Ok, here goes. I expect some flack for this.

1) I had a great show. I found few deals, but a lot of the items that I wanted. I also had a great time talking to and meeting many of you. Guys like Ron W, Wayne Techet, DD, Paul Hogle, Ed Sunday, JR, Kris L, Bob C, Bob I, Bill S, Brian M, Jason B, and everyone else made this a great living and learning experience.

2) I like the fact that we walk all day on carpets at the ExpoMart, unlike at the SOS.

3) I liked having a large cafeteria area where you could sit and meet with people and I never saw people standing around waiting for seats at tables to empty so they could sit down.

4) I like that fact that people would go out of their way to help you.

5) I found that the sold out show wasn't really sold out. There were many tables, especially in the smaller right hand section, where Tom W had his tables, that were empty. More were empty on Thursday than on Friday.

6) Is it my imagination, but was the floor space in the hall used by the MAX show smaller than last year's? My recollection of last year is that there was more space used on the right hand side as you entered, than this year.

7) I found that the crowds were not there. On Friday afternoon, it seemed quite sp****. Many dealers were muttering about how poor the show was. It seems that the only ones buying were the Russians and the Europeans (riding the high exchange rate for the Euros).

8) The hotel locations frankly ****ed. Both preferred hotels, being quite small, sold out quickly and many of us were in ancillary hotels. We were spread out over 5-6 hotels in the area, none of which were really close to the ExpoMart.

9) If you didn't have a car or didn't stay at the two preferred hotels where shuttle bus service was offered, you were in big trouble. Waits for taxi cabs ranged from 1/2 to 1 and 1/2 hours. I have traveled to many cities in Canada and the US and a few in Europe and have never seen cab service of such low caliber.

10) The hotels and the show are also an $80 cab ride (without tip) from the Pittsburgh airport. Many of us from far away and from far lands do not have the option to drive to this show.

Overall, my ratings are:

C for the show and its size
E for the accomodations and locations
F for the Pittsburgh/Monroeville taxi system

Overall, D

Bottom line is that I expect that I will be going to only one show next year, and you all know which one that is, right?

John

John Z and I were together at the show and I can only agree with all of its comments.
It is quite obvious that the economy is hurting the US buyers.....and Canadians for than matter.
It is also quite obvious that if it were not of the Europeans, there wouldn't be a Militaria show in Monroeville.....or anywhere else for that matter.
I have spoken to many dealers and all of them said that they 90% of their stuff went to the Europeans.
The high end stuff did not move rapidly and very few buyers were interested.
I have never seen so many SS daggers available and they were not selling all that well.
Prices were ridiculously high on SS daggers and I must have counted at least 100 of them......no kidding.

As usual, many fakes were around and I saw 2 fake full Rohms being offered by one of the top dealer in the US......very troubling.

I went to the Max mainly in the hope of finding that rare SS Officer degen, which I did not find.
There were many SS degens being offered but you really had to be careful with those and measure their blades.
I was interested in 2 of them and both had their blades shortened. There should be no more than an inch difference between the total length of the blade and scabbard.
Anything higher than that should be looked with some suspicion.

I still had a really good time at the Max and did enjoy meeting all the guys from GDC.
A special thanks to Johnny V and Serge Masche (aka: Wagner) for the Heineken at the show....and I had a few.

Serge also sold me an amazing Postchutz Leader dagger that he had in his collection.


See you all at the SOS show.

Pat:

When are we going to see pictures of this Postschutz? I can hardly wait.

And the nice early eickhorn SA?

John

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa !

Pat, I was going to ask you if you bought the SS degen that you were looking for. I was there both days and saw one at Johnson's tables and one at Wittmann's tables. I think I saw one other one somewhere at the show, and I also saw a Dachau type for $3,000. You are also right about the SS daggers. They seemed to be everwhere, both the '33 and the chained,(in fact I've never seen so many chained SS daggers at one show) but prices were very high for both types. I saw the 1933 models in the $4,000 to $5,000 range. Incredible!
Be sure and let us know when you get your SS Officer sword.
One last thought; para helmets. These also seemed to be everywhere. Although there seems to be a plentiful supply, the prices just keep climbing. You would need to spend between $7,500 to $10,000. I truly think it's dealer greed.

Well, I had a ball!!Bought some mind blower swords for the collection and selling for me was fast,(I priced items for this market) most of my goods stayed here in the states. Regards: Jim

I could not make it this year as my business had me tied up. IMO the MAX is a nice show and very fun to attend. The Toms do a nice job, don�t care for Pittsburg as I prefer Indianapolis.
However the best is the SOS! Simply looks at the numbers to compare. More to choose from, better organization as a whole, as my only grips about the SOS is the last host hotel was a dump.

Damast is right (I priced items for this market) and gee whiz.......they sell. Too many people shoot for the moon (and miss)

quote:

However the best is the SOS! Simply looks at the numbers to compare. More to choose from, better organization as a whole, as my only grips about the SOS is the last host hotel was a dump.)

THE OLD HOST HOTEL IS BEING DEMOLISHED IN DECEMBER. HOTEL ROOMS FOR THE SOS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO FIND IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THAT PLACE(THE DIPLOMAT) WAS LONG OVERDUE FOR THE WRECKING BALL. IT REALLY WAS A DUMP!

Hi Max prices on some items were very good, better than I think I have seen them in quite some time. SA daggers were priced very high and they were plentiful to say the least. I didn't see too many selling. Luftwaffe swords were scarce this year and I think that I saw about six....one or two were okay condition priced at $2300!!!!! overall a good show if you took some time to hunt. Dealers seemed eager to sell on most things. Radisson and Expomart felt like a ghost town...funny feeling to have the hotel deserted. Lent an awkward feeling to the show. I had always liked entering through the hotel and taking advantage of the seminars and exhibit halls. No exhibits this year that I could find and seminars were held, I think at the Comfort Inn...see you at the SOS!

There was one noteworthy bright note. This year MAX management turned the security controls over to Houston Coates, which in my opinion was a stroke of genius. Besides Houston's background as a police office, his years of experience with the SOS made him an excellent choice to "sheepdog" the MAX. I think MAX veterans will agree, forgoing the daily wait in line to have your badge inspected and stamped DAILY (for reasons I have yet to understand) made entry a pleasant vice painful experience. Kudos to Houston!
As an aside, anyone else find those frequent blaring announcements annoying? Perhaps if one of the ladies took the microphone�.

Andy

Can someone post some pics so we can see some of the tables for those of us unable to attend?

KUDOS TO THE ORGANIZERS FOR PUTTING HOUSTON IN CHARGE OF SECURITY. IN THE PAST YEARS, SECURITY HAS BEEN VERY POOR. I AM SURE EVERYONE WHO WENT LAST YEAR RECALLS THE SECURITY GUARD WHO DISCHARGED HER GUN IN THE HALL.

Andy, agreed, those overhead announcements were distracting.

Great to see John and Pat as well as everyone else. Thank God for Houston!!!
See you guys at the SOS!
Bob

I thought the show was excellent. A lot of super nice Imperial german items, tunics, headgear and a few swords & bayonets. Saw 4 colonial pattern 89 Infantry swords And Johnson had a presented, band damascus lionhead, possibly the nicest I've ever seen. Unfortunately all out of my ability to buy. I still like to look though.

I would also love to see some pictures of what the show is all about!

On the 2nd I went to priceline and found round trip tickets arriving on the 3rd and departing on the 4th for $168! I thought that was cheap but the times were bad!

Thanks

Want adds go in the wanted fourm . You have to pay for this...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Thule:
Pat, I was going to ask you if you bought the SS degen that you were looking for. I was there both days and saw one at Johnson's tables and one at Wittmann's tables.

Hi Thule and sorry for my late reply as I was gone on vacation for the last 2 weeks.
Yes, I did see both swords by Johnson and Wittmann and they were not for me.
The one Johnson had was perfect but it was a mid-period type, without the solid nickel fittings. I'm primarily interested in an early ( all silver nickel type ) SS Officer degen, which are much more difficult to find and do cost a whole lot more.
As for the one Wittmann had, it was an early type SS degen but had some issues which I didn't feel confortable with.

Hoppefully, will be more lucky at the SOS, though if the dollar continues to fall, I may just cancel my trip.


The Canadian and Euro have lost 20% in the last month.
I don't know what will happen at the SOS but if the Foreigners are the major buyers, I wonder if they will buy so easily at a 20% premium.
We'll see !

Europe is in DEEP doo doo,worse than reported in US/Canadian Press I,m sure.( if at all??)So expect as seen at recent Shows here reduced interest in TR Militaria.Keep your eyes peeled on the "FOR SALE" columns!!!
Seiler (yank in UK)

Right now I'm like a shark trolling the waters so to speak

Ed:

Cue the theme from JAWS... the great white Ed is trolling for bait.

John

John,
Your comments on the show are quite accurate. However, talking "blades" with you is always a pleasure. Speaking for myself, you do have some great "insight" that I appreciate your sharing with me. A conversation with you is always worth while.

It might also be woth noting here that even in a tough economy these blades always seem to not only hold their value, but the value continues to rise with their rarity. If the item is in better than average condition and is not waaay overpriced, some collector will be interested.

John, take care.
I Love This Stuff
Von Ryan