> Fellow Galoots,
>
> Short version:  Went there, sold some, bought some, saw
> several galoots, and did a bunch of talking about tools.

Well, Frank said it all; but, that certainly won't stop me from adding
my six-bits.

This was the biggest and best Super Saturday meet yet. I didn't count
the tables, but the ballroom sized facility was full. My guess is there
were considerably over 100 rust junkies browsing the tables. I tried to
keep a list of attending Galoots, so here's my role.... Frank, Paul
Coppinger, Bob Ibach, Jim Spallin, Bill Adams, and myself from the DFW
area; Bruce Willman, Dean (sorry Dean, I've gone blank) from Austin, Bob
Davis, Gwynne Little, and R.J. Paulson from the plains of West Texas,
and last but not least, Stan Faullin from the Witherby Chisel Disposal
Facility in Houston. If I missed any Galoots, I either didn't know they
had seats on the porch or they just couldn't get me away from the dealer
tables long enough to introduce themselves. Also, Frank missed a state
in his attendee list. Ron Cushman from deep in the heart of Yankeeland,
New York state, was on his way home from the left coast and tried to
gather up some Texas greenbacks.

The meet officially started at 10:00am. At 10:01 the room looked like a
fire-ant mound that had just been kicked. Just a blur of moving bodies.
By noon there was a more relaxed atmosphere and a good deal more
visiting going on than the two previous hours. Since some people had to
drive some pretty long distances to get home, many of the tables started
looking bare after lunch. I left about 2:00pm and things were pretty
much over. Only four hours, but here in Old Tool Hell, four hours of
Heaven are certainly better than nothing. Since I wasn't selling I was
free to roam for the full four hours, oooing and ahhhhing some, and
reaching into my wallet way to often. Between Paul Coppinger and myself,
Bob Davis went home a much, much wealthier man. Bob definitely knows how
to set the hook, and then reel in his quarry 8^)

In terms of dollars spent, I don't think I have any gloats. I believe
most of what I bought was fairly priced, but I got some long sought
after items, and one that was totally unexpected. From Bob I got a
couple of user-grade Record multi-planes (044 & 050) to go with my
existing NIB versions (drive-by gloat). I also got a long desired
British ultimatum marking gauge. It's not marked, and I feel I paid too
much, but I just couldn't bare the thought of going home without it. The
unexpected item was a 54 year old tailed apprentice. A Craftsman (made
by Atlas) mini machinists lathe with all the attachments, gears,
do-dads, and whatsits. Gwynne Little, who knows about such things,
looked it over and gave it a passing grade (Thanks again Gwynne). This
fulfills a dream I've had since JR high school. Now I've got to hit Gary
Roberts up for some old text books to teach myself how to use the thing.

As usual, I've been very long winded, but I had such an enjoyable time I
wanted to share the experience with people who would understand. The
SWTCA meets are always a lot of fun and educational. I encourage any
Southwest located Galoots to join and participate. Hopefully the web
site will soon have some pictures of Saturday's event. Check it out at
http://members.xoom.com/swtca/

Mike
------------------------------
Mike DeLong
Southern Methodist University
Director of Investment Systems