Reel Collectors at Allentown

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 7:27 pm

There are lots of ORCA members here in Allentown for the big show, and the Doc Herr Auction. We had a nice reel breakfast on Thursday morning. You can read all about the show and auction on my Old Fishing Stuff web site if you wish. http://orcaonline.org/images/pixel.gif?gone
Even Bert the Boykin is here.

Harvey · Post by **Harvey** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 8:09 pm

Great Work, Phil.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:26 pm

After two and a half days of traveling, we've made it to Rock Springs, WY (one of the hell holes of Wyoming). We should make it home tomorrow afternoon, and it sure will be good to get there. I don't know what we'd do without books on CD's.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:29 pm

The Motels in Rock Springs were all posted with no Boykins allowed signs and he is sleeping in the pickup tonight.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 4:57 am

Don't knock Rock Springs. I have only warm memories of my first visit there, sometime around 1960. The guy who is currently mayor of Las Vegas and I were driving west to California between college terms, and we pulled into Rock Springs around sunset.

Much to our surprise, we found a bar that served what was purported to be Chinese food, which we both liked. So we ate dinner there, surrounded by folks in Stetsons and cowboy boots also struggling with their chopsticks.

When we left, it was pitch black outside, and we drove slowly out of town, looking for a place to sleep. After a short distance, we found a roomy space by the side of the road where we could safely park the car, which we did. We tossed our sleeping bags down on the ground and got a good night's sleep. It was only when we woke the next morning that we learned we were sleeping on the edge of the town dump.

So they have motels there now? Can't wait to go back.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Tue Oct 21, 2003 9:05 pm

Steve, I don't believe there was anyone left in Stetsons in Rock Springs in 1960. There might have been a few real cowboys left then. It is now the home of the Wyoming mafia (reported on by 60 minutes several years ago) and strip mining. Nary a horse to be seen.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 5:29 am

Geezer, I beg to differ. The folks in that bar dining on egg foo yung were mostly wearing "cowboy" duds, including both 5-gal. and 10-gal. hats. Whether or not they had all come by bus from some local dude ranch is unknown.

It's good to hear that the trappings of civilization are at last visible in the little frontier town. Did you find any reels there? It's hard to imagine any small town in post-WWII America that didn't have its own reel-making company.

Reel Geezer · Post by **Reel Geezer** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 8:00 am

Steve - haven't you heard of Sage reels?

piscesman · Post by **piscesman** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:32 pm

I too went to Allentown. About a four hour drive from Albany,NY. Met many very nice people there. I wanted to meet Phil but couldn't track him down, since I'm a fellow ORCA member. He was busy pitching "ORCA". Was able to add a few things to my collection and some nice memories. Tough to find good fishing shows up this way. I hope we have a mini-national as someone had mentioned in March 2004. I plan on attending Lang's at Boxbourgho, Mass. Always worth the drive. Don't have the deep pockets to bid on anything but ALWAYS nice to look. Winter is not far off so I'll attend as many shows as possible...

Reel Collectors at Allentown

Reel Collectors at Allentown

Lets here Bert's assesment of the whole thing!!!

It sure is a long way home..........

Bert says this place really is the pits

Rock Springs in 1960

Rock Springs reel company

Allentown Show