Was I the only collector from WV? No, but there was only one other. A fellow I never met before - Leslie Cooper of Beckley. A great guy to talk to. He didn't bring any plates, but no doubt we'll be trading in the future because Beckley is the place where I get my motorcycle serviced. Beckley Honda - Triumph. It sounded as though he had quite a serious collection of WV plates, whereas I still feel like I'm getting just getting started.
Richard Bauscom was there. Bigdaddyolds on the listserve. I always like to meet guys in person, whom I only know by e-mail address. He had a number of plates for sale on behalf of another collector. Unfortunately for a collection being sold off, it was very disappointing. However the collector was probably one of the most organized I had ever seen. On the back of each plate, there was a neatly typed label which described how he got the plate: When he got it, whom he got it from, and how much he paid. He even had the name of the restorer for those plates that were repainted, and how much he paid for the restoration. Most of the stuff was common, and there were many repaints. Even plates as late as the '60s which had been repainted, but I must say the restoration jobs were excellent in some cases, excellent enough to have fooled me, if it wasn't for the label. But to spend $12 for a plate that is probably only worth about $6 in reasonable original condition anyway does sound kind of foolish. Of course there is nothing wrong with that kind of collecting - just don't expect to laugh all the way to the bank when you decide to sell.
Bill gets the plates ready |
Kids help sell the plates |
NY display - with dog tags. Well at least the plates are tiger colored. |
The displays? Well, there were only two. Coming on a motorcycle, it was kind of difficult for me to bring something. One display was an array of NY stuff - including many dog tags. But by far and away the winner was the display of grahic plates from many different states.
Marty Mozille, of Palmyra VA is originally from Long Island. He and his wife moved to Central Virginia a few years ago. Marty used to work for the Town of Hempstead Division of Sanitation and naturally he is an important source of information on the history of garbage trucks. His friend Al Velocci used to run South Side Cartage, a Rubbish removal company on Long Island.
Like many smaller meets, this one ended rather early; by 1:00pm most collectors had left.
Leslei Cooper told me he was headed to a huge flea market in Dublin, VA. I thought of going, but then I was also interesting in getting home before nightfall. If it wasn't for Becky Brim, one of the hosts, strongly recommending it, I would hever have gone. And if I wasn't on a motorcycle, I also would never have gotten near the place - the parking was horrific, but on a motorcycle, I was able to find a spot reasonably close to the front entrance. No wonder why there were so many cars - this flea market was huge - probably one of the hugest of its kind that I have ever seen. Turns out that it is only a bi-annual event, as opposed to something that goes on every weekend. I got a headache just going through the place - it took hours to cover it all, and there was a lot of junk. The few plates I saw were all junky. Very junk I might add. In the Tiger department I did a lot better - as I always seem to at flea markets. I scored a number of stuffed tigers. Then a large Exxon Tiger banner. As I purchased the banner, I contemplated how I might be able to get it home. Rolling it up, I figured with a bit of twine I could easly strap it on the back seat. There was another poster I would really like to have had (the Exxon Tiger head - Put a Tiger in your tank). The problem was, the posted was stiff corrugated cardboard. There was no way I would be able to roll or fold it up to strap it on my bike.
After the Dublin Flea Market - This tiger is ready
to head home.
Notice the stuffed Tiger strapped onto the back.
And the rolled up banner.
After
the Dublin Flea Market, which I was glad to get out, I headed home.
Nightfall hit around Sumersville, US 19, north of Beckley. I also
discovered how cold it gets at night up in the mountains. Main, was
I shivering! I sure hope it would be warner on I-79 as I began the
long descent on US 19. It was warm enough so that I go home okay.
Next time I'll remember to bring at least a long sleeved shirt!
Page created Sep 22, 2001