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Computer/Tech Flea Markets?
Spamlent Green asks: "The recent 'Cashing In On Antique Computers' thread, and the PBS Flea Market documentary made me all misty-eyed for the MIT Swap Fest. I moved from Cambridge to D.C. last year, and haven't been able to find anything like it down here, and I don't mean those bogus 'Comptuer Show and Sale and Monster Truck Rally' events advertised constantly on cheapo UHF stations. So I was curious -- do any DC-MD-No.VA-area Slashdot-ers know of events like this down here -- or anywhere else in the country for that matter? They must be out there ..."
There's something called First Saturday in Dallas, too, and a google search turned up a number of interesting possibilities. What recommendations can you make for the seeker of swap?
What's up with this old junk fettish people have? Those things take a lot of space and serve no useful purpose.
Would these items serve a more useful purpose if they were in a landfill?
One word: Education.
You can learn quite a bit about how things work by (a) taking apart old stuff and then later (b) using the peices to build new things. You might even be able to parlay that learning into a vocation. Wouldn't be the first time.
As far as I know the Timonium Hamfest is/was held by BRATS (Baltimore Radio and Television Society). About 50 - 60% is computer related. You see EVERYTHING there television transmission vans, piles of classic Macs, a PDP-8, bowling balls, snow shoes, etc. Its worth the price of admission just to go in and look.
umm, i have neve rmet a single radioshack employee who i would call a radio geek.
-- free as in swatantryam - not soujanyam.
There is a *huge* HAMfest every year at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium (take the exit for Padonia Road off 695). Basically, three big buildings filled with HAM & old computer stuff, plus the parking lot is *filled* with people selling/trading their old equipment. I am a link to the website. The event is generally in April or May and costs $5 to get in. Check out the site for more info. I've gone a few years and picked up a lot of good equipment.
Every once in a while I like to masturbate a new word into my vocabulary, even if I don't know what it means.
Hi!
These are my favorite Maryland Hamfests, in order of preference:
Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest - the event mentioned by the previous poster. A big two-day event in April in Timonium. See http://gbhc.org/.
BRATS Ham/ComputerFest. A big one-day event in July in Timonium. See http://www.bratsatv.org/hamfest.html.
CARA Hamfest. I always enjoy this event, even though it's relatively small. Occurs in September, in West Friendship. See http://www.qsl.net/cara/
FARFest. This one used to be very big, but their move to Bowie a couple of years ago greatly decreased their attendance. Occurs in September. See http://www.amateurradio-far.org/
There are events in other US states too, of course. See http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html. Some Virginia hamfests should also be convenient for folks living in the DC area.
- Tim