CHICAGO SHOW

[BONOVOX]

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[TomFromJersey]

Hi Bonovox, and welcome to the site..........
  You never know what may show up there, some shows there are loads of pop machines, others it seems like there are loads of jukes. You just never know. I always try to make one or 2 deals buying and selling ahead of time, and just combine it with the show. As a matter of fact, Larry from tlhis board is picking up a machine for me and bringing it to the show, and I am doing the same for him. I very much enjoy seeing my friends at the show. It's a killer 15 hour ride for me each way, but I think of it as a working vacation. Although I have never seen an RC 110 there, very rare and desireable machines do show up. Keep an eye out for threads on this board as the show draws nearer. Hope to see you there.
  TFJ

[BONOVOX]

Hey Tom
Thanks for the reply!
I think I will head on down to the show, and make it a working holiday with my wife
Although it is a 10 hr drive for me each way, coming back home with another beauty machine for the mancave would make it all worth it.
Again, thanks for the reply and the welcome.

[loman4ec]

http://soda-machines.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=66&g2_itemId=3131&g2_GALLERYSID=36555d4eae5d2c52ec262d8a515a13cc


Above is a link to some pictures of past shows. Yes I would be there on the first day at about 5am or earlier. During the weekend the show is indoors and is mostly repop or restored items. The weekdays early in the morning are the outdoor stuff in the parking lot. I am not sure if it still goes on but in the old days there was another show a few days before the show at another location that was more of a swap meet with good deals at it. Just ask here and most will know more than I do. Also there is usually a huge gathering of members that get together one evening at a restaurant and swap stories.

[Eric]

Others will chime in and have their opinions... Myself I go to the Fall show... Dealers have the entire spring and summer months to beat the bushes and drag out some really nice machines and jukes... the spring shows I've been to always seem to be what didn't sell in the Fall.... the months between the Fall and Spring are the cold winter months and nothing seems to be found during this time.... Since it's your first show... you may be wowed and there will be some great stuff... just saying the Fall show always seems to be better. It's a 6 hour drive for me which compared to some of these die-hard fans is nothing... And the real highlight for me has become the dinner Thursday night before the early 4-5am parking lot staulk... the members here all meet up and tell stories of finds
sales and restorations... gets bigger and better evey year and is the best part for me....
Welcome, Stick around and hope to see you at a show.

[ciawarrior]

Im too far to go  but is there anything even close to this in Southern California ? Im a newbie and would love to attend something like this

[Larry]

It's a half hour for me, and sometimes that's too far.

The show years ago was great (pre Ebay).  They use to have three rooms and two parking lots full of stuff.  Now there is just the two rooms and one parking lot full of stuff.  It still is an exciting adventure if you have never been there, it is quite overwhelming, but after you've been there numerous times you realize that the inside rooms have the same people, the same stuff, and the same high prices.  

Years ago there was unpolished crap inside.  A lot of diamonds in the rough, but now they are just highly polished expensive glimmering diamonds.  If you have bucks, it's a hell of a Walmart.  If you don't have any money, you're just a bum staring in the window of the local deli, watching someone eat a ham sandwich that you can't have.

The parking lot is the best place for deals because most of these people do not have an area inside.  So it's more of your pickers outside and your dealers inside.  If you want something outside, then you would have to be the early bird, because there is already a huge flock of early birds all eyeing the same worm.

As far as which show is better, it's a toss up to me.  I found things I wanted at both shows.  I agree with Eric's reasoning about the time frame between the shows.  There is eight months between the spring and fall show and four months between the fall and spring show so there is twice the amount of time for pickers to collect there bounty.  Also, November is close to Christmas so the sellers might be selling more items to get some money up for Christmas.  Possibly better deals can be made.

Either show would be enjoyable to you.  You never know what you will find.

[TomFromJersey]

 

.  If you have bucks, it's a hell of a Walmart.  If you don't have any money, you're just a bum staring in the window of the local deli, watching someone eat a ham sandwich that you can't have.

    Great analogy Larry!!!

[SIGNGUY]

I have fun every time I go and I have a 6.5 hour one way trip as well, but like others have said, you just never know what you'll find... as far as a Rare VMC 110.. you might if you get there earlier enough, but chances are rare stuff will be priced accordinly... there can be deals too, just depends on who is selling..
I'm still on the fence If I'm going in April or not yet... but fall for sure...

[BONOVOX]

I thought the show was a Friday Sat Sun thing, where the early day was Friday starting early morning.
So the parking lot sales start during the week? Or is Friday early morn the first day of sales?  The site says 6am start on the Friday, but are things goin on even earlier than that?

Thanks all for the info thus far!
This is a COOL site! 
Wait till I tell my wife there are others like me! lol

[SIGNGUY]

The public show is saturday and Sunday.
The friday really just started out as dealers setting up and moving in,, but over the years, people realized that some deals where to be had if I get there while dealers where unpacking..
that in itself turned into another part of the show..
as a dealer ,you can just set up outside and not go inside.

so yes for a buyer such as yourself looking for deals.. it really starts Early Friday Morning.. lately by 5am, things are Hopping... it's dark, it's cold, It's Awesome.. bring a flashlight!

[BONOVOX]

Hey Signguy..... THANKS for all your info and the time to answer my questions!
I think I will be there for the Friday 5am with a light..... because its my first show, to me everything is new stock.  If I dont find something for me, I'm sure I can find a machine at a good price.... to resell where I live, as the prices are MUCH higher for things like 39's & 81's in my neck of the woods.... so If I can sell something to just pay for my gas and hotel there, I'm ahead

Hope to see ya there! I'll be the guy with the big grin on his face at 5 in the morning on a "cold and grey Chicago morning" hey is that not the intro to an Elvis song lol)

[SIGNGUY]

Stay tuned about a SMC Dinner Get together as well.. in years past we have gotten a few of us together on Thursday for dinner.. usually a good time... not sure yet if i'm going .. might be a game time decision for me this year.