A guy walks into a card show...

[Jobu]

Regarding my post about the lack of vintage at shows in the Milwaukee area, I can say that most of what is there is in Tony's casees - first booth across from the door at Gonzaga Hall! I appreciate your effort to have some stuff in stock.

I have devised a new way to start building interest - when I find good deals on T205 and T206 I am picking them up on the cheap and plan to give them to kids at the 2 or 3 local shows that I attend in Milwaukee each year. I remember being floored by my first two T206 (Newt Randall and Bergen batting) and I had to pay for those - I could not take my eyes off of them as my dad drove me home from the two shows where I got them. Hopefully I can do the same thing for a few youngsters. Last year a board member posted a few free Exhibits on the BST and I claimed the Spahn and gave it to a kid at a show who clearly thought it was cool (and the smile from his dad really made it worth it).

I would call on everyone here to do the same. If you have some $10-$15 common pre-war cards, try to give 1 or 2 away to kids when you attend shows.

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

From a dealer standpoint, I find it very difficult to acquire pre-war cards at a price where I can make any kind of profit. Post-war, on the other hand, is plentiful at tremendous prices. In addition, the demand for post-war is tenfold when compared to pre-war at the small local shows I attend. My suggestion for pre-war collectors is to set up at your local show with your duplicates and try and generate a local interest. I find it troubling when collectors talk about small shows as some sort of other-worldly corporate entity when these shows are put on by regular folks, your friends and neighbors, with a passion for the hobby and are best served when considered a community. In my opinion, your local card show is your community and it is up to you, both dealers and collectors, to shape it into the form you like.