Portland big swap meet!

1051 Views 24 Replies 8 Participants Last post by dsb, 2 mo ago

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

The "Always in April" annual Portland Swap meet is coming up next week! Starting Thursday at the race track at PIR, and running through the weekend. Next door at the Expo starts Friday and also runs thru Sunday.
I'm going to load up my mountain bike, and my granny wire cart tied to the rack again, as it worked so well last year to save my poor feet from aching. Can't use it at the Expo on Friday as they don't allow anything except handicapped motorized chairs. I was told they had about 60-70 of those for rent, but I think they just hinder you trying to negotiate the crowds of buyers, and not run over any toes.
Nothing really on my list except the egg crate plastic grille I need to go behind the aluminum grille for my '69 Suburban, so I can switch back to my stock grille. But that kinda scares me, as last time I had nothing on my list I came home with the '39 Chev coupe! And that got me in trouble for a few days from my wife.
I'm always excited about this event as it's just fun to see what's there, and visit with folks from all over the world who come to walk the meet!

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sbauman2

· #2 · 3 mo ago

I'm jealous Vall, have fun. Every time you bring up this swap meet I always wish we had one like it down here. The only one we have is the Pomona swap meet held once a month during spring and summer. The problem is deals are few and far between; it's not so much a swap meet as a let's fuck anybody we can event.

Reactions: 1

Blackwidow

· #3 · 3 mo ago

Awesome it’s great to get exercise! Flexing the wallet counts! There’s always something that is needed…..I have a list for the ultra small one day event here I’m hopeful.

Reactions: 1

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #4 · 3 mo ago

The part at PIR is about 6-7 miles of walking, so the bicycle helps. But can't pedal it much as you'd be on and off the bike every 15'-20' at each booth. So I sit on the seat and just push with my feet until I see something I need to get off and look at. But then there are areas you end up back tracking, and I can pedal through those. Or gaps between areas I can also pedal along, and save my feet on the blacktop.
The Expo is probably 5 miles of walking, with 1/3rd of it being outside, and 2/3rds indoors. The indoors is 4 buildings, and there's one that's easy to get through as it's 80-90% new parts, and not any interest unless I'm looking for a certain new part. But having to walk it all, and do so after doing PIR on Thursday makes it a really tough day. Usually takes me a week afterwards to not have sore feet, and joints. But I wouldn't miss it for anything!

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mmhotrod

· #5 · 3 mo ago

Nice Vall. Glad you can have some fun looking around. Remember better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. 😂

Reactions: 1

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #6 · 3 mo ago

Snowed here yesterday for several hours, but temps around 35 degrees, so it never stuck on the streets. Supposed to be more today and tomorrow, and hope this crap is done by Wed.! Going to really affect the swap meet if the weather doesn't straighten up!

no excuses

· #7 · 2 mo ago

thursday is looking ok, not very pretty after that. Looking at going thursday and saturday myself

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #8 · 2 mo ago

Thu. for PIR opener, and Fri. for Expo opener for me.

RTS1

· #9 · 2 mo ago

1937Austin said:
The "Always in April" annual Portland Swap meet is coming up next week! Starting Thursday at the race track at PIR, and running through the weekend. Next door at the Expo starts Friday and also runs thru Sunday.
I'm going to load up my mountain bike, and my granny wire cart tied to the rack again, as it worked so well last year to save my poor feet from aching. Can't use it at the Expo on Friday as they don't allow anything except handicapped motorized chairs. I was told they had about 60-70 of those for rent, but I think they just hinder you trying to negotiate the crowds of buyers, and not run over any toes.
Nothing really on my list except the egg crate plastic grille I need to go behind the aluminum grille for my '69 Suburban, so I can switch back to my stock grille. But that kinda scares me, as last time I had nothing on my list I came home with the '39 Chev coupe! And that got me in trouble for a few days from my wife.
I'm always excited about this event as it's just fun to see what's there, and visit with folks from all over the world who come to walk the meet!

Vall, my Son has a saying when we are teaching classes with Locomotives. When someone wants to walk a great distance (50 feet for me!), he tells them "Wheels are round and feet are flat. Why walk when you could ride. Get on board!".

Reactions: 1

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #10 · 2 mo ago

RTS1 said:
Vall, my Son has a saying when we are teaching classes with Locomotives. When someone wants to walk a great distance (50 feet for me!), he tells them "Wheels are round and feet are flat. Why walk when you could ride. Get on board!".

The issue with wheels at a swap meet is getting on and off frequently. It can be a nuisance at times, but if it saves me even a couple miles of the 6-7 miles walking, then it's worth it for me. My feet were wasted by the time I retired, and it took months after retiring to finally be able to spend much time on my feet. Still leaves me sore for over a week after this swap meet, but I suffer through it because it's such a great event!

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #11 · 2 mo ago

My big find today! Not much else that interested me actually. But when I saw several guys looking this over, and then set it down without buying it, I thought they must be nuts! A plaque for a local Portland car club, The Dukes, that's the most elaborate club plaque I've ever seen. I don't collect them, but I have a friend who is still one of the remaining members, and figured he'd know when the club had these cast up?

It's 10"x4" and all SS acorn nuts. Uses real spark plugs for some miniature engine of some sort so they're scaled down. I just thought it was cool as heck for a modest $18 price tag..

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1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #12 · 2 mo ago

I also bought a fire truck! Well, a fire truck body!
There was a local guy from Washington who had an Austin A40 for sale. We got to talking and he mentioned being on American Pickers when they came to his shop in Washington State. It was the show where they bought an unusual old front wheel drive motor home.
As we were visiting, I looked over beside his travel trailer and saw a stack of peddle car bodies. All the same red Engine ( fire truck body, and all brand new. I asked where he'd gotten so many new repop bodies, and he told me they weren't repops, and were made in the 1950's. And he'd purchased them from Mr. Austin, Rob Stuart in California when he bought a number of Austins from Rob.
He wanted $20 each for them, so I figured I'd buy one and turn it into one of the strollers guys push their little rodders around in. Just a fun project for later, and maybe make a little money on also. Might even make it a Gasser fire truck, just for fun!

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Blackwidow

· #13 · 2 mo ago

Mr Austin is a great guy….and to be able to acquire a collection like he had and still sorta has is a life accomplishment, not dealt the best of cards in life but still sharp and humorous as all get out.
Can’t wait to see what your creative mind has in store for us!

no excuses

· #14 · 2 mo ago

picked up a small block C6 core for $70, They have been around $300-$400 on facebook market place. picked up a windshield cowl ($10) and a driveline hoop for $10. Ended up walking almost 8 miles. Started day at 0500, got back home around 1430. Went to work for 1700 and just got home, it was a long day lol. Going to hit the expo center tomorrow right after I get off work, then hope to get a couple of hrs sleep before heading back into work Sat. night. I will sleep plenty when I am dead lol

Reactions: 1

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #15 · 2 mo ago

Expo was a big flop this year. Not sure what happened, but probably 30-40% of the spaces were empty! Some said it was post covid, but this wasn't the first since covid letup, and last year was full. For whatever reason vendor attendance was way down, and I wont be doing the Expo portion if they have it again next year. The Expo used to be the larger of the two, and PIR racetrack was overflow. But things have reversed, and appears Expo is dying.
I didn't buy a thing, but did find a pair of air filters for the Hilborn scoop on my Austin in a free box, so wasn't a total bust. I tried to buy a BDS Hilborn scoop, but the guy didn't know what his buddy wanted for it, and when he called at 8:45 a.m. his buddy wouldn't answer his phone. He took a guess at $250, so I passed on it.

mmhotrod

· #16 · 2 mo ago

1937Austin said:
My big find today! Not much else that interested me actually. But when I saw several guys looking this over, and then set it down without buying it, I thought they must be nuts! A plaque for a local Portland car club, The Dukes, that's the most elaborate club plaque I've ever seen. I don't collect them, but I have a friend who is still one of the remaining members, and figured he'd know when the club had these cast up?

It's 10"x4" and all SS acorn nuts. Uses real spark plugs for some miniature engine of some sort so they're scaled down. I just thought it was cool as heck for a modest $18 price tag..

That’s awesome. Great find

Reactions: 1

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #17 · 2 mo ago

I found a place on an internet search where this plaque was voted best looking club plaque by some old car magazine! They said that originally there were no spark plugs, and not head bolts, and plaques were as cast. Then members of the club began making theirs individualized by adding plugs, nuts, polishing, and even some with plug wires! The club tried to get guys to stop, and get modified plaques back, but nobody did so.

Reactions: 1

mmhotrod

· #18 · 2 mo ago

Great history. You have a cool collectible.

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mt94ss

· #19 · 2 mo ago

1937Austin said:
I also bought a fire truck! Well, a fire truck body!
There was a local guy from Washington who had an Austin A40 for sale. We got to talking and he mentioned being on American Pickers when they came to his shop in Washington State. It was the show where they bought an unusual old front wheel drive motor home.
As we were visiting, I looked over beside his travel trailer and saw a stack of peddle car bodies. All the same red Engine ( fire truck body, and all brand new. I asked where he'd gotten so many new repop bodies, and he told me they weren't repops, and were made in the 1950's. And he'd purchased them from Mr. Austin, Rob Stuart in California when he bought a number of Austins from Rob.
He wanted $20 each for them, so I figured I'd buy one and turn it into one of the strollers guys push their little rodders around in. Just a fun project for later, and maybe make a little money on also. Might even make it a Gasser fire truck, just for fun!

Is that the guy on 10th? haw a lot of brass stuff too I think.

1937Austin

Discussion Starter · #20 · 2 mo ago

mt94ss said:
Is that the guy on 10th? haw a lot of brass stuff too I think.

Not sure what street he's on? He was on American Pickers, and I remember the episode where they went to his garage in Hoquiam. He bought a number of Rob Stuart's Austin collection when Rob began to sell off about 5-6 years ago. He showed me pictures of some really rare variations of the A40 Austins he owns. Has a cool Thames panel gasser also!

Reactions: 1

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