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Hershey 1999- A Tradition
By Mike Duff
Perhaps a better title would be Hershey - Tradidons. So much about the annual Hershey show is about traditions! Traditions upheld, traditions broken and new traditions started. I have been going regularly to Fall Hershey for only about 10 years or so but I quickly established my own set of traditions that make the Hershey experience more meaningful. Bear with me as I tell you something about my Hershey traditions and experience.
Before I can even begin talking tradition I have to acknowledge that never are there two Hershey shows even remotely alike. Last year was a good old-fashioned Hershey mud bath, an occurrence that happens all too frequently, but one that's part of the ambiance of the event. This year the weather was just fine. No tank tops, but no scuba gear either. Despite the vagaries of Hershey weather, tradition plays a crucial role in enjoying the spectacle that is Hershey.
My first Hershey tradition is that I go alone. With each year of my rapidly approaching dotage I get more and more cranky, crotchety and ornery so Hershey week is my time to be somewhat solitary. I share spots with the "usual suspects" including Marshall Chervin, Rod, Kevin, Steve Raiche, Ed Butler, Dave Kuehn, Chuck Crisler, Dave Hirvimaki, Bob English, Norm Forgit and his sons. However I still prize some time to be alone. Thus I always set off Monday noon. First stop is always Reins "New York" Deli in Vernon, Conn. This is a must stop for any traveler going through the Northeast. If you are in New England and are hungry it behooves you to go to Reins. Don't whine that you are in far northern Maine! Drive the 10 hours and go to Reins!! Best damn deli in U.S.
I do take my mother down to stay the week at my sister's in NJ. Speaking of trips, my mother is a trip! She is 87 and sharp as a tack. She can (and gladly will) rattle ow, verbatim, the chemical formula for flatulence. Perhaps now you can better understand my warped sense of humor. Tradition! After supper at my sister's (always chicken and dumplings), a few hours sleep and then I set out for Hershey about 4:30AM. About 6:30 I arrive in Shartlesville, Pa. This is a town right out of the 1930's with boardwalks sporting vintage gas pumps in the small downtown. I happened on Shartlesville by chance on my third Hershey trip, and it is such a treat I wouldn't miss stopping. At the heart of Shartlesville is Haag's Hotel. Haag's opens at 7:00AM sharp; always, so time for a half-hour nap. At 7:01 I am always seated at the bar ordering breakfast. Haag's is an historical treasure and breakfast at Haag's is a culinary pleasure! The first thing a plate nut like me sees on entering Haag's is porcelain!! Throughout the bar area are spread an almost complete run of Pa. Porcelains. Most of these, starting with the 1907 are from cars of the Haag's owners. On one wall can be seen a photo of the 07 Pa on the car of the grandfather of the current proprietor. Its parked in front of Haag's and things haven't changed too much in the intervening 92 years! I can't think of a better way to get into the Hershey mood than a stop here! Next year, let me tell you about breakfast at Haag's!
I suppose the next tradition is the Tuesday vendor line. Normally the fields open around noon Tuesday. Vendors start to queue up early Morning and it is important to get into the lines early to avoid being "shut out". The benefit of being in the line is so you can sit and wait with bulging bladder for untoward hours just so you can be on the fields 20 minutes earlier than those that did get "shut out". Don't forget, this is tradition, not rocket science. This year I rolled into line about 8:45 and got my spot next to the train tracks. Ahhh! Time for a nice nap. Of course the train tracks must be the main line for the entire country as this year 14 trains went by, the longest being of 138 cars. So much for napping. Because of weather, the fields didn't open till about 2:30PM. Thus Tuesday was really a lost day. Most vendors set up their tents etc. but didn't bother to vend in the few hours of remaining daylight. Will I learn from this and next year wait till Wednesday? Of course not.. tradidon!!
A big question for me this year was would there be a noticeable effect of Ebay on Hershey. With the vast quantity of great items offered for Internet auction would quality automobilia continue to be brought to Hershey? I'm pleased to report that there were lots of good items available this year. It seemed to me that more nice plates and automobilia surfaced than in recent years.
There were several rare and important plates found at this year's show. Clearly the cream of the crop was a first issue Virginia (1907 -Type I) bagged by Bob Roughton. This was, however, a plate brought by another ALPCA collector so it's not exactly a Hershey "discovery". I bet Bob doesn't care though! Congrats! The other great item I saw was a super rare porcelain NH motorcycle plate. This was one of the black on white 2nd issues in nice shape. I tried to buy it but was told it was "promised" so I don't know what became of it. Also in the "heard of' category was a pair of Conn. Leathers that supposedly surfaced. More documented finds included a pair of Md. Pre-states, a super 15 Pa. Trailer and a mint 14 Michigan.
I messed up Tuesday by not buying a 1912 Mich. Manufacturer and a nice pair of 13 Mich. passengers. The price was very fair but I sometimes get way too conservative. Stoopid!! I did get lucky on Wednesday however. I was just down from my spot when a vendor took out a frame from his station wagon. Believing it to contain a photo I zeroed in for a looksee. Oops, not a photo. It contained a NJ leather plate and a 1909 NJ with the same number. After a brief negotiation ownership was transferred. The ensuing conversation was cryptic ... "any more plates?"... "Yup, buried in my car, can't get em now".. Help you unload those heavy boxes?" . . "Ok". The result was a Nazi cycle plate still mounted on its bracket with taillight intact. Since I didn't need these items for my collection I quickly sold off the Cycle to Dick Yourga and the Jerseys to Steve Raiche. The same vendor had a fabulous circa 1905 Schacht catalogue (see Bill I spelled it right this time). It was not cheap but I bought it in hopes it would be of interest to Bill Krellner. Bill is one of the real great collectors who is one of the visitors to our spaces that I look forward to seeing each year. Among others of my favorite visitors each Hershey are Grant Deahl, Nandor Thar, Bill Simon, Steve Newell, and Bob Tuthill. Grant has been collecting plates for decades and Bob (ALPCA #22) is another true pioneer of plate collecting. He built one of the first "super collections" in the 1960's but eventually turned his interests to early automobile sales catalogues. Back to Bill Krellner for a bit. His collecting interests include plates, autos (especially Schachts), automotive signs and railroadania. Bill is one of the true gentlemen of our hobbies and the only person I know who has a working railroad of his own!!
Well another Hershey in the record books and another article completed before deadline (barely). I do hope most of you like these little stories. I must share with you some feedback about my latest article on the ALPCA Convention in Chattanooga. As with all my articles, I worry about the reaction they get. Anyway, when I got to Hershey this year the first person I met is an old friend whose opinion I value highly. His comment was ... "Were you stoned or just drunk when you wrote that article; ... I didn't understand a word of it". Boy what a downer! I left his tent pretty depressed and hoping to avoid Roger at all costs (that's why I was so scarce Tuesday nite, big guy). The next morning, I ran into another old friend. He told me he read it at work while on the throne (no he's not a king.. the other kind of throne) and was laughing so hard he had some bad movements ... err - moments. I write these little travelogues tongue in cheek, and I try to inject my brand of humor in the hopes that some find it entertaining. I do work hard trying to create the most inane puns of all time, and boy I excel at bad puns! If you don't like some, or all, of an article let me know, but please, lets keep it a secret from Roger. It could get me fired from this gig. I've worked all my life for the government so this is my first realjob!! My psyche won't take a "sacking".