Shelby Hamfest Report

[Charlie Young]

Mike KD8GWH and I drove down to Shelby NC on Thursday and returned on Saturday evening.  Arriving separately were WB8YST and Susan, along with Thomas the cat.  The weather could not have been better, as compared to last year when it was hotter than blue blazes.  I like this hamfest, it has stuff in the flea market that interests me.  The folks are very nice, typical southern hospitality.  THis is the primary focus of the Shelby fest, the flea market. 

We rented a golf cart for the first time.  It was wonderful to ride around.  Lesson learned.  I am not able to walk the flea market any more. 

Mike bought a mint condx Icom IC-275H 100 watt 2 meter radio for a great  price.  He has a collection of this series.

I focused on stuff to replace my wire antennas.  Bought 2 x 150' rolls of LMR400 with connectors, and a new piece of LMR600 ultraflex with separate connectors.  Got 18 dog bone insulators.  Got some miscellaneous connectors.  

Picked up some new premade coax jumpers for he shack.   Also got a complete 3CX3000 tube socket.

Then I encountered the boat anchors, and for the most part, exercised restraint.  I was seriously eyeing a Hallicrafters SX-100 receiver (operational) which is missing from my Hallicrafters collection.  The guy also had an operational RME69 receiver.  I don't have an RME.  He was only asking $100 for this.  I picked up one end of it, then said to myself, NOT TODAY.  So, I walked away. 

What I could not walk away from was a MINT CONDX Collins  75S3B, 32S1 with speaker /power supply along with the necessary interconnect cabling.  After extensive evaluation, I just could not walk away.   This set I will bring straight to the shack as I expect it is operational as-is.   It is currently in the truck, I will post a picture later. 

What will I do with 2 Collins S Lines.   I will find a good use!! Maybe I will put one upstairs. 

We ate good.   I got stuffed the first night on Alaskan white fish.  Best I ever had.  Ate lighter on the 2^nd night.  Had Brunswick stew and a phillycheese steak.   Everyone else had prime rib..

A good time was had by all!  

73 Charlie N8RR