Hershey On the Positive Side

Stretch Cab

Stretch Cab

Well-known member
In another thread many of us discussed the woes of Hershey and there are some. Part of the problem is that we probably are more focused as a group on "A" parts and older stuff which isn't as prevalent these days. Another is our age or physical restraints that limit our walking abilities.

Obviously there are things that the Hershey leadership can do to make this event better and more user friendly. They could condense the show and keep people from parking in spaces which separates the vendors making you walk more to see less. They can't make more "old" stuff appear, wish they could. So with that said, what prize did you bring home or miss this year that made Hershey memorable to you?

I went with two items on my list for the brass era non "A" Fire Chief's car I am finishing. One item was a brass soda acid fire extinguisher with mounting bracket and the other a dash mounted search light. Found the light right off and it was in my very limited budget. Didn't find the complete fire extinguisher but then I only had funds for one or the other.

There was a 41 Lincoln convertible for 9K that I thought was a good buy. I wish Hershey the best, it has so much to offer!
 
I agree it has a lot to offer. I also think old time management practices are working to the disadvantage of all concerned. In today's marketplace you identify a problem and take steps to correct it. It seems that Hershey management identify a problem and ignore it hoping it will go away. The old Ostrich practice of burying their head in the sand. That they seem to do very well. Wayne
 
there will always be what you think are "good" years and "bad" years for finding things--it goes in cycles-this year was a very good year for me, and one of the first things I noticed is there seemed to be a lot of A&V8 parts

many times those "parking" spaces between the vendors are a group that gets together at Hershey and share a table and table sales duty while the others walk

in the old days there were places you could "stash" the xtra vehicles so they didn'ty have to take up "booth" space, but those spaces are mostly all gone
 
I went to the car show today. It was a little rainy, but a good crowd and lots of cars. A good number of As and Ts, not a lot of V8s. There are lots of cars you won't see many other places. places. The Historic Preservation of Original Features class is one of my favorites. I will bring one of my cars next year, if I can, for judging or Driver Participation.
 
a few pics from this year
 

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picked up a 46 chevy truck grill for 5 bucks.................

value 300.

also a pair of rims for the same for 20. bucks

spent time with my son-priceless.
 
One thing this Hershey committee can do , is to group vendors together as to their predominant products.

They do this at our Ballarat swap, although it is only the motorcycle section .

Then buyers who only want bike parts don't have to trudge the entire field, and buyers who only want car parts can avoid the bike section.

Saves a lot of wasted time and walking.

Vendors could have a preference for areas on their application form as to what they are predominately selling, and then be put with others with similar stuff.

Imagine how streamlined that would make it, barners could go direct to that area, buy up and leave , instead of miles of walking past modern parked cars on the elusive hunt.

It may not suit all vendors to be situated next to others with similar products if they themselves are a rip off, and next door the guy is an honest vendor,

And it is refreshing to see this post, that is not Hershey bashing.

People do this over here, and very quickly the swap goes downhill and ends.

Word gets around quick.

Talk it UP instead of DOWN.
 
Good for you, Ronn, but what are you doing restoring a Chevy? ;-)

There were a few interesting Chevys at the meet this year, in the Car Corral, in the flea market and at the show. I will post my photos later.
 
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I love Hershey!! Best swap meet there is. If you cant find it there then you are sol.
I wish I was rich and could afford all the things I saw that I had absolutely no use for, but would find a use for once i purchased it.
Whoever got that DOHC head for an A engine....Hope to see a build thread somewhere :)
 
Good for you, Ronn, but what are you doing restoring a Chevy? ;-)

I like them all mhs and only got into the A's about 5 years ago. main reason, I could buy parts.................
the chevy is a rusted patina field find and having fun gathering the parts for it-not restoring it.

I wonder how much the requirement to register as a business in PA and collect sales tax has to do with vendor turnout?

Mike,
regarding the large vendors-apparently everything. nobody is there anymore-Macs, Dennis Carpenter, etc. I sure didnt see them.
In a hobby where most want high quality parts but many dont want to pay the money-
tough running a parts business. On top of that, the economy isnt stellar. So some thought needs to go into all of this.

I like Pooch's suggestion of at least regrouping some of the vendors. For example, if all of the sign guys were grouped together, 20% of the meet wouldnt have to be walked
unless one chose to do so. I know many of us have difficulty walking-myself included.
I would be in favor of somehow alleviating all of the empty spaces, but then you would see the size of Hershey reduced by 30%. Maybe those in charge dont want to go there.
In any case, just valid points and not trying to bring this thread down.
Improvements can always be made in life and maybe it's time some were made to Hershey.
The one thing I love about Hershey is no entrance fee. Carlisle does hit you for that.
One of the reasons I dont attend Carlisle any longer.....
seems to me, Carlisle could make their profits from the vendors selling food, which they already do.
 
Are not the sites "owned" by the sellers. Many have had the same sites for decades I believe. People know where people are.
It would be difficult if not impossible to get some to change their location I would think??
Paul in CT
 
big vendors I saw;

carpenter, eastwood, McGuire, universal/coaker, lebaron bonney, tams model a, marc/mafca, schwams model a, many chrome vendors, Brookville.....;

where there any other big vendors who used to attend that are not on the list?
 
I guess a lot of people go to Hershey for different reasons. I go to see things you've never seen before, things I would never randomly search for on eBay but when I stumble upon it in a box I say "I need to have that"! My rule at Hershey is I don't buy anything I can easily find in a catalog.

Hershey is social for me. I see old friends and we laugh and catch up with each other.

Was able to sell a few items. Nothing too big but at least enough to buy my dinner and beer for the week.

Seems some of the complaints come from the type of people who if they found a gold brick in a $1 box would complain about having to carry it back to their car.

I had to miss last year and was jonsing for it all year. I'm happy to know that Hershey 2017 is already less than a year away.

-Tim
 
Interesting to read people's experiences . . .

In all these decades within this realm . . . have never been to the Hershey old car thing.
 
On another positive note out here, on the opposite side of the country, turlock seems to be going gangbusters. Not as much antique stuff anymore as the focus has shifted to 50-60's and hotrods. but I still see lots of people showing up-and getting parking tickets:mad:

Mike
 
WTSHNN said:
Seems some of the complaints come from the type of people who if they found a gold brick in a $1 box would complain about having to carry it back to their car.
Click to expand...

It certainly does seem like some people are happiest when they are unhappy ;)

If you are angry that prices have gone up since 1965, or mad at those cheap skate buyers that don't appreciate what you are selling, or having to actually walk around, or not having a guarantee of finding the parts you want, or that the weather may not be perfect...you can always stay home. Misery is optional. :)
 
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