Diary Dates
LCGB Annual Convention & Dinnert
10 & 11 September 2011
Ramada Hyde Park, London.
Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
LONDON CALLING.
The Lighter Club’s Annual Convention, our biggest show of the year, returns to London on September 11th 2011. We’ve held the show in Hatfield for the last few years, but have found it increasingly difficult to get overseas dealers and collectors to go to a venue outside the capital. We have also reduced the event to one day, but for those keen to do a bit of socialising and perhaps bag the odd lighter before the show starts there is an informal dinner on Saturday night. Do come and join us, whether you are an established collector or just a beginner there’s something for you. There are plenty of opportunities to buy, swap or just talk lighters and if you want advice on repairs, or a valuation there’s always someone who can help. If you intend bringing lighters and want a table you must book in advance, but if you are stalling out for the first time we won’t charge you.
SHOW DETAILS
VENUE: Ramada London Hyde Park. 150Bayswater Rd, London W2 4RT
Tel: 44 (0) 844 815 9048 Website http://www.ramadahydepark.co.uk
Nearest tube stations: Queensway and Bayswater. You can street park on Sunday on single yellow lines, but beware residents parking bays and double yellow lines. The hotel’s car park is small and expensive, but there is a large public car park just opposite the hotel, which is much cheaper. The show is for members only, but non-members can join the Club on the day and will be admitted free.
LIGHTER SHOW
Sunday 11th September 2011. Starting at 10.30am.
Registration from 9.00am. Coffee and pastries will be available free to members while you wait for the show to open.
If you are bringing lighters to the show you can drop them in the room on arrival but you can’t stall out before 10.30 am.
Note: Those people who have registered and paid in advance, either in by post (Forms inside ‘Blaze’) or on the day during the registration period will be allowed in when the show opens. You are welcome to bring partners to the show but we will ask you to pay an entrance fee for them, as this mainly covers the cost of refreshments.
ANYONE WHO HAS NOT REGISTERED AND PAID BY 10.30am WILL HAVE TO WAIT AT THE BACK OF THE QUEUE UNTIL THEY HAVE.
DINNER
Members wanting to attend the dinner on the evening of 10th September will need to need to let us know in advance on the booking form and be at the hotel reception ready to go to the restaurant by taxi or mini-bus at 7pm. There are likely to be Club members around the hotel from mid afternoon on Saturday.
HOTELS
If you intend to stay overnight on Saturday you will find a hotel to suit your pocket if you contact one of the following http://www.booking.com. or Henderson’s Travel on 01450 379059 who book hotels in all parts of London at discounted rates. Unfortunately at the time of writing the Ramada were not prepared to offer reduced rates. The Queens Park Hotel is about 10 minutes walk away and quite reasonable.
QUERIES
If you have any queries contact Peter on 07850 276744
LCGB Convention
I was slightly apprehensive about this year’s show, we had moved the event out of London to Hatfield and the chosen hotel had changed its Conferencing Manager four times in less than twelve months, causing lots of wrangles over the arrangements. On the bright side David Ashworth, our 2002/3 President, had very generously offered to sponsor the event, what a fantastic gesture.
There had also been more interest than usual from members of the public about attending on Sunday, following some local publicity and Carl has been promoting it on Ebay. The Club also has new impetus from the relaunch of ‘Blaze’. At 12 o’clock on Saturday members tucked into a buffet in the area just outside the Convention room, while they registered and waited for the show to open. By 1pm when the doors opened there was a real buzz and around thirty people going in. Once inside there was a frenzy of activity. Those with stock stalled out and others tried to spot pieces for their collections as they were unpacked.
There were some great lighters on display. Paul had a Thorens mounted in the top of a Rose Crystal bottle. Larry, had a gold Eterna watch lighter and Kim some great Dunhills. Both John and Koji were showing superb collections. Unfortunately we were missing the usual great stock from Alaine and of course from Jack. The channel tunnel fire had stopped some people travelling but the enthusiasm was undiminished. Zippo had been kind enough to donate some small glass domes for the display of single lighters and these sold quickly and boosted funds. I have since discovered they are normally for Zippo dealers only and in short supply. It was great to welcome new faces at the Convention. Gerry and Carol Leitch, Bob Bailey, Jon Rayner, Steve Peacock, Barrie Neale, and Adam Dunk, amongst others. As well as new members Ken Puddephat, Maurice Allward and Roan Capstick. Later in the afternoon as things quietened down Richard announced the 2008/9 President elected by the Committee for his contribution to lighter collecting.
The gold President’s badge went to a very surprised Grahame for his development of the Krefeld show. THis has become one of the major events of the year. Larry rounded off the day with a presentation of favourite lighters. Everything from deco designs made of catalin to platinum Cartiers. He also donated a CD of the slides to the Club and copies are available at £10 ineluding P&P. (email me if you want a copy) Thanks Larry. At 7.30pm twenty one of us fitted into three people carriers and Koji’s car to an Indian restaurant in Hertford, returning later for a nightcap (or caps) at the hotel bar. Sunday started at 10 o’clock and proved to be the most successful Convention Sunday we have ever had.
Visits from old friends like Howard from Dunhill, who we haven’t seen for a while, with some good aluminium and trench pieces and Paul Spencer a semi-retired trench art dealer. More new faces with members of the public bringing in lighters for appraisal, or sale. There was also a display of figural lighters, pianos, ships, guns etc. brought in by a new member Maurice Allwara and his wife who really seemed to enjoy being involved. Do come again next year. Mark did a fantastic job as our auctioneer with thirty lots being sold and only four unsold. Plenty of competition and all the lots took £2200. with a further £220 commission going to Club funds.
Many thanks to Mark for drumming up bids. All in all it seemed a great show and initial reaction has been very positive, but please wtake time to give us feedback on the location, the venue, the dinner, and the general format. If we are to build on this, we need to look at the finer points. Finally thanks again to David Ashworth for sponsoring this year’s event and we look fonward to buying you a drink at the 2009 Convention.
Krefeld 2009 Germany
It took me a few years to go to Krefeld. I kept hearing it was a good show but the usual ‘time & money’ kept being a great excuse. Then three years ago I though why not, and I did. Try and stop me from going now! We (that being Carl McMullin, Paul Schofield, Flo Walz & myself make a road trip of it. As Carl does not like to fly, we drive to Hull and took the overnight ferry to Rotterdam then drove to Krefeld. It’s not too long in the car, but it’s a great time to catch up and talk of recent finds. We are normally the first to arrive on the Friday but it is not long before others start to arrive.
You can feel the excitement in the air as people are darting to and fro from room to room and asking ‘do you have anything for me?’ I had two lighters I was saving for people. Larry & Christian both seemed happy, and I had made my first sales a short time later and I had made my first purchase. An evening meal, a few drinks and plenty of chatter and before I new it, it was time for bed. An early rise full of anticipation once again. What wonderful lighters would the day bring? I was not to be disappointed.
The room was full to bursting with lighters galore and the biddng was frenzied. I picked up a few lighters to move on (to help pay for the trip) and a few to add to my collection. I know everyone else picked up something for their collections too. The really great thing is it’s a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones while picking up some great lighters.
I know a trip to Germany to buy lighters is not going to suit everyone. But why not try one of the English shows, there’s one in September! Or if you’re not located in England, why not try and get to the next show closest to you. I know you will not be disappointed!
Thank you to Grahame & Brigitte for all their efforts in arranging another enjoyable show.
By John Clayton
O.T.L.S. Show Cleveland Ohio USA
Always a great time coming to the Annual Lighter Show in America. Introduction with drinks hosted by Judith Saunders and her team of dedicated helpers, Nancy Lloyd, Tom Jones, Richie Weinstein and others. Day one of show was bustling, 60+ tables and two collections for sale.
A 1934 outside hinge Zippo was snapped up, while mint in box Town and Country Zippos quickly changed hands, not to mention the Ronsons never seen before, (they’re still coming out of the woodwork!). Dunhill watch lighters were also found, to name just a few. of the wonderful lighters that turned up. There were also lots of stories of great finds at flea markets. This is a For runner for the Grand Auction on Saturday night in aid of Club Funds.
Zippo Historian Linda Meabon managed to squeeze some fantastic pieces from her employer. Plus lots of donations from Club Members and with the aid of Top Class Auctioneers George Gordon, Richard Ball and Richie Weinstein, the club raised $4000 which also helps to pay for this wonderful weekend.
The welcome by Americans is second to none. Be there next year in Las Vegas if you want to add to your Collection and meet life long friends.
By Liam Oakley
Mylflam Offenbach Event Germany
On Saturday 19 September 2009 a new event for lighter collectors and enthusiasts took place in Offenbach, Germany. The location was situated in the old Mylflam factory in Offenbach, a town near Frankfurt.
The show was organised for the first time by Matthias Burgey who runs the historic website of the German Mylflam brand (http://www.mylflam.de). Mylflam was one of the leading lighter manufacturers in Germany and Matthias Burgey is a distant relative of the Maltner family who owned Mylflam. Although the factory was closed a long time ago, the building is still there, converted into living space but including lots of important artefacts.
The show took place in the old factory. It started on Friday evening 18 September with an informal get together and ended on Saturday afternoon.
Travelling from abroad you fly in to Frankfurt and book a hotel room in the local neighbourhood. Local travelling can be done by taxi at reasonable cost.
can recommend this new event. At the Krefeld show the talk about it was very positive - especially with Offenbach being such a central location. Many German collectors attended and it was wonderful for the organiser being able to count on so many international attendees.