Terry Bond

The cars are certainly worth more in the UK than in the USA. When I lived in Scotland years ago there was a big following for American built cars. Believe there are specialty clubs that you might try to contact also. I know there is an active and enthusiastic Model T club there so would expect properly valuing and finding new homes for these would not be difficult. The Holsman does look early but I'm not an expert. I knew of a collector in Glasgow, Jack Bradley, who imported a Holsman years ago. Not sure what ever became of that one. Terry

Do I see a new trend in swap meets? There seems to be increasing interest/emphasis on Pre-War swap meets. Could it be that we're finally getting tired of looking at miles of T shirts, model cars and imported tool vendors? Hope the pre-war events do well and help us get back once again to the "good old days." Although they are probably gone forever, I think having a few specialty events like these will give us some events to concentrate on. Bakersfield, Luray, and others - hats off to organizers for keeping the tradition alive! How about a comprehensive list of focussed events like these to choose from? Terry

Did you stop by Saturday? I'm always one of the last to "slow-pack" following the car show on Sat. Usually have a few visitors - I don't want it to end, but admit it's largely over with by the time the Show Cars begin drawing all the attention. Saw lots of good early brass era stuff on Sat as I was walking back to my spaces after judging finished. See me in front of Giant Center, across from the crab cake vendor. If I'm not there I'm out trying to buy sumptin! Terry

Yes Peter, geat story but best told with a single malt scotch in hand during a Hershey evening. I'll be glad to autograph your jar of mud next time we get together, but it is true that I did actually sell mud at Hershey one year. Even better, it was genuine 1976 Mud! Terry

Do the bound volumes still contain all the original advertising? I've found that often times when binding such periodicals, pages of advertising were for some reason excluded. I enjoy the product ads as much as the other historical info in such publications. Just curious. Terry

Check Bill Calimers website for some info including some cost detail. I too can recommend his work. Toured his shop a couple of years ago and he showed me hubs and spokes he was recreating for a very early 1900s car using wagon-wheel type hubs. He is a real craftsman and stands behind his work. Terry

Wow, 70 was my first year and I shot a short 8mm movie from the top of the stadium. gotta get it out and check it to see what was where that year. Believe brassy stuff was inside. I don't miss the mud at all, just the memories that went along with it. When vendors got stuck, it was still a swap meet. Now on the blacktop, at the 1st sight of possible rain, people begin to bail out. I heard one guy last year talking about the blacktop as being an improved escape mechanism. Not me - I'm usually one of the last to finish packing up Saturday. Just dont' want it to end! Terry

Thanks for the link, that's a good way to do it. I know the Model T forum has a couple of posts also with some good pics. Would love to see some pics from Bakersfield too. Can't get there this time but I can dream. Terry

Looks like some of you made it to the pre-war swap meet in Chickasha, but where are the photos? When i originally suggested this forum I had hopes we would see what it was actually like - cars for sale, vendors selling stuff, buyers unfolding money, stuff laying on the table, etc. Comon folks, did you forget your cameras? Terry

We Always go to Charlotte. Doesn't get much better than in the Carolinas - the friendliest meet in the world! Terry

A few more pics -

Well, our swap meet was a big success! The weather man gave us unseasonably warm temps for a great event at our brand new venue, the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, which was the site of our National Meet last year. By 5AM Museum volunteers had moved planes from the hanger to the ramp out front providing a great backdrop. Inside and outside vendors began arriving before 7 to set up and before 9 everyone was in place and it was in full swing. We had 25 inside spaces filled, and over 50 outside. Everything from brass era to street-rod was available. You could have bought a 1928 Packard in the car coral, and if you just came out for the day, you would have seen a 1903 Cadillac and numerous other fantastic antique automobiles wandering around. Always trying to encourage membership, a local cruise-in was also an added bonus with loads of great cars in a special display area, and also a large group of boy scouts who were treated to hands-on lessons in vehicle maintenance and restoration. This was always intended as just a local event where true hobby folks can clean out under the workbench and it kept true to form with many parts from Model A to Mustang turning up. Saw lots of smiling faces from folks carrying their treasures thru the area. if you collected antique license plates, this would have been an especially great opportunity as several collectors were there selling/trading surplus including rare early porcelain tags. One of our good friends from nearby beamed ear-to-ear all day showing off his newly acquired (almost NOS) original 29 Chevrolet Eagle radiator cap. I was thrilled to meet so many younger collectors of automobilia - everything from advertising material to motometers. One young lady was decorating her room with automobile themed sheet music. We were treated to a visit from Natalie and Janice Weaver - Natalie is editor of the Model T Ford Club International magazine and Janice, her sister and proud owner ot two Model Ts promptly joined Tidewater Region. I found some great treasures including a very nice brass headlamp and a couple of great spark plugs for the collections. I also bought some early Model T literature and some gently used tools. Club members turned out and pitched in to help make this event a success. You never know what kind of snags you may not have planned for or even thought of when moving to a new location, but it turned out great and we're already looking into next year's event. The venu was great and the added attraction of the antique aircraft was a tremendous bonus. I've attached a few pics so you can catch the flavor of the event. Took these early in the morning while some folks were still setting up, and before all the good stuff was sold! Terry

Always enjoyed this event. When I lived in the Baltimore/DC area it was a do-not-miss. Always a good event with plenty of neat early stuff. Tried it a few years as a vendor and it was a lot of fun. I recall one year after I'd moved further south that my son and I left home at 1Am so we could get there and be among the first in the door. I believe that year I found some of the best junk ever - two great porcelain signs (still have them) and a bag full of great spark plugs. I think this was were I first encountered a guy from New York who had bought out the contents of a long closed museum and had a couple of pegboards of rare spark plugs for sale. I bought more later in the year at Macungie from him. I'm sure it's changed a bit from last time I was there, but it was always a local event with people selling left over stuff. I always enjoyed that kind of swap meet. If you travel to several a year you'll soon start to recognize some of the stuff from the professional dealers. Can't make it this year but maybe next time. Terry

Have been to this swap meet many times, starting when it was at Cowtown years ago. Have some great stuff that I hauled home over the years, and it was one of those events where it's 99.9% local folks just clearing out the parts bin, under the workbench, etc. There were always some real treasures to be found. Lots of vendors and lots or people - good food too! Terry

Perry, sent you an email. Anxious to try and make contact with the Corcoran family members you mentioned. I've been emailing Chris at the AACA Library and they have some advertising material but so much of it is still buried away in old catalogs, trade journals and automotive periodicals. It will take a lot of digging to pull it all together into one place. I think it would be an exciting project (long term) and I'll try to begin by first seeing what research may have already been done and printed elsewhere. I know there is a wonderful book on early bicycle lamps that is now out of print, and am anxious to see if the Gray/Davis family ever assembled enough material to publish. I think any reference work developed here would need to include some histories of the major companies. I know that some of them bought out others - Dietz purchased C.M.Hall I believe, and somehow the John Brown organization ended up sharing the Corcoran name. We'll see what unfolds as I dive into this. It may never get to book form but at lease at some point there will be a folder full of stuff to hand over to the AACA Library. All thoughts, guesses, inputs, rumors, etc. and especially any contact info with those who know more than I do would be welcomed. Terry

Yup, can't beat vending and camping on the same spaces. Did that for many years. Those were the days! Slept in the van or a tent and it was all good, even if a bit chilly some nights. Gotta funny story - was doing a big swap meet with a good friend who traveled down from NJ. We'd been doing this meet together for several years. He always got there early and set up a small pup-tent that we slept in. Our spaces were on a nice grassy area, and he always set the tent up on a nice thick patch of green grass that gave some extra cushion to our sleeping bags. One year we stayed a day later than usual and helped the guy next to us pack up. He had a nice big truck and the front half was partitioned off for sleeping quarters. Didn't realize it but he had a small "potty" in there too, and last thing before he departed, he checked to see that nobody was looking, then dumped it on to the grassy area at the rear of the spaces. So - EPA, look the other way, but now we know why that patch was so thick and green!!! I eventually upgraded to staying in a friends motor home, I got spoiled a few years ago when we started staying in motels at Hershey because of AACA duties. It was pretty comfy and I've been able to get in and out of the swap meet easily. Best part is that Sue can now go with me. She enjoys shopping for MG stuff but also enjoys a nice bed, and a shower. I would love to get to Luray, unfortunately it conflicts with the AACA National Meet in Vineland NJ and I'll be there this year. I hope that next time the date will be clear so I can attend. I would probably try a small space at first and bring some brass lights, etc. Anxious for a full report on Luray along with some great pics of stuff laying on the tables that I missed. Terry

My seminar in Philly was a real "myth buster" on lamps. It was always assumed that Nickel plated lamps came later - not so, sometimes Nickel was a more expensive option on lamps. I have accessory catalogs going back to 1903 and not only could you buy them in brass, but nickel plating, and even black painted finish. Some of the very earliest lamps circa 1900 were combination black painted steel and brass or nickle plated rims, tops or handles. It was also always assumed that bail handled sidelamps were earlier than square - not so, I showed catalog pages that offer both square and bail handled versions in the same brand. Here are a couple of interesting catalog pages including a 1908 Solar Lamp catalog that shows a selection of black and brass finish lamps. Ive added a couple of other early catalog pages showing the variety of lamps and styles as well as an early 1907 electric tail lamp. The pair of lamps shown are European, Polkey brand and they are part steel and part brass It will be interesting to see what surfaces here. Indeed it might make a great article for Antique Automobile magazine (or series). If it were all in a book I'd be a buyer. Terry

Interesting timing on this post - as I was preparing my seminar for Philly this year (Brass era automobiles) I was doing some research on brass lamps. Aside from my own collection of lamps, pictures from other collections, and an assortment of early accessory catalogs, little seems to exist in one consolidated location. I'm sure that early Motor Magazine articles, or Automobile Trade Journal information will shed some light on the company but someone with more time that I have needs to pull it together. I met someone several years ago at Hershey who was researching the history of Gray and Davis. I believe they were part of the family that owned the company and the plan was to publish a book on the history. Don't know if that ever happened or not. It seems the company was funded by Thomas Corcoran, then later became Corcoran-Brown. The John Brown lamp company is another one that needs some research! Several early auto manufacturers used Corcoran including early Buicks. It was one of several brands that appeared on Fords. I'm not 100% positive but always thought Gray and Davis supplied Cadillac lamps. Contrary to popular belief, early electric lamps were available long before 1912 - I have some listed in early accessory catalogs as old as 1908. These were side marker or tail lamps powered by battery packs usually, and used mainly when the vehicle was parked along a public street in town. I find the topic fascinating as it goes so well with my lamp collection. I may drop Chris Ritter a note and see if he can identify some sources of info to dive into.

Neat piece of auto advertising! This will probably get moved to the memorabilia section eventually, but couldn't resist the chance to talk about these great items. i always look at fans at antique shows, flea markets, etc. and you'd be amazed at the automotive stuff that's available. Admittedly some of my fans are pretty special and quite early, but there are vast numbers with auto dealer, garage, tire, and gasoline company related advertising on them. Often, they have some totally unrelated image on the front. The simple flat fans were the most commonly found and used to keep you cool in church or at some other event before the advent of air conditioning. Some of the early folding fans in my collection advertise fancy hotels in London, Paris or New York. It's a fun thing to collect and they are still reasonable. Here are a few of my favorite recent acquisitions - Terry

Here is a link for info and a registration form - http://local.aaca.org/tidewater/swap_meet.htm Tidewater Region AACA has been holding this swap meet for many years now and it has grown considerably and become a hobby staple in this area. It's really the only automotive swap meet like it for miles around. Last year we had over sixty vendors and there was everything from antique gas pumps and signs to brass lamps, Model A and T parts, street rod stuff, race car stuff, all kinds of memorabilia, and even some antique spark plugs for my collection. It's become pretty well known and this year we've moved to an amazing new venu-we'll be at the Virginia Beach Aviation Museum, site of our AACA National Meet last year. You can't do better than mix antique automobiles and antique airplanes. This is an amazing place that gives us unlimited free public parking, plenty of vendor space with room to grow, and the added attraction of the fantastic Aviation Museum. It's the largest collection of flyable WWII aircraft around, and there is a good selection of WWI aircraft as well. Ton's of history with lots of aviation memorabilia. We have inside spaces in one of the hangers and outside on either grass or blacktop. The old location was where these pics were taken but it gives you a flavor of some of the kinds of things. We're maintaining our focus on automotive so you wont find craft or yard-sale vendors there. No admission to the swap meet, museum admission is separate though. It's a fun little swap meet and is our official "good-by winter" get-together. See yu there. Terry

Depends on a lot of things. I can remember leaving home at 10PM and driving all night just to be early at a small PA swap meet up in Kempton. It was fantastic! I find that small local meets bring out the small local non-professional vendors and that's always been good. Big meets are good but it seems like except for Hershey you have to walk a lot to find stuff. Being an early car guy and collector of great early automobilia I have to walk past too many booths of mag wheels, bucket seats, T-shirts, etc. to find a table of brass lamps (if at all). Hershey will always be king but there are still some great small-scale swap meets around that I'd love to find time for. Good point also though about travel time. Going to try the pre-war meet in Luray this year but am wondering about the time-line. To get there for an early start on opening day means another day off work and an overnight stay at the other end of the state. I feel like I really need to give it two days as there may be some newer vendors on day two. That means Thurs/Fri would be the best shopping opportunities. Heck I might as well take a vendor space and try to sell a few things too! Got our own small event here if Virginia Beach coming up - see separate post on that. Terry

Always wanted to get there - hopefully it's still a good one when I get the chance. Retirement is on the horizon so maybe... Wonder what my chances will be of adding something good to the spark plug collection? Terry

It's always sad to see it come to an end. Another great one! I managed to get into a few more seminars this year as I wasn't so tied up with other stuff. Enjoyed them all! I must compliment Stacey Zimmerman here for doing a great job of juggling the schedule. With the extra time slots taken by the TV session I'm sure it was not easy. Looking forward to next year when we might be able to add a few more, or even a repeat or two on some that we just can't get to because of overlap. My Brass Era car seminar was well attended, which was a surprise because of the PM Saturday time slot. I believe there is a lot of interest in seeing something for the early car folks so those seminars aimed that direction were a welcome addition it seems. Trade Show just keeps getting better, food was fabulous as always. We spent some time visiting with wait staff Saturday and they are all dedicated employees, many of them have been there for years. I was especially pleased to see so many first-timers attending. Hopefully that's a trend that will continue. See you next time- Terry

Thanks Peter, Great work as always!!!! Terry

Wow, this is great! Thanks Peter, am really looking forward to some virtual tours of meets I have never been to before. Can't wait to report on our own region's upcoming March event. Dave, I too fondly remember those front porch breakfasts on Park Drive. Terry