The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The website of the Carolinas chapter of the Antique Wireless Association has been updated with information about its upcoming 3-day show -- March 26-28 -- which this year (for the first time) is being co-hosted by the Carolina Antique Music & Phonograph Society and will focus on antique phonographs as well as antique radios.

The conference is an annual event, and it typically brings hundreds of attendees from all over the east coast, including many locals who aren't necessarily hardcore enthusiasts but have a general interest in electro-mechanical antiques.

The show is being held once again at the Sheraton Hotel in Charlotte NC, just a few minutes from the airport.

The two clubs have indoor as well as outdoor tables available for phonograph and radio vendors, and the hotel is offering drastically discounted rooms to show attendees who book early and mention what function they're attending (tell them "Antique Radio Charlotte." BTW, the discount is worth taking advantage of -- the hotel's rooms are not cheap if you make reservations at the last minute).

On the radio group's website, there's now a link to the event, along with a downloadable brochure and contact info for the hotel. There's a separate link at the bottom of that page for vendor information, and there's a form in brochure for vendor table reservations. I don't think the radio club is set up with paypal, so you'll need to mail the form in or bring it to the show.

Here's the link: http://cc-awa.club/arc

-- Grant

As of this moment, it appears as though I am already going to be in that area on business. I may go ahead and reserve a spot and bring some machines, parts, etc. This will be my first "show/event" per se.... sounds like fun! Any advice or hints for a first timer are welcome.

And, if any other collectors will be attending and have Granby needle tins, signs, catalogs, etc., shoot me a message or email prior and maybe we can do some trading....

Maybe I can drive up! I live in South Carolina and I have a 1930s Philco chassis & speaker to get rid of. Ten vacuum tubes, too.

If anyone wants a 1938 Crosley Quiktune Fiver, I have one that has been restored with a safety fuse added, and it works pretty nicely pulling in AM & SW. The outside finish is still the old finish but mechanically it has been gone through.

Hello from CAMPS (Carolina Antique Music and Phonograph Society)

This is our first-ever joint venture with the radio collectors (AWA - Antique Wireless Assoc). As Grant mentioned above, the AWA is an established and well attended convention and show that usually draws between 200-300 participants (sometimes more) each year.

This is a great opportunity to get together and share a common interest.

We've tried our best to hold down the indoor table costs to $60 ea which is well below the cost of other phonograph shows across the country. Space is limited, so please reserve your tables early.

This could be an annual event for us if we are able to re-coup our upfront costs.

Please see the attached brochure for more detailed info and thanks for your support, Bob Barnes

Unfortunately, the Charlotte Show scheduled for March 26-28 HAS BEEN CANCELED.

This is an annual event, so we expect to move forward with a show in March 2021 (barring any pandemics!)

So for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Thanks, Bob

Any advice or hints for a first timer are welcome.

I'm sorry your show was cancelled for this year but probably for the best.

#1 - The best advice for any show is to be there as soon and early as possible. If they have an early entry that gets you in during setup time, pay the little extra. That's when the good stuff is purchased.

#2 - Take cash. The check writers make the valid argument that a large amount of cash is a risk and it is. Others dealers/buyers are a business and it's easier to keep track and have a history when checks are written. I'm on the other side of the debate. I like to spend and receive cash. A $100 bill is likely to travel around the show to several dealers. With a check the money stops. As a seller, if a potential buyer wants to write a check, I'll ask if someone else at the show can vouch for them. If that's a problem I may not take their check. I do take checks from friends but I'd prefer cash. I'm first and foremost a collector and I want to spend that money.

#3 - If you see something you like and the price is fair, be ready to pull the trigger. When I'm the seller I don't mind if someone asks me to hold something for five minutes so the potential buyer can get a second opinion.

Jerry Blais

“That $100 bill travels around the show...”

Another excellent reason to stay home.