Anybody Go to RedBall?

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

Well.........I went on Friday. There were almost no M37 parts to be found and one or 2 M37s on the premises. Unlike last year where I had the back of my Ford Escape pretty full of parts.....this year I came away with 1 brown shopping bag of parts, 2 lug wrench handles, a steering wheel, and a 30/50cal mount. Could have fit all that in the back seat with room to spare. I heard lots of vendors complaining about people not buying stuff.....but how much clothing and helmets can one buy? Most of the hard parts were M35 and bigger stuff, with a good representation of jeep stuff too. But even the jeep stuff was mostly from the commercial vendors, not the guys who finished their restoration and were getting rid of extra parts.

So I'm not sure what it all means. I got involved in this military truck stuff last year and have gone to the major east coast meets twice now. Meaning the MTA meet in Sussex, NJ, Aberdeen, and RedBall. Last year each show was large with lots of M37 stuff. Heck, people were giving me M37 parts because they didn't want to take them back home. This year each show was smaller and had much less M37 stuff. Maybe the M37 parts well is drying up......maybe it's just the economy......I don't know.

What do you guys think.......are you seeing the same thing at other meets around the country?

I'll post some pics later when I find my camera.

regards,
bob

[w30bob]

Wow....I'm the only one who went to Red Ball? And the only guy buying M37 parts at the meets?
Well, that explains it.....you guys went and bought up all the M37 parts out there before I could. Damn.

I should mention that Ed (Majorhitt) was there as well, as pretty much the lone seller of M37 parts. It was great talking to you again Ed, see ya at Jim Thorpe!

regards,
bob

[rickv100]

Bob,

I was there on Saturday with my kids. We walked the entire show and I came home with my money in my pocket. There were not many M37 parts as you said and when I went back to pick up a M37 rim the vendor had disappeared so I came home empty handed.

There was a M37 based maintenance truck there. I enjoyed looking it over as they are not something you usually see at most shows.

The kids enjoyed riding in the half-track and the CCKW. Something I think they should do at Aberdeen to attract new members to the hobby.

Rick

[w30bob]

Hi Rick,

I rode in the half-track too. I had to hem and haw a bit, but finally convinced them to take me on a solo ride and to let me ride up front. Turns out I sat in the middle, which put my head smack in the middle of the windshield frame and the 50 cal pulpit. But I was surprised at how smooth it rode.....those tracks really do make the ride nice. Might have to get me one of those when I hit the lottery.

regards,
bob

[DAP]

I have rims for sale but shipping might be a dal killer

[refit1701]

I didn't go to RedBall but I have seen a decline in shows and vendors in the last two years. Some of the big private vendors in our area (just guys with garages full of stuff) have either gotten too old to do shows or have just sold their stuff in one batch. We had one gentleman who could be counted on for a major pile of M37 stuff and he has been two ill to attend shows. We miss him.

I think this "booming" economy isn't helping. I know money is short around my house and the homes of other guys in our club. Our biggest yearly meet is the first weekend of November and I hope we have a resurgence of attendance and lots of stuff to swap.

[rickv100]

I agree on the decline. Seems like most shows today are retiree shows or you have to take a day off from work to go on Friday. It seems like Friday night or Saturday's are pack up and go home days. Aberdeen this year was a washout on Saturday due to a storm on Friday night and Redball was ok on Saturday.

Back in the early 90's before Ebay took off you had a lot of vendors with M37 stuff at shows. I remember Adirondack Dodge, A.B. Linn and a few others at Aberdeen shows.

Now you have to dig around to find M37 parts.

Rick

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