In Columbus, dinner at the Claremont Motor Lodge was always a treat. Waitress "Perry" would take orders from 6-7 rowdy gun guys with no paper - just mental - and never made a mistake. It was a show. She always got tipped very heavily

Best ad writer in Shotgun News was Tom Gibbons. "Never a screw turned."

There were some real characters in the business back then. I remember dealing with a gentleman from Connecticut who spoke very pompously. I would call him about a gun he advertised and he would answer "I shall ascend to the gunroom and find it". He would then describe the gun in very flowery over the top terms. I bought a couple from him just to see what the hell he was talking about. Great fellow but just weird. I can't remember his name.

Bill, I still have some of Tom's ads that I saved for reference, AND I bought some guns from Tom. I wish I'd known you back then for advice!:crying:

I vividly remember one of the first gun shows I ever attended and that was on March 24, 1968, up here south of Rochester NY at Vince's 50 Acres Party House.

Near the door where you came in was a Parker DHE in 28 gauge priced at $1350.00. Holy Crap, you can almost buy a new car for that much money.

I did buy at that show, a late style 12 gauge Fox AE grade, SN 33743, for $225.00. I got it from Henry Grillo who was from the Utica area, who I got to know very well over the years.

In September of that year, 1968, I bought an early style 12 gauge A grade Fox, SN 7983, from Glen Appleby from Galeton, PA for $175.00. I still have that gun and have put around 20,000 rounds thru it in the last 10 years, mostly with my low recoil 1/2 ounce 12 gauge loads.

I had that AE12, SN 33743, a long time. Traded it, plus another 15 guns or so plus some $$ to Bill Jaqua on August 4th, 1976 for an exceptional 16 gauge Fox.

Boy O Boy, I wish I could do some of that again.

No dealer today would trade one of his guns for fifteen other guns. They might trade fifteen of their guns for one of yours.

Bill, I once sent Steve Barnett 19 nice shotguns in an even trade for one.

That reminds me of a gun writer who once wrote something like:
"That guy put the screw in screwdriver"
I have used that since.

This thread should be THE GOOD OLD DAYS !

there used to be trade day in riply miss..in was held on the first Monday of each monthand still is...you could buy ammofor a penny each shoot you gun in a ditch right in front of the court house....try doing that today...yep good old days...could buy a 1866 Winchester from 25 to 35 dollars....never seen a parker there....charlie