Berryville Fest Report

[Steve - K4HX]

Today was the 64th Berryville Hamfest, held at the Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds in Berryville, VA. This is one of the longer running fest I've ever attended.

This fest is a small to mid-sized fest, but always has a high quotient of vintage gear and parts. Attendance last year was about 1400 with 230 tailgaters and 22 commercial vendors.

Got to say hello to a few other AMers including Dave, W3NP and Howard, W3HM. Walked the fest with WA2PJP, W3JN and KA1KAQ.

The WX turned out better than forecasts for the weekend a few days earlier. There was no rain and the sun was shining most of the time. BUT the temps were much lower than usual for this time of year, only in the low 80s, and far cooler than that earlier in the morning. A FB time was had by all.

Some pix follow.

[Steve - K4HX]

More photos.

[Steve - K4HX]

Some more.

[Steve - K4HX]

A few more.

[Steve - K4HX]

And more.

[Steve - K4HX]

And one final one.

[W3LSN]

It was my first time attending the 'fest at Berryville. I sold a lot of stuff and was quite pleased.  The man with the Beckman receiver also had a beautiful, umblemished R-390A sitting right next to it, asking $1400. Another was selling a Viking II with VFO, also in beautiful condition. I came across an SP600 JX inside one of the buildings. There were quite a few classic receivers available everywhere.

73,
Jim
WA2AJM/3

[W6TOM]

  Nice post!! Always enjoy seeing what goes on in other parts of country for swap meets.

[n3lrx]

That's a schweet lookin' Viking I in the second lot. I'd love to have that.

[k3msb]

Hi Steve

Thanks for the pictures!   A bunch of us drove down from York PA again and found it enjoyable and worth the trip.    The weather was very nice this year.     How did I miss the HT-41?   Maybe because we got there between 8:30 and 9   ?

I picked up pieces and parts, nothing big this year.   Found a nice ARC-3 dynamotor and an almost pristine CS-137 crystal case for the BC-659  (both for $15) and a 250 MA 2-20 HY swinging choke (if the etchings are correct) for the princely sum of $2 (and for the price I'll take a chance on the etchings and run the number from the name plate later....).  

Berryville is always a great fester for pieces and parts;  I've never come away empty handed.   In an era when hamfests are shrinking, Berryville seems to be growing.  

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I guess you didn't snag that nice BC-442 w/shockmount for $40 obo, Mark? Saw someone carrying off a black receiver with the usual drawer mods, couldn't tell if it was a Command set or ARC-5. Wasn't a lot of that stuff or milstuff there, but definitely some.

Last time we went was several years ago before 'JN headed to Greece for a couple years. It was a good fest then, even better this time. A lot more stuff there, good stuff, especially if you like building. Saw iron galore.

Here are a few more pics of the mix.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

And more....

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

And a few more. Tried not to duplicate what Steve already posted. Suffice to say, there was a LOT of good stuff at this small fest. It was a blast.

[k3msb]

Hi Todd

I saw that 442;  the seller is from around this area and we've done business before.  I have both a bare metal and black crinkle 442 so I didn't have the hots for yet another.

There was one hacked up ARC-5 receiver in one of the buildings paired with a rather interesting ARC-5 style Power Supply unit (I can't remember the model number).  Upon closer inspection of the power supply, the hand written annotations around the (non stock octal connector) indicated that it had been hacked so I doubt the original transformers were in the box.   I should have gone back and opened up the top.... oh well....

[Lou W9LRS]

Nice to see a hamfest with actual ham gear and not junk from the local swap o rama flea market.

Thanks for the PIX
Lou

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

There were a few junk sellers there Lou, with the crap totally unrelated to ham radio, but very few. IMO, the trick to having a successful 'fest and keeping it healthy is to keep the junk out.

I didn't see the hacked Command sets, Mark. Or if I did they were so bad it left no impression. I only pick up hacked ARC-5 equipment if I need parts like screws, plates, covers etc. The one I saw a fellow carrying under his arm looked pretty nice aside from the drawer hacks.

[K4RT]

Guys - Thanks for posting the Berryville photos. Had to miss it this year.

[w1vtp]

Noted the ART13 upside down on the tarp.  Hope it wasn't pitched off the tailgate onto the ground (shudder)

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I think they just laid it out that way when they were unloading, Al. It was actually in pretty good shape and was really, really cheap. Like $50 or less, can't remember. Someone snagged it.

We heard a rumor that Howard/W3HM had passed away, also that he was in a rest home suffering from dementia. That must mean the fellow Steve is talking to is one of the many clones Howard had made to help him deal with the massive backlog of repair work he has waiting.

Also got an interesting shot of the inside one of the sets redone by Howard. If you look closely at the RF cover you can see the ghost of W3HM that comes with every purchase, to make sure you don't screw around with the alignment!

[Opcom]

Was that $650 for the SLR-M? I noticed up prices on the other good stuff on the table, I guess it was in tip top shape. looks very nice! Was anyone buying at that level? I ask bc I paid $20 for my SLR-M and had thought it to be worth about $150. It needs to be cleaned and a new dial glass (plastic warped) but otherwise is like that one. Perhaps it is worth more than I thought.

Thanks for the pictures of all that great gear! It's rare to see those sights at fests, with all the computers and little plastic boxes and stuff of today's technology.

What is that fine piece with the CRT??

[W6TOM]

 Not just an ART-13 but a PP-1104 power supply in another pile, all the better to turn a DY-17A dynamotor!! Could there be a DY-17A  buried in the pile along with cables??? Nice Swap!!

[W3GMS]

We heard a rumor that Howard/W3HM had passed away, also that he was in a rest home suffering from dementia.

Did you verify that Todd?  Howard is a very good long time friend and this is the first I have heard of this.  I guess I could do some searching to see if its true.  The last time Martha and I visited Howard he was doing quite well.  That was just a couple of years ago.

Joe, W3GMS

[Pete, WA2CWA]

We heard a rumor that Howard/W3HM had passed away, also that he was in a rest home suffering from dementia.

Did you verify that Todd?  Howard is a very good long time friend and this is the first I have heard of this.  I guess I could do some searching to see if its true.  The last time Martha and I visited Howard he was doing quite well.  That was just a couple of years ago.

Joe, W3GMS

Did you read carefully all of Todd's post?

[W3GMS]

We heard a rumor that Howard/W3HM had passed away, also that he was in a rest home suffering from dementia.

Did you verify that Todd?  Howard is a very good long time friend and this is the first I have heard of this.  I guess I could do some searching to see if its true.  The last time Martha and I visited Howard he was doing quite well.  That was just a couple of years ago.

Joe, W3GMS

Did you read carefully all of Todd's post?

I think I did Pete! 

It said "rumor" but when dealing with a possible death that is enough reason to at least be concerned. 

I did do some internet searching and could not find anything indicating that the rumor is true. 

I personally would be very reluctant to pass along a rumor about death.  Those that know the person typically find it very alarming and then the validation has to be done to either prove it to be true or not true. 

Joe, GMS   

[AB3L]

He looks fine in the photo above