SPRING MELT, Allentown Pa. 4/13/2014

[1958 F.W.D.]

Are any of my fellow hoseheads/antique firetruck afficianados planning on attending the Spring Thaw next Sunday? I was contemplating gathering up a crew to go and support the young ladies working their way through Nun College maybe around 1 or 2:00 or so.......Anyone interested??

And for those of you who are not familiar with the Spring Melt (formerly known as the Spring Thaw) it is an annual 2-day event held by the Union Historical Fire Society. Saturday is an auction- lots of high dollar stuff. Sunday is the (indoor) flea market at the Allentown Fair Grounds....2-3 football fields of anything and everything FIRE. It used to be a pretty good place to find parts- everything from gauges to sheet metal to engine and transmission components, and also old equipment like hose, nozzles, etc. But lately with eBay and the rest of the social media world, the days of old stuff at "The Thaw" have been waning. It used to be THE PLACE to go to get parts. But for the last several years it has rapidly been turning into a gigantic t-shirt, patch and blue light show full of a bunch of unappreciative kids. However there are still long time holdout vendors that still come faithfully and if you root through their boxes long enough, you might just find that compound gauge you've been looking for the last 4 years.

For me, it's only 15 minutes from the house, so going is a no-brainer (I guess thats a good thing.) I go and take small, medium and large and go to see old friends that I see there every year. It's a lot of fun. Oh and of course to support those young ladies working their way through Nun College because I see it as my civic duty to watch their breastisses errrr ahhhhh I mean support their endeavors.

[Maddog13407]

im planning on going. might stay in A town for the night and go t the Brewery, I know Vinny, big surprise! haha. its the better half's birthday the 20th. tryin to convince her this is her Birthday present.....

[VALS327]

Be crazy not to go its the opening day of fire truck season in the north east

[Harrisburg Mack]

Ill be looking for ya Lord of the FWD's!!

[yarnall]

I'll be there. I might even drive a fire truck. Only if it doesn't rain. I'd be up for supporting some nuns in training. Is it tax deductible ? Yarnall.

[1958 F.W.D.]

Jason: Glad to have you here on the boards.

Mike: I'm sure if you have an accountant that knows how to be "creative" you could probably swing it.

[j hancock]

The training meeting will be a refresher course in Anatomy.

Qualifing credits will be issued for doctors, EMT's, First Responders, and code enforcement officers.

Prizes will awarded for those that maintain eye to eye contact.

[1958 F.W.D.]

Mike: Are Veterinarians required to obtain con-ed credits? Maybe we could swing the anatomy thing (with emphasis on milk teats) for you for some con-ed????

[joemac]

Is the flea market only on Sunday, or is it also Saturday?

[1958 F.W.D.]

Is the flea market only on Sunday, or is it also Saturday?

Flea market is Sunday ONLY.

[paulromano]

Hello All:

I will be set up at the Spring Thaw and I guarantee that there will not be a single T-shirt at my booth. I will have some Mack stuff like a Mack Foam Extinguisher, Mack B & C Logos, Mack Rostand Bells (with your choice of B-Model Bracket, C-Model Bracket or L-Model Bracket. Also Mack mirrors, Mack hubcaps (NOS), Mack pump gauges, Mack manuals, Sock-type oil filters (only 2), B-Model hood chrome and more. Also ALF bells, Seagrave bell plus other bells, nozzles, tools (including a gen-u-ine Hugh Halligan original Halligan Bar), A pair of American laFrance Fire Engine Co. Dietz Lanterns, A Peter Pirsch marked Dietz lantern, American laFrance Motometer, lights, sirens and about 2200 lbs of assorted brass stuff. I am also bringing a quantity of toys like Code 3 and First Gear that I will be selling at VERY attractive prices. I am a motivated seller (which means my hard working wife is getting tired of loading 4000 lbs of what she refers to as: "Your **^&&*%%$^#$$**" into the trailer) so please stop by and help lighten the load.

I am listed as Naumkeag Fire Company and I am at spaces 152-159

[fxfymn]

I'll be there trying to find bits and pieces for the AB. Specifically I'm looking for the bell bracket and maybe a couple of nozzle pegs. And of course apparatus extinguishers.

Getting in town on Friday if anyone wants to do dinner Friday night.

[1958 F.W.D.]

Carl- message me your number, I think I have an older one. I might take you up on dinner. Where you staying?

[yarnall]

Hello All:

I will be set up at the Spring Thaw and I guarantee that there will not be a single T-shirt at my booth. I will have some Mack stuff like a Mack Foam Extinguisher, Mack B & C Logos, Mack Rostand Bells (with your choice of B-Model Bracket, C-Model Bracket or L-Model Bracket. Also Mack mirrors, Mack hubcaps (NOS), Mack pump gauges, Mack manuals, Sock-type oil filters (only 2), B-Model hood chrome and more. Also ALF bells, Seagrave bell plus other bells, nozzles, tools (including a gen-u-ine Hugh Halligan original Halligan Bar), A pair of American laFrance Fire Engine Co. Dietz Lanterns, A Peter Pirsch marked Dietz lantern, American laFrance Motometer, lights, sirens and about 2200 lbs of assorted brass stuff. I am also bringing a quantity of toys like Code 3 and First Gear that I will be selling at VERY attractive prices. I am a motivated seller (which means my hard working wife is getting tired of loading 4000 lbs of what she refers to as: "Your **^&&*%%$^#$$**" into the trailer) so please stop by and help lighten the load.

I am listed as Naumkeag Fire Company and I am at spaces 152-159

Paul.

I would like to buy the Mack extinguisher if it is not spoken for. I'll be there on Sunday.

Mike

[paulromano]

Hi Mike:

Sent you an email, looking forward to seeing you.

Paul

[Loadstar]

For those of you that went to the auction.......how was it?

[fxfymn]

I was not impressed by the auction; mostly because they didn't have what I was looking for. My impression is that prices are generally soft for most items such as bells and lanterns. Most lanterns sold for les then $200.00 with a newly plated example in excellent condition fetching $250.00. A large bell that came from an ALF steamer went for $400.00. Bells sold for less then I remember in quite awhile.

Even the toys seemed down. Pretty nice Miller ladder truck @ $400.00.

Worse yet: the flea market has almost nothing of interest. Lots of shirts, etc., not nearly as much iron. I didn't find anything at the set up last night. We'll see what turns up this morning.

[Loadstar]

I was not impressed by the auction; mostly because they didn't have what I was looking for. My impression is that prices are generally soft for most items such as bells and lanterns. Most lanterns sold for les then $200.00 with a newly plated example in excellent condition fetching $250.00. A large bell that came from an ALF steamer went for $400.00. Bells sold for less then I remember in quite awhile.

Even the toys seemed down. Pretty nice Miller ladder truck @ $400.00.

Worse yet: the flea market has almost nothing of interest. Lots of shirts, etc., not nearly as much iron. I didn't find anything at the set up last night. We'll see what turns up this morning.

Good luck today!!! Hope you find something..... Even if you don't need it.

[1958 F.W.D.]

This was by far the worst year I have ever seen, and I have been going for 2o +/- years. Attendance was the lowest I have ever seen- before the intrawebs (and especially eBay) you couldn't move in the place- you were shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. There were many many vacant vendor spaces......That was unheard of 10 years ago when they were turning vendors away.....No one would budge on their prices, many overpriced pieces (and I mean WAY overpriced.......) and yes it is becoming a t-shirt/patch/blue light show.

Did meet up with a few friends and went to help the young ladies working their way though Nun College. Forgot to tell Yarnell we were going over and remembered to message him when we were halfway there. I think next year I might just save the admission fee and just go see the Nun Candidates instead.

[Loadstar]

This was by far the worst year I have ever seen, and I have been going for 2o +/- years. Attendance was the lowest I have ever seen- before the intrawebs (and especially eBay) you couldn't move in the place- you were shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. There were many many vacant vendor spaces......That was unheard of 10 years ago when they were turning vendors away.....No one would budge on their prices, many overpriced pieces (and I mean WAY overpriced.......) and yes it is becoming a t-shirt/patch/blue light show.

Did meet up with a few friends and went to help the young ladies working their way though Nun College. Forgot to tell Yarnell we were going over and remembered to message him when we were halfway there. I think next year I might just save the admission fee and just go see the Nun Candidates instead.

That sucks..... Hopefully Paul made out better selling stuff.

[paulromano]

We had a good show. Not so much from the "public" but some of our old customers (Sorry Mike--don't mean you're old!!) and some new. The buyers that were there were serious but no one wanted to pay asking price but "playing pickers" is old hat at the Ag Hall. I moved a bunch of stuff that we have been carrying around for a while but we are motivated sellers. Sold a pile of Mack stuff (Thanks Mike) and a lot of "heavy metal". Thanks to everyone that stopped by to say hi.

[Loadstar]

Paul, Nice to hear you had a good show......are there any other shows you attend with your stuff?

[joemac]

I had a great time, until my back said, "enough!".

I can't stand or walk for any length of time before it starts to bother me. Some days are worse than others.

I always go to these events without expectations.

I didn't find the '37 International hood prop I need, but I wasn't expecting to.

I did score a pair of old-style bulldog side profile emblems that will clean up nicely, as well as an early 30s vintage MACK badge, all three for $50. I was happy with that.

Also managed to find a clean, but non-functioning speedo for $5.00. Worst case scenario is that I can't get it working and it becomes a nice looking ornament.

Snagged a twenty-pound C02 extinguisher for my son's pickup, with suitable bracket- $25 for the pair. He was washing his car when I arrived and took a short break to make the exchange for the cash.

Came home at a leisurely pace and did some yardwork, took a nap and started cleaning up my newly acquired parts. All in all, a very good day.

[609albert]

well my good friend Bill S. and I spent some hard $ their but most important we meet a lot of friends ,that's what the hobby or addition is all about . AL J.

[Maddog13407]

drove down from Ny for the second time. last year was by far better. most of the stuff I saw was way overpriced for what it was. actually makes my stuff worth more money I guess. you guys are right, NOONE would budge on prices. im not lookin to steal something but jesus work with someone a little.spent less than an hour walkin around and drove 3 blocks to the Allentown Brewery and had a better time.