Who is going to Alexandra Palace tomorrow

Had a good day at Ally Pally, met Bazle, didnt see Graeme as I think he was on walk about because Bazle couldnt see him on the SMEE stand, bought some goodies and had a pint with a friend who came down from norfolk to the show.

Martin P

I went today and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of traders and plenty to see.

Good to see you Martin.

I spent about the same as at Sandown but not able to find a lot on my list. Did find a needed Posilok collet on the Home and Workshop stand which is the first time I've seen loose collets of that type second hand as they are relatively new wrt eg Clarkson S. (see Sandown thread for relevance of this comment). Axminster, Chester, and Warco there so is a good opportunity to see some of the machines available if you are looking for a new one. Material to use on them was from a diminishing selection (3) of vendors though and the smallest might not be there next year.

Overall I think the Midland show was the best of this winter's crop.

Given all the recent comments about the cost of trade stands, I feel we should say thank you to those who were at AP. I do appreciate their problems, but it is nice to see the 'goods'. I've just had an excellent day there and come home lighter in wallet and spirit. Also down from Norfolk, but not Martin P's friend.

Bill.

I went yesterday and thought it was a good exhibition.

It was crowded at first but thinned out a bit after lunchtime and I was able to spend some money.

Good day at the show, SMEE stand was very busy, nice to meet Bill Starling and put a face to a name, sorryMartin and anyone else who missed me, I did have a couple of walkabouts and spent a lot if time talking to folks about EDM, seems there is a bit of a fascination with these machines, and crossed that nice Mr Warrens palm with my credit card - new toy soon to be on its way

Been to the see pantomime with the grandson so now totally whacked and relaxing with a drambuie on ice.

Graeme

Some staggeringly incompetant reporting here showing no research and missing the central theme of the exhibition. in the comments someone eventually pointed out that the show wasn't the same as the one that moved nito AP in the1980s.

It reminds me of listening to a radio report in the 1980s about the Model Engineer show when it was at the Wembley Conference Centre, I was left wondering if I and reporter attended the same show !

I was at the show at Ally Pally this year on all 3 days stewarding on the Club stand and enjoyed myself talking to the visitors about the models on the club stand. Though, I must admit that on Sunday the visitors were a bit weird as they seemed to pass the stand in trance without really looking at the models. However there were enough people interested to keep my gums banging.

Regards Luigi

Note the date of that report.

By Ed Cumming

12:08PM GMT 20 Jan 2014

Best regards,

Steve.

Ha. Explains why someof the comments were flagging 'a year ago'. Thought that was a computer glitch. Still didn't reflect the show I went to last year either.

Which Club Luigi? I was on St Albans stand with the spectacular steam launch which at 7ft long shows you the size you need for a Stuart triple to look in proportion.

As the welsh comedian used to say "I was there ".

As a one man band I have spent 19 years supporting this show first as a club stand and for the last 16 years as a small sole trader selling tooling from deceased engineers workshops, Toads, Haddocks, Bogies and some of those small items that other traders wont sell because either they cannot be bothered or not enough profit in it. It is the only show that I do as I can easily travel in. My small space, insurance, travel and the rip off refreshment prices mean that I have to find about £1000 for a 3 day show. Just think of the problems some of the northern traders have - plus hotels at London prices and keeping the home fire burning.

This year my show income was HALF of last year with many of my regular customers patronising my stand. I was not alone. Most of us made a LOSS. Spend a few moments thinking about who was NOT there!!! One of my friends weighed in his tooling, cutters etc and made a much better price from the scrap man than he did selling it.!!!

Will I , as a model engineer, be there next year???? Will any small trader?? How many big boys there?? Who was missing?? Those who went to Sandown, both traders and visitors, were scathing in their reports and came home poorer for the experience. Don't believe what is said in the modelling press.

We have reached the point where such exhibitions are not viable. Many come but few spend as they can get it cheaper on the internet. The average age of those passing my stand on all 3 days was 65+ with a few ladies and not more than 50 under 16. As the man said " nuff said"

I have been invited to the Bristol show where the stand price is more for a 2 day show and I would have to spend out for 4 nights in a hotel. What do you think????

Not sure if its the Alamo or Custers last stand ( pun intended)

Pete ( otherwise known as loco)

I enjoyed my day out at AP, even managed to smuggle a bag of tools into the workshop without SWMBO noticing. I thought that the flying display put on by the pigeons was impressive, too.

Waiting for the train up to London, I am always amused to see the army of "old gents" at the station: I know exactly where they are going!

I was on the Northolt Model Railway Club stand opposite Pollys trade stand and not to be out done we had the 7 1/4" Big Boy chassis.

Regards Luigi.

.

Pete,

Assuming we can take that literally:

There must be something very very wrong with the World.

MichaelG.

Peter - thank you for your synopsis.

One model train show over here (Canada) has recently moved from a high-priced convention centre to a hockey arena in a small town on the outskirts of the large town, solely to reduce costs.

From my two day visit to Sandown (thoroughly enjoyable, BTW) in December, I can understand that the hobby must get back to what is important, which is the social and engineering aspects of the hobby, in my opinion.

We can leave the large, impressive show halls behind, and move back to the smaller venues, without loosing much if anything, but potentially gaining more activity.

Anyway, just my thoughts, and thank you again for your words. JohnS.

A year ago at Sandown,the noticeable decline in models and trade stands led me to think this shows dying on its feet,this year I thought its worse than last year ,may not bother again,the Midland show 2013 was ok just too small a building. Never been to AP but nobodies raving about it, The ME show has been going for donkeys years ,I went with my father in the late 1940s and came home wanting a model traction engine,60 years later I got one,other shows came along possibly just getting on the bandwagon when shows were making money,with the decline in various shows it may be time for the three southern show to come together at a venue about the size of the Bath and West show ground but more in the home counties, easy to drive to,good parking etc Recently there are similar tales in the vintage world of shows not being run this year due to past financial losses,lack of volunteers,too many shows on the same weekend etc etc and most of the show visitors who are interested in engineering getting too old to attend or meeting their maker.My wife collects china,and attends meetings of a one make club and its noticeable how attendances have declined ,due to old age,high travel costs very few young people interested. The decline of this countries manufacturing is probably to blame,the younger generation has little interest in anything unless it has a keyboard and want do as little as possible and want more money than they are worth,

.

Not really Michael.

Recently I had cause to move a load of gear about and found two large boxes of horizontal milling cutters, each box was a two man lift.

In all fairness there wasn't a lot of money tied up in these boxes as a lot I had been given by people wanting to get rid.

So I broke a few up into job lots and advertised them for not a lot of money, sooner see them go to a good home.

Nothing, zilch, not one email of interest. So in the Donald and down the scrap yard and these made just over £90.

Now if they had of sold for my asking price, by the time I'd packed then, got them to the PO I would have been well out of pocket. I feel Ebay has had it's day, too many people with the same goods racing to the bottom and cutting corners all the way. add on the fact that with all the fee's it's probably costing close to 20% extra you are better going direct to a traders own site.

John,

Thanks for the 'Reality Check'

I stll think that means there is something wrong with the World.

... It seems rather like valuing the Mona Lisa at the price of the recyclable materials.

MichaelG.

Nigel Mc,

Off all the people on here who went to AP last weekend how loud do we have to shout to say it was worth a visit, do you think we would go if wasn't worth it.

I've been to Sandown for me its difficult to get to so I dont go, AP is almost local and well attended, also as somebody who has been involved with stationary engines you must know that there are too many engine and steam rally's to go to which is why they have been dropping by the way side,

Martin P

Have received the results from the organiser which stated that the attendance was up by 8% on last year at 14,000 and 55 trade stands and 56 clubs .

Pete