Bendigo Swap Meet

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Bob Moseley

Hi all - well apart from Rick and Tim's stall there was nothing military apart from some headlight shells, a couple of jerry cans and a couple of water bottles. For our military interest and my instruments it was PATHETIC and I probably won't go again.

Bob

Like most swap meets these days .. all you will find are gobs of 1960's and 70's Holden and Falcon parts ( for exhorbitant prices I might add) ..... or junk that should be taken to the tip. People under 30 think these 60's Holdens are OLD cars .. and they actually restore them, which I find hard to fathom.

[lynx42]

Well, we're home from the wettest Bendigo Swap Meet I've ever been too. This was the 35th and I have been to 31 of them. I missed out on one a few years ago which was also wet and one of the first ever held which was also wet. So 3 wet ones in 35 years is not too bad.

How did we go? Made a quid or two, didn't buy much but caught up with many, many friends. Thats what is more important to me.

What did we see? Well not much as quite a few sights had covers over them. My next door neighbour didn't even unpack his trailer. Mud up to 4" deep kept me away from some sites.

One set of Studebaker US6 exhaust pipes went to Darwin along with some 40mm. Bofors rounds. Some White Scoutcar parts found a new home and I sold the majority of early 1916/18 Dodge stuff I took with me.

I've still got plenty of NOS Stude US6 engine and tail pipes if anyone needs any $50-00 for the two pipes. (plus freight)

John Parker from Sydney had a terrible swap as you couldn't get to his site for the mud. John is seen at many swaps with mostly military bits.

As I said it was good to catch up with many friends and quite a few from MLU.Regards Rick.

[gjamo]

We went and had a great time rained lighty all day Saturday. I have been to Bendigo when its 40 degrees and you cant see for the dust. A little mud is a lot better, but I didn,t have to camp in it all night like the stall holders. One thing I noticed about the mud it seemed to be just a 2 inch covering of imported orange clay crap and was quite dry and firm just under the surface. A major engineering stuff up in ordering the fill (IMHO).
Graeme

[lallat]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Like most swap meets these days .. all you will find are gobs of 1960's and 70's Holden and Falcon parts ( for exhorbitant prices I might add) ..... or junk that should be taken to the tip. People under 30 think these 60's Holdens are OLD cars .. and they actually restore them, which I find hard to fathom.

It is all in the eye of the beholder or should I say "restorer". Bendigo Swap actually started out with mainly auto parts, and any military parts that are found are a bonus. As for the 60's and 70's cars that are being restored, a large percentage of these are being done by mature restorers. The supply of parts and restorable cars older than this is slowly drying up. Most younger people would probably find anthing older than 1960's are out of their price range. At least it get's them started in the restoration business and they can later move onto bigger and better things maybe even "military vehicles".

[Keith Webb]

Who's going tomorrow?

[Cameron Reed]

Yes Keith myself and by brother are going to go for a look he has got into old bowsers hopefully will be drier than last year happy hunting

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by chopper

Yes Keith myself and by brother are going to go for a look he has got into old bowsers hopefully will be drier than last year happy hunting

We even bumped into each other! I didn't recognise you without the walking problems!

It was warm, but not too hot, perfect weather. Rather less military stuff than when I was last there but I did buy a rebuilt crab distributor and some manuals.

Also saw Rick there.

It's a pity they can't just put all the bric a brac and modern stuff in one area to simplify searching, but I suppose it's the joy of finding something really interesting on a table of what is otherwise junk.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

It's a pity they can't just put all the bric a brac and modern stuff in one area to simplify searching, but I suppose it's the joy of finding something really interesting on a table of what is otherwise junk.

Agree ..yes I don't bother going because of the mass of stuff that isn't vintage car related...or car related in any way .... then there is the loads of modern car parts . Anything that is genuinly vintage car is way too dear . MIKE

[Cameron Reed]

yes I am getting around nearly normal now, according to my pedometer done some 22000 steps= 16.7km and we never bothered with the three pavillions on your right when you first walk in, feel about a medium rare from the sun. We purchased a few books, seen quite a few bowsers. Seems they were all sold last night from what most said and what was left was hellishly dear$4k unrestored and missing bits but otherwise not a bad way to spend a Saturday