- 2024
- Sep
- 24
Pictures from the Cleveland Hamfest are on the way.
I was pleasantly pleased by the Cleveland Hamfest. There were quite a few vendors there, and some good things to see.
I’m processing pictures, but life got in the way last night and I couldn’t finish them…stay tuned!
- 2024
- Sep
- 19
The 50th Annual Cleveland Hamfest is happening this weekend.
The 50th Annual Cleveland Hamfest (And Computer Show) is happening this weekend.
I’ve never been to this one, so I’m not sure what to expect - but 50 years worth seems to indicate that it’s well attended enough to keep going.
I decided to check it out because prices this year have been incredibly cheap due to the bad economy, and it’s giving me a chance to pick up some things I’ve wanted but couldn’t afford in the past. I’m also looking towards things getting really strange later - who knows what’s going to happen and how it’s going to affect this stuff. Get it in now while it’s available!
The Cleveland Hamfest and Computer Show
Berea Fairgrounds, Eastland Entrance
160 Eastland Rd
Berea, OH 44107
September 22 2024
8A - 12P
https://www.hac.org/
- 2024
- Sep
- 11
A couple more Ohio shows that I may get to…
There’s a couple of smaller shows I’ve been considering checking out - and with the prices on stuff being good this year, it may be worth the time.
The first is the Cleveland Hamfest. This is the 50th show, according to the promotional material. It also claims to be a computer show, but I expect the only things you’ll see now are vintage machines and used devices.
The 50th Annual Cleveland Hamfest and Computer Show
Sunday, September 22nd, 2024
8AM - 12PM
Admission is $10
Berea Fairgrounds - Eastland Road Entrance
160 Eastland Road
Berea OH 44107
https://www.hac.org/
The other show is the MARC Hamfest in Green, Ohio (Near North Canton.) This one is held in the main hanger / event hall of a local air museum, so it may be worth the go just to see the museum grounds as well. Pictures suggest it’s pretty well attended, but we’ll see with the economy being crap:
MARC Hamfest
Sunday, October 27th, 2024
8AM - 1PM
Admission is $10 (I think!)
Military Air Preservation Hangar
2260 International Parkway
Green OH 44232
http://w8np.net
MARC has some cool merch for the show, you can check that out here: https://praise-servi … printify.me/products
I’ve never been to either of these shows, so I have no idea what to expect. I’ll have pictures of both events to post (assuming I can go) and I’ll see you there!
- 2024
- Sep
- 9
The Findlay Radio Club 2024 Hamfest
The day couldn’t have been any more perfect for this show - it barely got above mid 70s.
However, the show was substantially smaller this year, which is something I’ve noticed about the regional shows as we get further into 2024. There’s just not as many vendors showing up. That could be because the economy is turning to crap - some of these guys just come to see friends and BS with people, the sales being a “hey I made some cash, nice!” side effect. The crashing economy also seems to have reduced prices - I picked up some things that would have been a lot more expensive just a few years ago (and still are being sold on eBay for outrageous sums!)
Regardless, there were still some things to be seen and had, and this show rarely disappoints. This is some of the good stuff I looked at this year.
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Next show is either the Massillon show - if I can get to it, or the Fort Wayne show, which always rounds out the year for my fest-goings.
See you there!
- 2024
- Sep
- 2
The 2024 Findlay Radio Club Hamfest is this weekend.
The Findlay Hamfest is probably the second largest one I attend throughout the year, and (if not raining) covers a decent portion of the Hancock County Fairgrounds. There’s always some good stuff to see at this one, and usually some really good prices.
Findlay Radio Club Hamfest
Where:
Hancock County Fairgrounds
1017 E. Sandusky St.
Findlay, Ohio 45839
When:
Sunday, September 8 2024
8A - 1PM-ish
How Much:
Admission is $10, you can buy print-it-yourself tickets ahead of time.
Club Website
Buy tickets or table space here
See you there!
- 2024
- Aug
- 31
Pictures from the 2024 Johnstown Swappers Day
Saturday threatened rain all morning, and that seemed to keep the crowds down this year - the roads were relatively clear on the way home. In contrast, last year was backed up for miles in every direction with people trying to get in.
We arrived fairly early, and some of the vendors hadn’t opened yet, but we wandered the aisles, had some Bourbon Chicken and Fried stuff, and managed to see it all. Most was just flea market stuff, but there was some cool things on site.
This Admiral console radio was in pretty good shape for it’s age.
For your 1812 Overture re-enactments.
An adorable miniature bulldozer. It’s low, maybe this was for use in a mine? (No, these were sold to the general consumer as a small piece of equipment. There were other attachments for it as well.)
A nice looking Edison Home unit with crane and witch hat horn. Did not pull the top off to look at it.
A clear Aladdin Beehive, and a pink and clear Aladdin Corinthian lamp. They were priced appropriately.
A Ford Model T. Price: 29k
A Sears Silvertone Trans-Oceanic clone. It was in ok shape, didn’t see the inside.
A nice Silvertone console radio. The eye tube was inside, but was laying on the chassis.
Standard of Ohio vanished in 1984 when purchased by BP.
A couple of old phones. The spotlight in the box beside them went home with me.
A real spinning wheel.
I suspect this was from a mine, but it was amusing regardless. (It’s from an oilfield, from what I’ve seen.)
It looked like it was going to rain about 11AM, so we finished up and headed home.
- 2024
- Aug
- 28
The 2024 Johnstown (Ohio) Swappers Day Flea Market
While not necessarily a hamfest, the Johnstown (Ohio) Swapper’s Day is a large flea market that usually has some electrical and electronics goods show up, with a healthy dose of everything else you’d expect from a flea market. Plenty of food on site, and you’re easily able to spend the whole day browsing the aisles. It’s worth a go if you’re looking for something to do on the Labor Day weekend, but be advised that you should get there early, as in when it opens - traffic backs up something fierce on those back roads.
Free parking is abundant, but is in a field.
Where:
Johnstown Community Sportsmen’s Club
7357 Sportsman Club Rd NW
Johnstown, OH 43031
When:
August 31 - September 2
7AM - 6PM
How much:
$10 admission per person
See you there!
- 2024
- Aug
- 7
The 2024 Coolspring Power Museum Show
The Coolspring Power Museum is a large display ground consisting of member-maintained static displays consisting of everything from small oilfield engines to a giant across-the-state natural gas compressor engine, with everything in-between. Much of it’s up and running for the show, with other stuff in various states of rebuild or runs during a demonstration time. It’s a fascinating place, and they have engines and displays that you’re literally not going to see anywhere else - at least not in this condition!
All of the images here are of those static displays. There are other items that pull in for display during the show, but that’s primarily through the week. Saturday is the last day of the show, so most of that was gone by the time we arrived. Still…there’s so much to look at, and we’ll probably head back for the fall show this year as well. This one is well worth the time to visit if you have interest in old engines.
As with the MVSTA show, I don’t have much to say about these pictures - so here they are, in all of their greasy glory.
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You can view the museum’s web page here.
- 2024
- Aug
- 7
The 2024 Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association Show
While this, and other engine shows I attend aren’t necessarily electrical in nature, they are certainly prime examples of old technology. I’ve always found the mechanics of such devices to be fascinating, and worth my attention.
The MVSTA show is one that happens on the Western edge of Columbus every year, and I try to make it out there at least every few years. This year’s show was bright and sunny with no threat of rain anywhere. Prime viewing time for all of the mechanical eye candy that showed up.
I don’t have much to say about these pictures, so no annotations.
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Visit this link for more information on their shows.
- 2024
- Aug
- 7
The Columbus 2024 Hamfest
This year’s show was maybe 2/3 the size of normal - I suspect the dangerous looking skies kept some people away, but fortunately the rain held off for the show. It was, however, sticky enough that you could probably have put a straw in the air and drank some.
There were still some interesting things to be found at this year’s show, and some good deals to be had. This is what I saw this year:
