Went to the Spring swap in Columbus this past weekend. only three cars HAMB friendly in the Corral and mostly late model stuff. One Y Block 3 Duce intake, no Flathead parts, a lot of chrome venders. Disappointed.
Couple of pics. Good to be there, but sad to see it going downhill. The start lights are gone, but the timing display is still there. You almost would not know it's closed, pretty much looks the same. As for swap meet finds not much. Most is just old mowers, sno blowers, weed wackers, old junky bikes... Not very many auto parts or potential projects.
The dilemma a lot of swap meets face is if you enforce a 80 percent automotive content for example you might not get enough vendors to cover costs. If you open it up to anyone then it becomes a flea market with car parts even though more vendors cover expenses. Putting on a swap meet costs money....anyone who has done it or helped knows the amount of time and money it costs to do it right.
This used to be a great show it's a shame it went downhill so fast. I was a vendor at that show for 20 years or better and really enjoyed the friends I made there, prices were always good and then the lawnmowers showed up. I can remember that some of the parts vendors would say if I don't sell it this weekend I'll sell on eBay I have to admit I didn't know what the hell they are talking about. I really miss those days.
I, too, gave up selling at the Englishtown swap meet. The last couple of tomes that I sold, I couldn't make enough to cover expenses. I then would go to see what I could buy. But then I quit doing that as pickings were slim. I did find the deal of a life time there about 12 years ago. It was a nice genuine Pines waterfront for a 1932 Ford for $ 50.00. the vendor said he cleaned out some ones garage, and he didn't know what it fit. As an old time swap meet vendor once told me, ":knowledge is power."
Guess I didnt miss anything, I was planning on going but just ran out of time. I saw they reopened the part of blacktop they had fenced off the last couple of years? Was hoping this year would be better because of that. I sold for many years at etown before the internet ruined it, used to be able to find anything. Still parts there but lately it has been hard to find stuff. I just got back from the stafford springs CT swap meet, was hoping to find a set of 15x7 cragar SS wheels for a friend, that would be an easy find years ago. Didnt see one set, in fact very few sets of "cool" older style wheels at all.
Last time I went to Etown swap fall meet ( about 8 years ago) there was a great selection of washing machines, old fold up beds, piles of rusty snow plows and some swill car parts. Was a great show many years ago but since we are at the bottom of the barrel for old car goodies to be found what can you do? Well - what you can do is go to Rhinebeck New York Dutchess county fairgrounds this weekend May 3 and 4 and you will see many old car items to be had for fair $$$. If you have been here you know what I am talking about.
The Jalopy Journal
