.
We are different in many ways, the same in many others. One thing we aren't is dangerous in any way to each other. I think it is more commercial interests that have messed things up, they will call it anything but the truth.
We are different in many ways, the same in many others. One thing we aren't is dangerous in any way to each other. I think it is more commercial interests that have messed things up, they will call it anything but the truth.