Hi Darren;
I wasn't able to go last year so this one was very impressive. Realize that I didn't take notes or even video for that matter.
First; Friday and the auctions:
Note the s there, they had much to sell and at times had two auctioneers going at the same time. I sat in on the watch & clock making auction to pick up some smaller tooling they had there. Did fairly well scoring an Albrecht drill chuck and a few odds and ends. Plus a lot of junk that is all ready in the trash, I'm certain this is according to some auctioneers plans. I did score on one box of junk though, I was bidding on one box because it had a bunch of cutoff blades in it, I almost dropped out but got it. When reviewing the stash I found a box of carbide insert holders, yippie. While that was going on they where selling of a huge number of model engines, steam engines and other things. Prices where outrageous, but then again a lot of work goes into each one. The unfortunate bit here is that I was sitting in the one auction while machine tools where being sold. At the moment I can't afford to buy anything major but I like to know what things go for.
The auctioneers where real busy until late at night Friday. I'm not sure how many where actually there as they rotated in and out for rest breaks. I ended up taking a rest break or two myself which was good because it offered an opportunity to talk to a couple of guys with displays set up. Right now I can only dream of having the tooling and time to do work like I've seen at Cabin Fever. I'm not sure I will ever get to that level. In any event the auction ended Friday to be picked up Saturday when they did all the antique engines. This I missed totally as I wanted to see "the show".
Saturday:
Saturday of course the show is on. It was actually a little to crowded for my tastes, a lot of people pack them selves into the arena. In any event made the rounds with the various vendors to try to find hood deals. This isn't easy by any measure but did score a milling insert holder sort of like a shell mill for what I thought was dirt cheap. Otherwise you need to be real careful with the "deals" from the used tool dealers. Sometimes you are better off buying new, on ther otherhand there where some outstanding values to be had. You really need to know your values.
In any event each time that I've gone to Cabin Fever over the years somthing stands out that just leaves me speechless. This year I got a real good look at a Dusenberg (sp?) that somebody built. I never did talk with the builder but this car was an amazing model. The lengths that people go to and the years they put into perfecting what they are building just shocks me. If you took scale out of the picture you would never know that the car was a model.
There where the usual gas engine models on display, some very strange. They also had a pod setup for remote controlled boats, tracks for trains to run on and dirt. Dirt you say; well for the first time for me they had a big pile of dirt in which they where operating a huge excavator. I believe they are called drag lines.
I remember talking to the guy building the excavator a fear years ago when he was just starting the project, though I didn't get a chance to say hi this weekend. Even back then it was obvious he was involved in a huge undertaking. There appears to be much work left to do. What is neat though is seeing these projects develop over the years.
In any event I left a little early Saturday as my blood sugar was a bothering and I wanted to stop at the Grizzley store on the way back. The Grizzley store is only a few minutes off route 15 so this is a no brainer. What a place, so many machines in a spotless room. Unfortunately the bank account prevented buying machinery this time around and I had other plans. What I needed was a tool box so I picked that up and a drill press vise. What is notable is that price wasn't all that much different than the highly used ones where going for at the auction. I think I bid on at least 3 at the auction and each time dropped out thinking these guys are crazy.
In any event it looks like Grz now owns the South Bend name. They are starting to get South Bend marked machinery into the store. This will be a very interesting development over the year but I don't see myself affording any of these machines anytime soon. The mill and surface grinders on display did look very nice though.
In the end it was pretty enjoyable. I would have stayed longer but simply could not justify the cost of the hotel room. I would have to say if you can do go. Cabin Fever is a bit different than NAMES which I haven't gone to in a couple of years. They are both focused on model engineering of course but Cabin Fever has it's auctions and a lot of interest in antique engines.
David A Frantz
websterindustro4at4mac.com
Sent from my iPhone.
On Jan 16, 2011, at 8:19 AM, Darren M <ram50v8efi@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Oh thats just great David. You just couldn't resist picking on those who cannot attend! Just kidding! Now you know we expect a full report along with pictures and possibly video with a nice naration! I have tried for years to go and every time something comes up stopping me. This year it was when my buddy had to have emergency reconstructive surgery on his shoulder.
>
> Darren M.
>
> --- In gingery_machines@yahoogroups.com, David Frantz <websterindustro@...> wrote:
>>
>> Looks like it will be another great show! I was at the auction last night and was shocked by how huge the auction has become. Lots of tools an an amazing collection of model engineering projects auctioned off. Today they auction off a huge number of antique engines and even a couple of tractors.
>>
>> Lots of opportunities to lighten ones wallet.
>>
>> David A Frantz
>> websterindustro4at4mac.com
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone.
>>
>> On Jan 14, 2011, at 10:17 PM, Shannon DeWolfe <sdewolfe@...> wrote:
>>
>>> Donald,
>>>
>>> I do not agree. If an object was made before the redefinition of the
>>> inch, the thing itself did not change with the redefinition. If the
>>> decision had been taken to make an inch equal to 25.0 mm, rather than
>>> 25.4 mm, the object would still be the same length.
>>>
>>> The only thing to be aware of is whether a dimensioned drawing was done
>>> before or after the redefinition. That is true whether the difference
>>> between the "old" inch and the "new" inch is a micron or a mile.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Mr. Shannon DeWolfe
>>> --I've taken to using Mr. because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 54 year old fat man.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 1/14/2011 3:26 PM, Donald Qualls wrote:
>>>> Too much existing work already in the old inches to change the inch by a
>>>> significant amount.
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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