National Vintage Communications Fair - Sunday 12th May

[Ian]

Via another forum that I subscribe to, the BVWS chairman has today announced the availability of stall booking forms.

http://www.nvcf.co.uk

[Steve]

Gramophones for sale there will be sold by:

Howard Hope
Dave Smith (maybe)
John Sleep
John / Pauline Cully
David Barker / Mark Robinson
Ken Priestley
Terry ???? (tels78s on Ebay)

I'm doubtful anyone else will be selling anything relevant to our interests.

Which makes me wonder, if you know any of the above dealers, then why not simply keep in contact with them throughout the year? I doubt there will be any great surprises there. The only reason for me to go now is to 'collect and drop off' some items from at least one of the above. Otherwise, like the last 6 years, this fair will be a pointless and sad waste of time. Few dealers have much optimism or enthusiasm it seems and the atmosphere is certainly not as good as it was back in the early 90's. The future certainly ain't what it used to be!

[dd2u]

Is that because it is mostly radios (always has been) or because even the radio side of the fair is going down hill?

[Steve]

It is mostly radios but it wasn't always like that. Way back when there used to be numerous dealers (I never knew their names) who sold GENERAL communication items of interest and from time to time it wasn't unusual for some of them to have machines, usually average to good quality and at fair prices. Nowadays it is only the above named who will be selling gramophones. Everyone else is selling radios, telephones, jukeboxes (not commonly) and other ephemera from the vintage communication age, almost exclusively.

If you ever 'people watch' like I do you'll also notice that the queue outside to get in holds the key to the contents of the hall. Nearly EVERYONE in the queue is either clutching some battered old radio set or talking about same! The 'early birds' exiting the hall before us mere mortals even get in, are always without exception, clutching battered radios / radio cabinets in desperate states of repair!

[dd2u]

Yes, I remember general stalls: I once bought a gramophone, record player and film projector all from the same seller.

Battered radios are not for me, but on occasion I have bought beautifully restored ones at good prices from there. I have not been for several years though.

[Steve]

. I have not been for several years though

You really haven't missed anything. And I can say that in all honesty and with a heavy heart as someone who really wishes I could made you green with envy at all the goodies I've carted away cheaply!

[debndunk]

Thanks for posting this up. We are new to this and didn't realise these events went on. So maybe we will go and check it out! Gordon.