The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I was so sad to hear that this year will be the last of the Union phono shows. I'll miss seeing all the great items and all the great people. It was the only time I could visit face to face with some of the fine people in this hobby. I am really sad to see this end.
Dave D

Eh?

I wonder if the Wayne NJ Show will become larger and more attended,

Rich Gordon

Where did you hear this? Reliable source? Is it true?

Say it ain't so Joe

Maybe the APS show in California will become bigger and more attended? It is usually the second weekend in August in Buena Park, CA.

Guess it has something to do with them selling Larry Donley's phonograph collection May 16 & 17, 2020.

Also there is a show being promoted by Lynn Bilton the Sunday before Union. It is in Ohio on Sunday June 7, 2020. Info is on his website www.intertique.com

Members of the Antique Phonograph Society will read the official announcement of the final Union show in the March 2020 issue of the magazine.

But this does not necessarily mean that there will no longer be a midwest show - - only that the Donleys will no longer be the promoters and it will no longer be held at the Wild West Village.

George P.

Well there goes my hope of ever going to one in the future...not that I could ever go to one because of work, never having enough money, and not being able to drive...

I am somewhat sad about this being the last year of the Union show. But, it makes me all the more anxious to attend. There is no place like it for quality and quantity of really nice things. And, maybe even more importantly, I see friends there each year I only see once a year. So, I look forward to it all year. I have attended for the last 20 years and will be traveling one more time this year from Oregon with Jerry Blais and Stan Stanford. I wouldn't miss it.

I am happy to hear a hint at a new midwest show. I imagine APS will be involved somehow, but I don't really know. I am anxiously waiting for the APS magazine to come to my home. I am assuming there is a bit more information there than we have had here so far.

I don't see Wayne, NJ or Orlando, FL, or the APS Expo, Buena Park, CA growing significantly due to the end of Union. Those three shows are located in the corners of the country. Union had the advantage of being located in the middle of the country and attracted collectors from all over the country. I've driven from Oregon to Union probably twenty times. Yes, I've been to Wayne and Orlando a few times each but I've always flown. I've flown knowing that anything I purchased could be taken to Union by a network of phono friends. If you take away a mid-country show it makes it difficult to get things home. If this is true for others it hurts the three more regional shows. I doubt if I'll ever drive to Orlando or Wayne but I'll fly if I can make connections at a strong mid-country show.

My hope is for a well promoted show in a large city somewhere in the central United States like Chicago, St. Louis, or Kansas City. I drive 5,000 roundtrip miles on a typical Union trip and I'm reluctant to drive much farther..

Jerry Blais