Bob Atherton of RACO Industrial Corporation recently passed away at 82. In the rough world of used machinery
dealers Bob always stood out as a gentle but indefatigable player. His
company continues under the leadership of Jack Boescher who worked with
Bob for many years before buying into the firm.
****************
We hear that exhibitors are dropping like fall leaves from the upcoming EMO Milano show in Milan, Italy.
EMO has always been a magnificent opportunity to display wares and meet and greet, but this year it is more a conclave of woe. Hard to imagine, but the European market may be more horrible than the American one at the moment. With many builders teetering on insolvency, a significant number have decided to cut their losses.
Hopefully, by September 2010, business will have rebounded enough to justify the huge cost of exhibiting at McCormick Place in Chicago for the upcoming IMTS show.
****************
The piece in Swarfblog, July 20, about the bell made on a 1 3/8” Acme-Gridley at the 1971 IMTS show brought in 19 comments. I promised to give away the bell to the person who wrote what I thought was the most interesting comment.
(Drum roll) The bell goes to Peter Frow of FAS Machine Tools in South Africa, who gave a thorough explanation and a story of seeing a similar bell being made on a Colchester Capstan several years ago.
First runner up is Bill Prion, who wrote about buying the show machine from Ralph Spresser of Acme as an unserialed collection of parts. Bill will get a TMW t-shirt.
Second runner up is John Archibald of Northfield, Minnesota, who gave a creative idea on how he would make the bell today. He also gets a t-shirt.
Stay writing my friends!
Read their comments and all of the others at this link
Question: What are your best (worst) trade show memories?
