Combined Retro Tech and Vintage Computer Fair

[curtis]

Got this email the other day.  While slightly off topic, Amiga can definitely be considered vintage.  Come one out and show support for our systems!

Curtis
=========================================================

The Arlington Museum of Information Technology (AMIT) is sponsoring the first annual Vintage Computer Fair Light - South to be held in conjunction with The 15th annual Antique Science & Retro-Tech Show And Swap Meet. The combined event will be held Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the Ramada Hotel, Irving, Texas, 4440 W. Airport Freeway. from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $5.

AMIT Director Gil Carrick said that this combined event should attract many visitors who are interested in displaying their vintage computing artifacts or in buying, selling, swapping or just seeing these artifacts. Vintage Computer Fairs have been held in other parts of the country, but this will be the first one in the South. Since this is the first of these events in the region, it will not feature any speakers and will only last one day – hence the term “lite.”

Antique Science & Retro-Tech Show And Swap Meet organizer Skip Solberg said that for a decade and a half the event has been a favorite spot for fans of this antique gear to show, sell and swap their stuff.

Visitors interested in displaying or selling should contact Skip Solberg at 817-994-9213 or email solberg2@airmail.net for pricing and availability of table space.

###
If you’d like more information about the Retro Tech Meet, or to schedule an interview with Skip Solberg, please call 817-467-0368, email solberg2@airmail.net or see the web site at http://www.slideruleguy.com/tx-1q09.htm.

If you’d like more information about the Vintage Computer Fair, or to schedule an interview with Gil Carrick, please call 817-994-9213, email amit@tx.rr.com or see the web site at http://amit-tx.org/.

--
A. G. (Gil) Carrick, Director
Arlington Museum of Information Technology
1012 Portofino Drive
Arlington, TX 76012

[Darrin]

Bugger!  If it was in Beaumont. TX then I'd nip over with some Amigas, a Minimig, C-One and a C128.

Where on Earth is Irving?

[Bazzaq]

Bit too far for me to travel :crazy:

[Darrin]

Bazzaq wrote:
Bit too far for me to travel :crazy:

The Mersey ferry doesn't run to Irvin?   :-P

[curtis]

According to mapquest, you're only 305 miles south east of Irving.  Just hop on I45 and follow it to Dallas, then turn left on 183 and you're there!

Heck, I'm in Amarillo and it's about the same distance and I'll be there.

If you have to bring the wife and while you're at the show, give her the car keys and 1 credit card for her to go shopping in the big city!  : )

[Darrin]

curtis wrote:
According to mapquest, you're only 305 miles south east of Irving.  Just hop on I45 and follow it to Dallas, then turn left on 183 and you're there!

Heck, I'm in Amarillo and it's about the same distance and I'll be there.

If you have to bring the wife and while you're at the show, give her the car keys and 1 credit card for her to go shopping in the big city!  : )

Ah cheers.  That puts it into perspective.  I worked out of Venice (Louisiana) for a year and that was 298 miles away.

So that's I10 West towards Houston, I45 North and 183.  I'll check with the wife when I get back from Brazil, it might be fun to meet up with a bunch of retro fans.  :-)

[curtis]

Now you're talking!

And yes, it is quite fun.  I attended a couple of the Vintage Computer Festivals in the Oakland area and they were a blast!  Totally geek city.

Even got to see the A500 wedged into an Executive 64 case.  Weird!?!?!?!

So, if anyone is within 300 miles, you really don't have an excuse for not coming.  Gas is not totally unaffordable.

The only thing I would recommend is finding another hotel.  From what I've seen and heard the rooms at that hotel are pretty run down.  Personally, I'm looking at the La Quinta.

[Darrin]

Cheers for the info.

I can't promise anything as I've been away from home for 4 weeks on business and the wife might have some plans, but if I'm free then it sounds like fun.

I'm supposed to be working in Houston for a few days and if I can arrange for the Friday then I'll already be halfway there!

[LaPTuNa]

Hmmm, should I venture out of my cave? It's a 45min drive from Greenville. I wonder if they need any exhibits? Lord knows I have enough.

[curtis]

Do it!!!  I dare ya!

I would bet Gil would be ecstatic to have an Amiga display.

[Claw22000]

Wish I could go but coming from St. Paul MN is just too far.

Claw

[curtis]

Yeah, 1000 miles is a bit far.

However, Southwest Airlines flies from St. Paul.  Trip would run about $334 round trip!

Just a thought.

[curtis]

Well, I'm back from the Fair and overall, I am very happy with what I saw.  However, there was not a single Amiga anywhere on the floor.

Granted the majority of the show was given over to vintage electronics and calculators, but there were several "pure" computer tables, mine included.

Talking to Gil, he said next year he's going to try to move the venue to UT Arlington and have it seperate from the electronics swap meet.

Maybe next year we'll have a little more notice and someone can put together a display of some sort.

Curtis

[Darrin]

Sorry I couldn't make it, but I got tied up with work and they've had me driving back and forth from Houston to Lafayette all week (and I'm doing the same again this week).

Now where's Arlington?  :-)

[murple]

I got all excited until I realized this was in Texas and not the *real* Arlington here in Virginia.