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Bedford, New Hampshire

An Important Transfusion for Start of Manchester Antiques Show

by Fran Kramer

What a difference a transfusion makes. Whether it's for an ill patient or a slightly weak antiques show, new blood is important, and the Start of Manchester Antiques Show in Bedford, New Hampshire, got a major shot in the arm.

Although Start of Manchester was in its eighth season, it had only been at the Event Center at C.R. Sparks, across the street from Frank Gaglio's Mid-Week and Pickers shows, for the past few years. The first show at C.R. Sparks was very modest, not laid out well, and the rooms were dark. The second show there, last year, showed new signs of life. This third show, held August 8 and 9, was downright robust, thanks to the infusion/transfusion from some very seasoned and top-quality dealers such as John Long of Mineral, Virginia, and Don and Pat Clegg of East Berlin, Pennsylvania.

They, along with about four to six others, were transplants from the Riverside show. Their reasons for the move varied, but none wished to go on record. The difference in the show's look was dramatic, although some might argue that any new location has growing pains and needs a few years to mature.

Show promoters Tina and John Bruno have lots of experience and credits, such as memberships in the Professional Show Managers Association and the Appraisers Association of America. For this show they signed up about 36 dealers, from the Midwest, New England, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland.

The show probably has the greatest geographical diversity of any, in part because it evolved from Nashville and Kay and Bill Puchstein, who managed a Nashville show and then came up North to promote the first few Start of Manchester shows in the hot ice arena. To some degree, the show still has a little of the Nashville look, with lots of paint and lots of country.

Selling varied, but at least two dealers had prize winners: Century House Antiques & Toys, Alfred, New York, with early toys and holiday material, and Sheppheard's Antiques, Bedford, Pennsylvania, with advertising items, country pieces, and one-of-a-kind items.

Tom Cheap of Period Antiques, Scottsburg, Pennsylvania, said, "The show has improved steadily. There were some good dealer additions this year. We sold across the board, and we feel the show is an asset to New Hampshire week."

The Event Center at C.R. Sparks has adequate parking and air conditioning, but the floor plan is a bit erratic, due to the layout of the building. There are about five aisles, three of them dead-ends, so one has to turn around and go back the same way.

The show program listed three shows at the site: Start of Manchester, the Granite State Antiques Show (which was canceled), and the Granite State Antiquarian Book and Ephemera Fair, on August 11.

Next year, John Bruno will continue to build up the book and ephemera fair and, maybe down the road, expand the Start of Manchester show into other rooms of the event center. For now, Bruno said, "We are satisfied that the show is finally at the same level of quality and presentation of all the other shows during antiques week. We knew it would be a task, but we're there."

For more information, call (631) 261-4590 or see the Web site (www.flamingoshows.com).