Do you collect militaria? Trick question – if you are reading this, there is about a 95% chance that you at least would like to collect military collectables. Well, the show of shows is just around the corner. The 2008 MAX (Military Antiques Extravaganza) Show will once again be at the Expomart in Monroeville, just outside of Pittsburgh, on October 3rd and 4th, Friday and Saturday. Sunday is tear-down day for the vendors. Believe me, this is worth the price of gas to drive to the ‘Burgh. I went last year with Mark Tennant and we were stunned by the sheer volume of table space. All time periods are covered, from ancient on up, although WWII is probably best represented, with an amazing amount of Third Reich material. (Mark and I were asking each other, “Did the Germans even make that many SS daggers?”)
While Mark was primarily looking for Civil War related items, I was looking for Soviet stuff. While perusing the tables of a couple from Moscow, I enjoyed listening to a gentleman bargaining for a Cosmonaut’s helmet. Customer: “But if I’m going to get the helmet, I want the space suit that goes with it!” Vendor: “Is no problem. Have suit back in shop in Moscow. Can mail out as soon as get back!”
I didn’t hang around for the ending, but I bet some guy in Pittsburgh has a complete Cosmonaut suit now.
The biggest problem for the buyer may well be to decide what they are going to spend their money on. I don’t have any money this year, but I may go anyway, just for the fun of looking!
Check out their website: http://www.themaxshow.com
Don’t miss this one.
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