Our group publishes a newsletter 4 times a year. Prior conventions have been held in Ohio, Tulsa, OK; St. Louis, MO; Denver, CO; Bolingbrook, IL; California, and Reading, PA.
For information please call, write or email Stuart Schneider at 820 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ 07661, 201-599-4250 (days), email: stuart@ wordcraft.net (note, there is a space in the email address to thwart collector robots)
Views of the 2002 show in New Jersey
The 2002 5th Annual Flashlight Collector's Show: Collectors brought hundreds of great lights to sell. One very happy collector bought a 1900 Eveready Stick Pin Light and I got a 1900 Eveready Wood Bicycle Light (in Recent Acquisitions) to name but a few of the incredibly rare pieces that traded hands.
There were displays of flashlights showing some rare and beautiful pieces including my collection of early figural Stick Pin lights, three members brought 1903 Eveready Glove catch lights, one brought a 1904 Reliable tubular light (I still need to find one for my collection), and one brought his collection of Winchester flashlights.
We had 25 tables packed with flashlights. Collectors came from Colorado, California, Michigan, Illinois, and all up and down the east coast. Flashlights for door prizes and gifts to attendees were provided by:
Mag Light (the light choice for Police and Firemen)
StreamLight (high quality lights)
Tektite (maker of the finest LED lights)
Eveready Energizer (brought a group of new lights)
Lights4raves (seller of LED lights).
Bill Utley autographed his book, "Flashlights" that has history and hundreds of great photographs. This book is an amazing work covering the first 100 years of Eveready and most of the earliest flashlight companies. In addition to Stuart Schneider’s book, "Collecting Flashlights", you must own this book if you are a collector of flashlights.
The public came and brought flashlights to sell. The show was held at The Lincoln Plaza Hotel in Reading, PA. The Lincoln Plaza is a beautiful & elegant hotel. The convention coincided with Renniger's Antiques Extravaganza in Kutztown, 15 miles away, with over 800 Antique dealers outdoors. There were another 2,000 antiques dealers indoors and outside in Adamstown, also 15 miles away, and hundreds more in nearby malls. The area is the antiques center of the eastern US with thousands of dealers. Everybody found some good flashlights in the area.
To get on the mailing list for next year's show, write or email me with your name and address. Stuart Schneider, 820 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ 07661
Sterling Silver Lights, page 2
Tin Lithographed Lights, page 4
Flippo Cartoon and Personality Lights, page 5
Interesting Flashlights, page 6