VCF East Swap Meet - Save the Date - Saturday November 7 (Rain: Sunday November 8)
Hi Everyone, Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event. DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719 $20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER $5 for admissions for general public We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event with a rain date on the following day. There will be no indoor contigency in the case of rain both days because of social distancing issues. If the event doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and no one will be charged if the event does not happen. This will be different from consignment as we wont have a central place to pay for items. Vendors and individuals will have to man your area (or have someone else man it) for the entire event. There is absolutely no reason you can't work together, though, and have multiple people's items in one space (therefore manned by multiple people). The event will be only about the swap meet, so there should not be much of a pull (beyond wishing to shop) from manning your space. No electricity will be provided, so all items will have to be sold as is. We are also working on a lunch plan. I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual. Best wishes, -Adam
And kennett Classic is having an outdoor swap meet September 26th, as part of our event glad you like our idea There are still table spaces available. The weather should be fantastic in late September. Contact me privately if you are interested in securing a table but dont wait too long as there are limited spaces.and the price per space is only $15. The nice thing about our swap is that it's on the street of a retail space with new-to-the-hobby collectors who have recently joined our group. Bill On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 12:32 PM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event with a rain date on the following day. There will be no indoor contigency in the case of rain both days because of social distancing issues. If the event doesn't happen, it doesn't happen, and no one will be charged if the event does not happen.
This will be different from consignment as we wont have a central place to pay for items. Vendors and individuals will have to man your area (or have someone else man it) for the entire event. There is absolutely no reason you can't work together, though, and have multiple people's items in one space (therefore manned by multiple people). The event will be only about the swap meet, so there should not be much of a pull (beyond wishing to shop) from manning your space. No electricity will be provided, so all items will have to be sold as is. We are also working on a lunch plan.
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
Hi Adam, Excellent! Even though I am a little bummed as I live in AZ now instead of NJ, this is great news! Swap meets have been a large part of the vintage computer and ham radio communities for years. I still find occasional vintage computer items at hamfests but a vintage computer swap meet would be great for the hobby. In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying". One of the largest draws for TCF was the flea market and I had many great finds over the years but they effectively killed the flea market by moving it in to a small room. I still have a good amount of vintage equipment in NJ so maybe I can participate in a future event if it happens next year. Best of luck with the event, Jeff On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 9:32 AM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first
stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
That's out of context. Several people in the group asked for a swap meet * during * VCF East. I declined, because many of these people wanted to have a swap meet table instead of exhibiting. That would have damaged the exhibit hall and replaced much of it with something attractive only to people who are already in the hobby. It would have contributed to shrinking the hobby. My goal was to grow the hobby by introducing it to the public. Consignment was a (very successful) compromise. It let everyone sell stuff without taking away from the exhibit hall and also making some extra money for the group. I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, and that makes communities wither and go extinct. You're able to have a swapmeet this year only because management is not bogged down running the real show. VCF's success is because of my earlier decisions, not in spite of them. On Sep 13, 2020, Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Adam, Excellent! Even though I am a little bummed as I live in AZ now instead of NJ, this is great news! Swap meets have been a large part of the vintage computer and ham radio communities for years. I still find occasional vintage computer items at hamfests but a vintage computer swap meet would be great for the hobby. In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
One of the largest draws for TCF was the flea market and I had many great finds over the years but they effectively killed the flea market by moving it in to a small room.
I still have a good amount of vintage equipment in NJ so maybe I can participate in a future event if it happens next year.
Best of luck with the event, Jeff
On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 9:32 AM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first
stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
Evan, You feel this is out of context but I had even mentioned having a swap separate from VCF but your response was as I previously quoted. You had your vision on the way things should be done which worked but your initial reaction to outside input is to say "No". I probably only worked with you at the museum 5 or 6 times but spent quite a bit of time arguing with you as you are not exactly receptive to any ideas that differs from yours. Believe me, I do appreciate on what you accomplished but sometimes talking to you was like talking to a brick wall. When your mind is made up there is no room for discussion. That's my opinion on our discussions perhaps you have a different view. I am sure in your mind I am totally wrong. Regards, Jeff On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 11:28 AM Evan Koblentz <evan@snarc.net> wrote:
In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
That's out of context.
Several people in the group asked for a swap meet * during * VCF East. I declined, because many of these people wanted to have a swap meet table instead of exhibiting. That would have damaged the exhibit hall and replaced much of it with something attractive only to people who are already in the hobby.
It would have contributed to shrinking the hobby. My goal was to grow the hobby by introducing it to the public.
Consignment was a (very successful) compromise. It let everyone sell stuff without taking away from the exhibit hall and also making some extra money for the group.
I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, and that makes communities wither and go extinct.
You're able to have a swapmeet this year only because management is not bogged down running the real show.
VCF's success is because of my earlier decisions, not in spite of them.
On Sep 13, 2020, Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Adam, Excellent! Even though I am a little bummed as I live in AZ now instead of NJ, this is great news! Swap meets have been a large part of the vintage computer and ham radio communities for years. I still find occasional vintage computer items at hamfests but a vintage computer swap meet would be great for the hobby. In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
One of the largest draws for TCF was the flea market and I had many great finds over the years but they effectively killed the flea market by moving it in to a small room.
I still have a good amount of vintage equipment in NJ so maybe I can participate in a future event if it happens next year.
Best of luck with the event, Jeff
On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 9:32 AM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first
stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
I was right about that, and I was right about hamfests. How many families and kids excitedly go to a hamfest? Swapmeets are incestuous, and that makes communities wither and go extinct.
Same with “flea markets” etc. This is something that caters directly to the membership and less to the “general public.” But it can also attract others from the hobby who may not have as yet been involved. Many of us remember the electronics swap meets and flea markets fondly, and having separate events focused on those people just makes sense, while not detracting from the “really big shoe” as you so correctly pointed out could happen if done at the same time.
You're able to have a swapmeet this year only because management is not bogged down running the real show.
Actually, no. Had the “real” show happened either in April or October, this event was already a foregone conclusion as it would not interfere in any way, shape or form with VCF East because it would be happening a month or months AFTER VCF East was over, and many months before the next VCF East. The decision was made months ago, only the dates were in question. The idea is to increase events involving membership participation beyond just workshops and the yearly VCF East, and this is a first step. Hopefully it becomes a regularly scheduled event happening once or more a year. And perhaps in the near future it can be indoors and thus somewhat weatherproof!! :-)
VCF's success is because of my earlier decisions, not in spite of them.
And we hope to continue to build upon that success and see it continue to thrive and expand. Tony
Jeff, we definitely hope to do more of these. Back in February when things first started to deteriorate with Covid, we started making contingency plans of all kinds. Adam has been pushing for something like this since before the start of the Steering Committee, and once we knew all bets were off for an actual in person VCF East, planning went into full swing for some form of outdoor swap meet/consignment/whatever we decided to call it. We talked about several smaller events when gathering restrictions in NJ were tighter, even doing the swap meet on the days of VCF East with just limited outdoor capacity only. All kinds of ideas were bandied about. We would have announced the date months ago but we wanted to wait and see what was going to happen for the October event, and wanted to work around the yearly Holiday Train display at infoage As they begin setup in early November. We found out at the last IA operations meeting last week that unfortunately they are not hosting the train event this year, so now that weekend gives us more flexibility and is still early enough to not likely be snow covered!! Once we knew for sure about date availability and event conflicts, we wanted to get the word out. It’s been in The 60s on Halloween most recent years so we are keeping our fingers crossed for the following week! Hope to see you again soon, and also at the next swap meet! Tony Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 13, 2020, at 2:07 PM, Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Adam, Excellent! Even though I am a little bummed as I live in AZ now instead of NJ, this is great news! Swap meets have been a large part of the vintage computer and ham radio communities for years. I still find occasional vintage computer items at hamfests but a vintage computer swap meet would be great for the hobby. In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
One of the largest draws for TCF was the flea market and I had many great finds over the years but they effectively killed the flea market by moving it in to a small room.
I still have a good amount of vintage equipment in NJ so maybe I can participate in a future event if it happens next year.
Best of luck with the event, Jeff
On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 9:32 AM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first
stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
I agree with Jeff because the TCF didn’t happen you should get a lot of people interested unfortunately it’s gonna be pretty cold well that’s hope it stays warm Count me in Mike Rosen Sent from: My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.
On Sep 13, 2020, at 2:07 PM, Jeff Galinat via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Adam, Excellent! Even though I am a little bummed as I live in AZ now instead of NJ, this is great news! Swap meets have been a large part of the vintage computer and ham radio communities for years. I still find occasional vintage computer items at hamfests but a vintage computer swap meet would be great for the hobby. In years past, I pushed for a swap meet with previous management but the response was "It would be too much like a hamfest and hamfests are dying".
One of the largest draws for TCF was the flea market and I had many great finds over the years but they effectively killed the flea market by moving it in to a small room.
I still have a good amount of vintage equipment in NJ so maybe I can participate in a future event if it happens next year.
Best of luck with the event, Jeff
On Sun, Sep 13, 2020, 9:32 AM Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Hi Everyone,
Alas, there will be no consignment at our hybrid VCF East coming up, but we have decided to try something new and have an *outdoor* Swap Meet. Vendors (which can be individuals) will be able to rent space and people will be able to attend the event for the very modest fee of $5. All VCF surplus will also be on sale at this event.
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
$5 for admissions for general public
We want to emphasize this will be an *outdoor* event
I'm particulary excited about this because, back in the 1990s, my first
stint (habit, if you prefer) of vintage computer collecting was supported by attending regular computer swap meets in Silicon Valley at De Anza College and Lawrence Livermore Labs. The enthusiam at consignment each year tells me we are ripe to bring something like this back on a regular basis, but, of course, COVID make things trickier than usual.
Best wishes,
-Adam
I’ll just reply to the original here to bump some of the important information and ask a question:
On Sep 13, 2020, at 12:32 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
How big is one “space”? Given that it’s outdoor, “one 10x10' popup tent size” is where my head’s at. In order to get any crowd down to Infoage for this swap meet, it needs to be advertised outside this email group.(Various Reddits, Facebook groups, and Discords come to mind.). What’s been done on that front? It has to reach some critical mass of sellers and buyers to make it worthwhile for anyone. I’m not driving a frankly miserable 3.5 hours with a carload of stuff for three people to show up. So, how do we sell it? Part II: Swap Meet Stories: Maybe this will scratch my itch that the MIT Flea normally did for me. That had to be cancelled the entirety of this year and won’t be back until April or May. The crowds wax and wane with the seasons at MIT Flea, but it’s the sort of weird intersection of computers, electronics, and oldskool boatanchor-ham-radio I’ve always enjoyed, and it attracts a varied and diverse crowd. (Though some of that crowd last time I was there was scrappers looking for gold and copper, and that’s quite sad to see.) Best MIT Flea find: an SGI Indy in the middle of he floor of the parking garage, with the words “SCRAP! LEFT FOR DEAD!” scrawled on the top cover. Fine, I’ll pick this thing up and if nothing else I can pry off its badge. Got it home, threw in some memory and it fired right up. Still have it. I selected a nicer looking Indy for my first VCF East exhibit, but it probably had that very-nearly-a-wheel-chock Flea machine’s power supply in it. Best MIT Flea moment: Selling my Tek 500 series scopes for something approaching actual money to somebody who genuinely enjoys them. Better still: not having to have carried them back home. Worst MIT Flea moment: coming down with heat exhaustion & dehydration from being outside in the sun all day excitedly selling said stuff. Circling back to the beginning of “why a tent even if it’s not raining.” — Jameel Akari
MIT flea has been my favorite one outside of Dayton hamfest. The idea of having it in a parking garage is one I've not seen beaten anywhere. On Wed, Sep 16, 2020, 8:32 PM Jameel Akari via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I’ll just reply to the original here to bump some of the important information and ask a question:
On Sep 13, 2020, at 12:32 PM, Adam Michlin via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
DATE: Saturday, November 7, with Rain Date Sunday, November 8 TIME: 9AM TO 6PM Location: InfoAge, 2201 Marconi Road Wall, NJ 07719
$20 for vendors for first space, $10 for each additional space. 4 spaces max - BRING YOUR OWN TABLES/BLANKETS/WHATEVER
How big is one “space”? Given that it’s outdoor, “one 10x10' popup tent size” is where my head’s at.
In order to get any crowd down to Infoage for this swap meet, it needs to be advertised outside this email group.(Various Reddits, Facebook groups, and Discords come to mind.). What’s been done on that front?
It has to reach some critical mass of sellers and buyers to make it worthwhile for anyone. I’m not driving a frankly miserable 3.5 hours with a carload of stuff for three people to show up. So, how do we sell it?
Part II: Swap Meet Stories: Maybe this will scratch my itch that the MIT Flea normally did for me. That had to be cancelled the entirety of this year and won’t be back until April or May. The crowds wax and wane with the seasons at MIT Flea, but it’s the sort of weird intersection of computers, electronics, and oldskool boatanchor-ham-radio I’ve always enjoyed, and it attracts a varied and diverse crowd. (Though some of that crowd last time I was there was scrappers looking for gold and copper, and that’s quite sad to see.)
Best MIT Flea find: an SGI Indy in the middle of he floor of the parking garage, with the words “SCRAP! LEFT FOR DEAD!” scrawled on the top cover. Fine, I’ll pick this thing up and if nothing else I can pry off its badge. Got it home, threw in some memory and it fired right up. Still have it. I selected a nicer looking Indy for my first VCF East exhibit, but it probably had that very-nearly-a-wheel-chock Flea machine’s power supply in it.
Best MIT Flea moment: Selling my Tek 500 series scopes for something approaching actual money to somebody who genuinely enjoys them. Better still: not having to have carried them back home.
Worst MIT Flea moment: coming down with heat exhaustion & dehydration from being outside in the sun all day excitedly selling said stuff. Circling back to the beginning of “why a tent even if it’s not raining.”
— Jameel Akari
Best MIT Flea moment: Selling my Tek 500 series scopes for something approaching actual money to somebody who genuinely enjoys them. Better still: not having to have carried them back home.
Best score: TCF @Mercer County College - Z80 starter kit and Applied Microsystem Z80 emulator for $5. The guy had a long day and offered it to me when I commented that I had used the 6809 version. He just wanted it to go to a good home. Still works. I've enjoyed TCF's earlier Junk Yard (Flea Market). The clone PCs arrive shortly before the supply of 'vintage' (remember this was the 80's) parts began to dry up. I really think that was the reason for the downfall of the TCF Flea Market the collision of the two events. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
participants (11)
-
Adam Michlin -
Bill Degnan -
Christian Liendo -
Evan Koblentz -
Jameel Akari -
Jeff Galinat -
Matt Reynolds -
Neil Cherry -
Sentrytv -
Tony Bogan -
Tony Bogan