Hi Gang,
Paul Lee and I drove up to the Copake (N.Y.) swap meet and auction
preview today. This was the first time that I didn't set up a table...
The first table we encountered as we entered was a guy that was
liquidating the dregs of a recently deceased shop in Connecticut. He had
lots of NOS Raleigh stuff and clothing: Cool Gear, ProTogs, Sergal.
Curtis Anthony was having a field day and finally went and got his van
and pulled it right up so that he could load up his haul. Among other
things he had a number of NIB Raleighs. The best model that he had with
him was Super Course but he said that he had some Internationals and
Pros back home. I asked him if he was the dude that was bringing the NIB
Raleighs to Cirque? He had no idea what I was talking about. I took his
email and promised to send him the link. I hope he goes... We had to dig
a bit but Paul and I scored some nice woollies.
Sam Fitzsimmons had a table set up. I am happy to report that he is
looking quite well. Aside from being the most knowledgeable person I
know when it comes to vintage and antiques bikes, he is also a gentleman
of the first order. It is a relief to see him doing well... Curtis
brought his dog Fido along. He is one colorful character! (Curtis)
I was in one booth and I noticed from his business card that the
vendor was from Morgantown, West Virginia. This was remarkable to me for
several reasons. Not the least of which is that list member Larry Osborn
is also from Morgantown and I knew that Larry was coming to Copake. I
told the vendor that one of his neighbors was probably lurking around
here somewhere. The guy was incredulous and asked me to point Larry in
his direction. As if on cue Larry sauntered into the booth. I introduced
them and it was like old home week....
The Auction preview opened at 11:00. For those of you who don't
know, Copake's primary focus is antique bikes, so us lightweight guys
were not quite sure what we were looking at but we knew it was cool and
we couldn't afford it. There was a nice Hetchins in the auction. I think
it was Alf Hetchins personal bike.
There was one vendor who had a snowmobile trailer and a pick-up
truck full of what was left of another dead bike shop. This one was from
Cherry Valley, N.Y. near Albany. The guy had been trying all morning to
sell everything as one lot. About noon he realized the futility of that
and had a fire sale. Sam, Curtis, Larry, Paul and I were all gleeful
participants in the feeding frenzy that followed. I had a blast finding
stuff for other people. The only thing that I found that I actually
wanted was a credit card terminal (price $0)... Classic content? My
credit card terminal is a classic in it's own right and as such is
nearing it's life expectancy. Perhaps the new one will bring me better
luck then it's former owner... I'll see you N.Y./ N.J. guys on Sunday
weather permitting. Jamie Swan, Centerport Cycles, Northport, Long
Island, New York.