This was our year to try something new. Ruth and I have made three trips to Rochester, NY and we have enjoyed them all, even when the car died some 15 miles from our destination on the first trip... what luck! We drove the 850 miles to Elgin in about 14 hours. The trip was uneventful, and somewhat boring. How much can you see from an interstate highway at 65 miles per hour at night? We arrived at the meet at approximately 9 AM and spent about 20 minutes trying to find a parking space close to the action. I have noticed that when you stop for boat anchors, the heavier the piece the better the bargain. There is no sense in adding distance to this equation. We found a spot on the road in front of the hotel, about comfortable walking distance for loads of thirty pounds or less! By the time we registered and located the facilities, it was about 10 o'clock.

This meet draws people from all over the country. I am forever impressed by the openness of mid-Westerners. They are easy to talk to, helpful, and polite to a fault; but when it comes to bargaining, they are just as hard-nosed as we Easterners. We met John Terry (editor of Antique Radio Classified) along with Marty Bunis, Chuck Dachis, Bill Overbeck (president of the DVHRC), Tom Burgess and M.L. Young, both avid collectors from Arkansas, and many others. In any event, Elgin is easily as big as, if not bigger than Rochester with a large hotel parking area and an overflow area in a field across the street. The only difficulty with this arrangement was that the field was not cut and on the first day the weeds were quite high. The weather was clear and in the low 80's and not too humid.. in other words, just about perfect.

I found some interesting military equipment almost right for the collection but close inspection revealed flaws that were overlooked the first time around. I couldn't get my price, so I moved on. Ruth on the other hand had no problem finding a heavy chair side receiver at an extremely good price.. .we brought in the car for this one.

The Muchow Museum... it was spectacular!

I skipped the Motorola Museum trip only because it was about three hours alter we arrived and I didn't want to miss anything at the flea market. But I would strongly recommend the Muchow Museum... it was spectacular! This private collection was acquired by one man, a dentist, over a thirty year period. All Of the display sets work and there are hundreds. There are not many sets from be-fore the early day's of broadcasting (1924); the collection is mostly massed produced home entertainment sets. Name the manufacturer and there is at least one example. The first room contained bread-boards, most sporting brass based tipped and Arcturus blue "01,' tubes. There were other rooms full of more radios and early test equipment, toy motors, communication receivers, and so forth. There were theme displays of DeForest, Armstrong, Atwater Kent and many others. The displays were tight, but I wouldn't say cramped and every item could easily be seen. With at least eight rooms filled of equipment, it is hard to remember all the finer details but considerable effort was clearly evident in each display.

I made a special stop at Fair Radio Sales

We stayed only two days at the meet. The auction was forfeited so that we could see a bit of the country. Taking secondary roads and avoiding the interstate, Ruth and I cut through Illinois and Indiana into Ohio. We stopped at several Antique Malls and had a grand old time. I made a special stop at Fair Radio Sales in Lima Ohio. Anyone who has any special interest in military equipment has one of their catalogues which does not do their show-room justice. Incredibly, in a room about 25 by 40 feet, I saw World War II black crinkle finished radio compass receivers and test equipment right along Hailicrafters and Collins gear of all descriptions. There was even surplus equipment that I installed new when I was in the Air Force in the early 70's.. a sure sign of age. There was a smaller room off to one side containing more of the same equipment. But this was just the showroom; the rest of the catalogue equipment is located in the basement and another building out back, both off-limits to customers. I could easily spend days rummaging around, over, under and through; talk about great vacations!

I found, of all things, a rare military receiver

Ruth and I spent our last night on the road in Kent, Ohio. There we ate at Mike's Place, a very interesting establishment which has a bus as an additional dining area The menu was so unique that I bought one as a souvenir. The next day we explored Western Pennsylvania. At one Of the larger Antique Malls, I found, of all things, a rare military receiver. But I'll reserve this story for this month's show-and-tell session.. .hope you can make the meeting to hear it. (And we did. Click here to see the photo. - ED)