Melissa and I would like to thank everyone who came to our first annual swap meet in Independence, KS on May 10th. It surely won't be the last! We were pleased to have fifteen dealers present, totaling 20 tables of glass. Members of the Missouri Valley Insulator Club and the Prairie Signals Insulator Club were joined by other hobbyists from the area as well as from Texas and Arkansas. Due to heavy advertising, we had around a hundred people walk-through the swap. 

Ethan Yowell from Kansas City brought a rare Ponds insulator still on the pin for show-and-tell. We also had some locals bring in common pieces, but others brought in some good finds. The highlights: One walk-in brought a CD 121 WGM in purple. Another brought a Mickey Mouse in aqua and a CD 168 in red amber. Both just wanted appraisals. (Maybe next year...) 

After the morning rush, everyone was ready for the BBQ lunch catered by my lovely wife, Melissa. I knew that I married her for good reason. The food was excellent! We had forty people sit down to lunch with us and there was some great conversation about collecting. As well as lots of leftovers. 

Just a few more highlights; By the end of the day, Pat Scott (St. Louis, MO) had sold an entire table of insulators. Jerry and Barbara Williams (Salina, KS) brought telephones and bottles in addition to insulators. Also, I spent a good hour talking to a reporter from our local paper. The article was published a few weeks later, and the hobby got an entire page with color photographs and everything! We really appreciate all those who made the trip down (or up!); especially those of you who came to our past three swaps in Manhattan, KS. Look for our swap again next year! May the 29th 2004, for those of you who want to mark your calendar.

Rod Shelly & Ethan Yowell wait in line for lunch with other collectors.

Dennis Weber talking insulators with Jerry & Barbara Williams.