The 2023 Show of Shows - Louisville, Kentucky - February 22-26

[MAW]

The Granddaddy of them all is approaching!

 

2000ish tables of militaria of all eras and all nations....  At the Louisville, KY Expo Center, February 22-26, 2023.

 

http://www.sosovms.com/Show_of_Shows/

 

If you are a regular attendee....we look forward to seeing you again!

 

If you have never been......you gotta go!

 

Bring something to sell with you and make it interesting, even if you are not a dealer.

 

Hope to see everyone there.

 

 

 

[Major Z]

Can't wait! If any sellers have cool US Army Quartermaster Corps stuff please bring it. I'm your buyer! If you have any painted WW1 helmets with the QM insignia please let me know.

[tdogchristy90]

I’ve tentatively got the time off from work. Still need to work out driving and hotel. But I do plan to be there. Went to my first one in 2019 and it was a very enjoyable experience. Looking forward to it. 

[KASTAUFFER]

I'll be there are usual!

 

Kurt

[ParaOps]

I'm making the long journey to attend the show. First show I can make post Covid so can't wait!

 

Paul

 

[17thairborne]

Looking forward to the show as you all are. Can't wait. Will have some nice signed captured flags with me and a Chaplain helmet and flag grouping.

[Chris]

I'll be there. I'm Looking for very unusual WWI 78th Division patches and anything WWI 307th Field Artillery related.

[Mr.Jerry]

as always we are looking forward to the show!

stop by and say "HI" always nice to out a face with a screen name!

 

[gomorgan]

I'll be there as always, and looking for WWI era shoulder patches and variations, looking forward to seeing everyone.

[CavalryCombatant]

I’ll be making the drive for the first time- I’m stoked!  Will be keeping my eyes out for cool Cold-War MP helmets.

[USMCR79]

I plan to arrive by Noon on Friday

 

Bill

[CombatEng44]

My wife and I will be there with 4 tables of WWII items. Again, lots of unusual items and at least 5 womens groupings from our own collection. Karen has a few WWII Military cake toppers and 40’s jewelry from her collection. 
Everyone be careful and stay safe. See you at THE show.

[tdogchristy90]

Still on track to be there Thurs and Fri. Will be looking to fill 2 collecting gaps.
 

Early KIA Navy PHs and KIA Iwo Jima PHs. 

[USMCR79]

Noon on Thursday

 

Bill

[Persian Gulf Command]

I'll be making my first appearance at the SOS in a couple of weeks. As someone who will not be setting up to sell but just to be overwhelmed by all the Militaria, you all have talked about over the years a few questions.  Any recommendations about the best days to attend and any suggestions regarding accommodations.  I've been to Louisville so am able to find myself around the city. 

 

It'll also be great fun to introduce myself to you guys and say hello! 

 

John 

[Kurt Barickman]

It is overwhelming, but enjoy.

 

Kurt

[MAW]

15 hours ago, Persian Gulf Command said:

I'll be making my first appearance at the SOS in a couple of weeks. As someone who will not be setting up to sell but just to be overwhelmed by all the Militaria, you all have talked about over the years a few questions.  Any recommendations about the best days to attend and any suggestions regarding accommodations.  I've been to Louisville so am able to find myself around the city. 

 

It'll also be great fun to introduce myself to you guys and say hello! 

 

John 

 

If you are not an OVMS member, I would recommend joining.  That will allow you to attend the show from noon till 5 on Thursday, and all day Friday.  That is the optimal combination if your schedule allows.

 

I definitely recommend spending at least two days there...and bring a few things for sale, or potentially for sale, with you.  

 

Use the motel reviews to find the best/cleanest available on the south side of Louisville..

 

Glad you can join us!

[Persian Gulf Command]

If anyone has any suggestions for food, especially BBQ, in Louisville please share. I especially like good Cornbread!

 

Thanks!

[Steve Brannan]

I’ll be there with a table. Getting old and trying to thin down the collection. Wife says don’t leave him to deal with all this stuff. Same old story. You can’t take it with you. Have a younger collector helping me. He’s looking for WW2 US wings. Drive carefully. Hope we have good weather. 

[Sarchione]

Planning on being there as well.  Always a great place for me to pick up WW2 private purchase knives.

[tdogchristy90]

A couple questions for clarification as we get closer and people are running out of time to plan. 
 

Should people plan ahead and pull cash so they have it on hand? I know ATMs for example can have a daily withdrawal limits

 

Secondly for those going on Thursday, are OVMS memberships still available at the door? It may be too late to try and get one filled out and mailed to you.  

[GIKyle]

1 hour ago, tdogchristy90 said:

A couple questions for clarification as we get closer and people are running out of time to plan. 
 

Should people plan ahead and pull cash so they have it on hand? I know ATMs for example can have a daily withdrawal limits

 

Secondly for those going on Thursday, are OVMS memberships still available at the door? It may be too late to try and get one filled out and mailed to you.  

Yes and Yes.  While there are ATMs on site I believe at least one year the closest one ran out and at other times they've gone down.  Those issues aside there's usually a line.  

[Persian Gulf Command]

So, I called OVMS on Friday, 10th applied and paid with a C/C.  I received my Credentials in the mail on Monday, 13th, from Ohio to Up State NY.

 

Also, have some Thursday Questions as a first timer. When does the line start to form on Thursday and how long will it be in the morning?

[Mr.Jerry]

The line seems to always be there...

[Allan H.]

I'm not going to be able to make it this year, but would like to provide some information to the group for those of you who are getting to your first SOS.

For starters, the show is HUGE! You cannot fathom how big 1,500 tables is until you have seen it. There is virtually everything in the realm of militaria there, so you need to come with some focus. 

 

No matter how much money you bring, you are probably going to spend what you have. Yes, there are ATMs on site, but if I recall correctly, the fee is something like $10 and there is always a line for them. The machines run out of cash too. Bring what you can afford to spend and plan on stopping at a certain dollar amount. That being said, remember that money talks and BS walks. Dealers are far more likely to deal with a cash buyer than someone with a credit card. Some dealers take cards, but know you will probably be expected to pay the processing fee and don't count on a price break when you are buying with a card.

 

There are show programs that have a map inside and list the sellers. This is great if you are wanting to be sure to hit certain dealers' tables. You can also use it to mark where items are that you are interested in if you choose to do so.

 

I will tell you that if you are looking for certain high end items, if you find them, you had better go ahead and buy them when you find them. Unless they are terribly overpriced, those items will not still be there when you go back looking for them later.

 

In most cases, the first day and the morning of day two are pretty busy with tons of buyers out there. Don't think that you're going to be able to get a dealer to cut significant deals on these first couple of days. You may not be willing to pay the asking price, but there are a lot of guys behind you that probably will. This is especially true on elite unit related items. Remember that there will be buyers flying in from Europe and Japan. They are motivated to be buying items for their collections or to take back home and sell. On day one, figure that the price quoted is the price and decide yes or no when it is quoted.

 

Carry a shoulder bag with you. You can put your purchases in the bag and carry trade items with you to sell or trade. Figure it is going to be a long day and a long way to the parking lot. You are not going to want to be walking out to the car to drop items off and then to try to get back into the show. I'm always amazed by the number of people that I hardly know who ask me if they can leave things under my table. Unless you are close friends with someone, or you just bought the big trunk group that he sold you, do not presume that you can dump your stuff under someone's table. Tarbridge for example, is a great guy, but he really doesn't want to watch your stuff while you walk the show. 

 

Food is typically at a premium at the show. Two hard rules should be followed here- 1) Eat a big, hearty breakfast before the show. This will give you energy to attack the aisles and will keep you from running to the concession stand. 2) a couple of candy bars will help you a lot. Remember though that chocolate bars in the big show will melt. keep that in mind as nobody wants you handling items with dirty hands.

 

While I am on the subject of sticky fingers, every year some dealer gets ripped off. Know that they are watching you. Doing something stupid like trying to palm a piece of insignia is a very dangerous game. besides getting arrested and banned for life, you will never survive having been branded as a thief. Dealers take care of each other- know that the penalty for theft can be quite draconian, so much that you might welcome arrest by law enforcement to keep you from an rump beating.

 

Be friendly and courteous. Treat others with respect and as colleagues and not as the enemy. You'll be amazed with what other collectors find for you when you treat them well and share your wants lists if they ask. Say excuse me if you bump in to someone and take turns going through stacks of Riker mounts. Ask permission before opening a Riker mount and say thank you when you are finished.

 

Nobody needs a know it all. We don't need to know the history of the item you are looking at. The dealer already knows what he is selling. Most other people are also educated on the finer points you are wanting to share. 

 

Making the deal- do not ever try to buy an item while another collector is holding the item. Keep your mouth shut and be patient. If the item is placed back on the table, it is free game, unless the buyer is putting it down to reach for his wallet. Do not interrupt the deal. Let the dealer finish and then you can have your turn. 

 

I know this is a long read, but hopefully it will get some of you moving in the right direction.

 

Allan