First, I find some of the procedures of bottle shows strange and bothersome while others pleasant and productive. On Saturday, dealers could bring boxes into the show from 12:30 until 2 but could not unpack them. From 2 until 2:30, everyone had to clear the room. I still don't understand this rule. From 2:30 until 5, dealers could re-enter the room and unpack. Technically the show hasn't started but everyone who was there treated this as an opportunity to shop for insulators in between unboxing some insulators. It is certainly nice to do this when there isn't a crowd from the general public around too and it is a nice benefit of paying for one or more tables. One other benefit is a ticket for the breakfast buffet on Sunday ($7.95 value). I've said that I would rather have the table prices reduced by that much but this bonus did get me to the hotel on Sunday morning to have breakfast with five other collectors. The cost of tables at this show is high ($45 each) so these extras are nice.

Traffic at the show was great. There was strong traffic from 9 a.m. until about 12 or 12:30 when the crowd lightened for lunch and then it resumed, although a little lighter, until the show closing at 3 p.m. Approximately half of the GCIC club members either had tables at the show or came to the show. The club added a new member during the show and may have moved a few closer to joining. I had the best sales I've ever had at a show, bought a collection in the parking lot, added pieces to my collection, and had money left over for once. I found 3 spools to add to my collection of about 120 of these, I added a new H.K. Porter to my collection of those, I bought two LSV No. 2 Columbia's for $15 each (a discount price) in a milky swirled color, a white O.P. Co. signal, some electrical catalogs, a radio strain with metal dipped ends, a J-D. suspension MADE BY PITTSBURG, various green glass suspensions, and a light brown Victor coffee mug. I also sold things I was really glad to part with including a lightning rod, all my duplicate spools (sold as a lot of 400), two big powder blue J-D 34 KV insulators, and a box of common insulators (sold to a new collector). Collectors were buying everything, it seems, and just about everything was available.

Return to the Show Reports page