RetroTechUK is back on the 8th May 2022

I’ll be there again! Running round like a headless chicken, buying stuff I don’t have room for and worrying about it later! I’ll get some bits together for the bring and buy again, everything I’ve ever put there seems to find a new home!

 Regards 

Lloyd 

@chriswood Thank you for the info, I hope to be able to go!

Having checked with The Boss I can confirm that I'll be there. I'll be selling my 'junk' but as The Boss says I'll probably buy more than I sell!

I'll hopefully be there too as long as i have a working car 😀. 

Cheers

Neil.

@neil1974 Hi Neil if you go please remember to bring that A774 back cover and tuner if that's still ok with you?.  I am in the process of sorting a bit of stuff for the stall I am sharing with my mate. I didn't think I had much but I keep digging things out of the store! I bet I still come home with more than I take though! 

I'm glad you reminded me Rich because i had forgotten them both 😏. 

This is a reminder that it's now just over two weeks away!

A huge range of stalls (about 190 last time), all indoors, huge free car park, full range of refreshments available all day.

See https://www.retrotechuk.com/  for location/times/prices/info, etc.

Here's a short video the BVWS did before last year's event as a taster; turn up your speakers and enjoy! 

If you haven't been before, there is a mind-boggling range of vintage technology on sale. Radios, TVs, Audio, Telephones, Vinyl, Record Players, Testgear, Retro computing, Parts, Valves, Cables, Collectables you name it!

There will be lots of room and ventilation inside the hall, to give good space for safe browsing. Entrance prices remain the same, with two-tier entry - Early entry at 9:00 (£25) and Normal entry at 10:30 (£10).

This year the BVWS committee is mounting a special Exhibition of equipment and artefacts to commemorate 100 years of Public Service Broadcasting. There will be some rarely-seen items, so do check that out. There will also be special exhibits from a number of other vintage technology organisations.

This show is open to everyone, not just BVWS members, so do come along and join in. Everybody is very welcome - bring your friends and family - I look forward to seeing you there!

Chris

Yesterday, I attended this event for the very first time. I had thought about attending for almost 12-years now, as far back when it was known as the NVCF, but just never could be motivated enough to do so. Chris, aka @the_teleman finally persuaded me to break the procrastination so off we went. 

It was a grand day out and a very interesting day indeed. I saw for sale a rather splendid early colour TV located on Steve Harris' "On the Air" stall. An Invicta, dual-standard Hybrid, including stand, and by all accounts working. Sadly found out it belonged to one of our members who had recently passed away, and to which I was completely unaware of. All the more sad as he contacted me a while back as he was seeking to own a 1st gen colour, for old times sake. Glad he managed to get one before being called to the  " Great supervisor".

Later in the afternoon, despite not being a member, I attended the informal UKVRRR forum gathering on the mezzanine floor, also met a fair few out in the car park, as various prior arranged deals/swaps were concluded. I got to finally meet well over a dozen folk I had communicated with virtually over the past 12-years or so, a real pleasure.

I did go armed with funds, but nothing really took my fancy, well that's not strictly true. I would have seriously considered the Invicta, but I've filled up the museum, and to add more would just junk it up. Maybe I've finally learned to control my habit. Upon leaving, I did wander past the Bring-and-buy stall, and Jeremy's (aka Pamphonica) declaration that 'wiggle room' was operating, was enough to make me inquire upon something that caught my eye. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so that was purchased. You can see that item here. Mrs Crusty was shocked to say the least, when I returned home with my wallet virtually intact, and just one small item, she was fully expecting yet another TV or two, to turn up.

All in all, a great day out, which was much needed after nearly a year of being locked up. Thanks to Chris for persuading me to go. 👍  Would I go again? If nearer, for sure. However, to be honest 7+hours in car despite good company, is physically too painful now.

Ah, if I’d known I’d have come and said hello! I missed the forum gathering, I must have missed the call for it by going outside! Good to hear you enjoyed it though 🙂 I too enjoyed it, stayed from about 10:45, to gone 4! The longest I’ve stayed ever, I donated a load of stuff to the bring and buy, and amazingly it all went! The car was much lighter on the way home, dragged my mum and dad along, and they also enjoyed it! It helps when the weather’s nice too. I bought a few items, some that I’ve been after for ages, some that were impulse purchases, bargain of the day I think was a DF meter to go with my R1155 Lancaster bomber radio, £40, normally on fleabay they seem to go for a lot more. Also grabbed a TV22 chassis, complete with CRT, which looked like it might be knackered, the metal base has spit open, and the Bakelite bit with the pins on it is dangling on the lead out wires, but I’ve run up the heater on it and it’s ok, there’s a lopty on the chassis too, so that can go in my dead TV22 if it’s any good! Also got a couple of nice radios, an Ekco ‘princess’, Ekco A33 ‘radiotime’, a Philips 291U (same as that Mullard thing in another thread!), also another bench multimeter, Philips PM 2521, it was only a tenner, so I couldn’t resist! Also an enormous TV, a Sony Watchman FDL-390BE! Oh, and I got an empty case for an AVO from the bring and buy, and when I was wandering around On The Air’s stall one of the guys handed me another one!

I also spent a lot of time just chatting to people, met a few forum members, had a demonstration of a piano playing machine too, a lot of people stopped for a chat when I was carrying the Ekco A33,  turned out to be a popular set!

we were going to book to get into The Dun Cow at Dunchurch for dinner, but they were fully booked, so we went out of our way to The Kings Head at Wellesbourne, run by the same chain, it’s a really nice pub, and the foods great 🙂 

Anyway, that’s enough of my ramblings, to everyone who organises it, you did a great job! Can’t wait for the next one 🙂

 Regards 

Lloyd 

Hi Lloyd I did keep a look-out for a chap with a lightbulb in his gob, but never spotted one. 😉 

We might have passed one another, I certainly spotted that TV22 chassis.

🤣 I had to throw the lightbulb away, it popped when I walked past the stall with the Van de graaff generator on it! I was the one walking round in a light blue t shirt with a VW camper van on it, and long hair!

 Regards 

Lloyd 

I also enjoyed the day, best yet I would say! 

I spoke to a few forum members and picked up some useful parts that should help with the restoration of my Bush A774. Including a back cover. Thanks Neil!  I missed the forum meet as well...  Good luck with the TV22 Lloyd! 

I was there too. Pity we made no arrangements to meet up.

I took a few things to the Bring and Buy so that’s cleared a bit of space. Jeremy was rushed off his feet but was good-humoured about it as always.

I decided that I was going to buy nothing but did come away with an Ekco U29 and a few books.

I was there as well, arrived late due to the Fosse way closure and signage confusion, got a bargain replacement variac and there was lots to see, last time I went was 2019. Spoke briefly to Ojnoj of YouTube fame.

I chose not to go, but yesterday I was surprised when a colleague whom I have been helping to restore what turns out to be an ex-BBC KB 850 said to me "I expected to see you at Retro-Tech!". He'd never been before and the KB was his first restoration.

Oh dear - I fear I may have infected someone else with the wireless "bug"...

By far the most desirable big to be infected with!