The following is an article which will be appearing in the September
edition of DVHRC Oscillator. Some helpful information here for those of
you who will be making their first visit to Kutztown later this month.
If 35,000+ square feet of vintage radios and related miscellanae
outdoors under a roof doesn't convince you to make the trip, perhaps
this will:

Mike Koste
Gobs of Knobs
Ambler, PA

KUTZTOWN 101:

Hard to believe this September's will be the 13th edition of the
Kutztown Radio Meet. Having personally been there from the very
beginning, it was clear that, in time, this would become a major Big
Deal in the hobby. Like Rochester, Lansing and Elgin, nowadays when
your say Kutztown to another collector, no matter where they're from,
they know what you're talking about.
The original plan for this piece was to call it "Swapmeet For
Dummies". However, in this age of Political Correctness and fear of
reprisals from our esteemed editor, a guide to the ins and outs of
Kutztown in the form of FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) seemed more
fitting. Some valuable information here for newbies, and perhaps a few
facts our long-time members never knew.


·WHY KUTZTOWN? As anyone in the real estate industry can attest,
location, location, location! The Renninger's facility is convenient to
all the major metropolitan areas on the East Coast, provides the event
unlimited growth potential, nearby and on-site attractions to keep
non-hobbyists occupied, free parking, camping and a built-in crowd.
·SO, WHO'S IN CHARGE? The Kutztown Radio Meet is a Renninger's
event: The DVHRC has no financial interest or control of facility,
including the renting and assignment of vendor spaces. The club merely
acts as hosts. You will find their staff (and our club members) to be
very friendly and approachable, and are always open to suggestions for
improvements at future meets.
·THE PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS I'VE SEEN ARE SOMEWHAT CONFUSING. WHAT
TIME DOES THE MEET ACTUALLY START? One aspect of Kutztown that sets it
apart from other radio functions is the fact that there is no starting
gun: Wheeling and dealing begins with the arrival of the first vendors.
Typically, sellers begin arriving by 8:00 Friday morning., taper off at
noon, and pick-up just before dark. Saturday morning, new sellers and
an army of buyers show up just before dawn.
·WHAT IS THE TYPICAL ATTENDANCE? Well. since there is no
registration or admission fee for buyers, an actual headcount is
impossible. But a close examination of the parking area can give you a
good idea of how far folks come to take part. Last fall's license plate
examination revealed vehicles from twenty different states and a couple
of Canadian provinces. Unlike other similar radio events which are
losing steam, Kutztown continues to grow by ten percent with every
subsequent meet.
·ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR A FIRST-TIME SELLER? Here, I'd say
preparation is the key. A week before the meet, pull your wares
together, dust them off and price them. (Hang tags, please! No stickers
or masking tape!) Depending upon the caliber of your goods, sometimes
it's a good idea to bring something extra nice along for the ride:
It'll dress up your table to make your less desirables more attractive.
Get an early start. If you can't make it until late Friday afternoon,
realize you'll be mobbed with buyers before you have a chance to
unload. Examine other vendors tables and ask them for guidance.
·MUCH OF WHAT I'M BRINGING TO SELL IS PRETTY COMMON AND IN 'AS
FOUND' CONDITION. HOW SHALL I PRICE IT TO ASSURE I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE
IT HOME AGAIN? Price it cheaply, be flexible with a potential buyer,
and if it doesn't sell, consign it or donate it to the auction.
·WHAT ABOUT NON-HOBBY RELATED ITEMS? This is an antique radio
swapmeet. Please leave your Tupperware, baseball cards and small
appliances at home.
·BESIDES THE STUFF I'M SELLING, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD
REMEMBER TO BRING? Something to sit on, tarps for covering up your
tables overnight, a small tool kit, and an assortment of smaller bills
for making change. Wear comfortable shoes, too.
·WHAT IF I RUN LOW ON DISPOSABLE INCOME? There are ATM's inside the
farmers market. Sometimes you may be able to convince a vendor to take
a check, but generally speaking, radio swapmeets follow the Jean
Shephard credo: "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash".
·ANY CLUES TO BAGGING A BARGAIN? Get there early, stay late and
haggle all the way. Many sellers are anxious to earn some quick
spending money right off the bat. Conversely, late Saturdays are a good
time to deal since in many case, sellers don't want to have to take a
lot home with them. Excellent buys can also be found at the auction on
Saturday afternoon.
·I FALIED TO RESERVE A TABLE FOR SEPTEMBER. CAN I STILL GET ONE?
Possibly, but more than likely, you'll end up in the second pavilion.
To avoid this happening again, he Renningers staff will be making the
rounds late Saturday morning taking reservations for May of 2007. If
you want to be on the main dance floor, you'd be wise to make
arrangements then.
·CAN I SHARE A TABLE WITH ANOTHER SELLER? Certainly. It's not
uncommon for two sellers to split the cost by cohabitating, or one
using the space on Friday, the other on Saturday.
·WHAT IF I HAVE TO LEAVE MY TABLE TO EAT, VISIT, OR SHOP?
If you're flying solo and not sharing a space with a buddy, get to know
your neighboring vendors: Let them know where your going and if they'd
mind keeping an eye on your stuff. Or, invest in one of those plastic
clocks with the movable hands that say "Closed, will return at....".
·HOW SHOULD I SECURE MY GOODS OVERNIGHT? ANY PILFERAGE PROBLEMS?
Vintage radio enthusiasts, for the most part, are a very honest and
trustworthy bunch. Possibly more so than other hobbies. However,
there's always at least one bad apple in every barrel. Invest in a few
inexpensive tarps and some of those big spring loaded clips to cover
your tables. If you have any high-end items you're still concerned
about, lock them in your vehicle until morning.
·WHAT'S AT THE DVHRC TABLE? Raffle radio and ticket sales, auction
registration, tube, capacitor, pilot lamp and t-shirt sales. Also, the
PA system and the studios, office and transmitter of Radio Free
Kutztown. Radiomania's Mark Stein will return in September for another
book signing too. Late Saturday morning, the area transforms into
Auction Central. Centrally located, it's the perfect "meet me at" spot.
·I'M COMING IN FRIDAY AND STAYING OVER FOR BOTH DAYS, BUT TOO CHEAP
TO SPRING FOR A HOTEL ROOM. Camping and overnight stays are welcomed
and encouraged. If you're not a camper, you can bunk out in your car.
Try doing THAT at Rochester!
·WHAT HAPPNENS IF IT RAINS? You and everyone else stands the chance
of possibly getting wet. But, seriously folks, the K-Town meet has
survived a couple of showers and a full-fledged hurricane, and it
hasn't dampened the enthusiasm we all have for this weekend.. If you're
a seller around the outer perimeter of the pavilion, bring some tarps
and a staple gun along, just in case we experience some of that unusual
Berks County horizontal rainfall.
·I CAN'T SWING A TABLE, BUT I STILL HAVE SOME THINGS I'D LIKE TO
CONSIGN TO THE AUCTION. Listen for PA announcements on Saturday
morning. Once you're registered, you can consign your items, with or
without reserve. Bid cards, required for both buyers and sellers, are
$1 and the DVHRC charges 10% commission or a flat $5 for any item
selling over $50. Collections from bidders are taken in cash, and
payments to consignors are paid by check, usually within a week of the
auction. Complete auction rules are printed on the bid cards.
·ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? Stop by the DVHRC table. If we can't provide
the answer, we'll point you in the direction of someone who can.