Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Fall Carlisle

I am thinking about making the trip this year to the Fall Carlisle event. Pros, Cons? Best days to to go? any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
Erik

Erik, Depends on what your looking for. There is petro stuff to be found at Carlise but prices are usually high and mostly common items. Not saying there isn't a rare jewel hinding in someones space but you'll have to look hard. Lots of muscle car & related items, seems that a real "antique" at Carlisle is a '57 Chevy. As for the day to go, Thursday or Friday, Saturday the vendors begin to clear out and by Sunday there is hardly any left. But you might get the bargins on Sat & Sun! I go every year but the last few years there seems to be less venders and less petro and less of the real antique cars (pre 60's). But thats what I am into, someone will probably have a different outlook! Hope that helps.

Which is prefered? Hershey or Carlisle?

My recommendation would be Hershey.

It was said that if you walked all the aisles at Carlisle, you would walk 8 miles. Hershey is bigger yet.
Carlisle charges admission and parking each day; Hershey only charges parking, free admission.
Supposedly, most,if not all, of Hershey will be on pavement this year.
Haven't been to Carlisle since I started going to Hershey.
Fortunately for me, either one is a day trip. If you really want to do Hershey, it's at least a 2 day deal. Getting a room can be a problem.

Good luck.

Steve

Thanks for the great info!! Now seeing Hershey as a possibility I'll ask this question? If you were going to fly to an event any where in the U.S.A and could only go to one what would you guys choose? Your Of course looking for the most gas and oil stuff.

spt1, Said it best HERSHEY is definetly the one to visit! But plan on two days at a minimum. Much more petro items as well as automobilia and cars from the early 1900's and up.

Hi If its only gas and oil stuff you are looking for go to neither- Go to one of the larger Oil shows- Iowa- Columbus etc - If you are set on Hershey or Carlisle- Hershey would be the one- At both I usualy find the leftovers that didnt sell on ebay-It seems that at both you are not competing as much with other collectors as you are with the internet- Time after time I make offers and am told " I can put it on Ebay and get more"" If they are nasty about it I ask them what the hell they are doing at the swap meet- but this is a whole other topic- Just my 2 cents- thanks don

------------------
Wanted 5 quart cans

Never been to Hershey but have plenty of friends that go to it, and those same friends go to Iowa Gas and Columbus.....they all say Iowa Gas is the place for gas and oil items..Lot more stuff and the prices are better ..I myself have been to Iowa and will go again this year. I also will go to Columbus this June......

for both..... bring money !!!

Is there anywhere close to Hershey to camp?

Hershey is definately the better of the 2. I believe about 180 acre's of Hershey. It may not be the best of the lot for petro. but I always find plenty to buy. Wednesday and Thursday are the best days and I highly recommend it. It's a neat experience. Hotels are booked solid for 50 miles a year in advance. One day is not nearly enough time to walk it. 2 days is the way to go. Luckily I live about an hour north of there and my dad lives outside of Harrisburg, so I have a stop over point. Dave

There is a campground about a mile down the road, Hershey High Meadow campground.

I was wondering if the campground gets sold out too? Could you pull a little tag along or RV in? Thanks..

JimT:

I'm sure that campground would be sold out, although you might want to give them a call.

There are other campgrounds within a reasonable distance. One I can think of is PA Dutch Campground in Shartlesville, about an hour away. There are others I'm sure, just don't know the names. Check on the web.

If you're going to do it, make your reservations as soon as possible. I would guess the campgrounds fill up quickly too.

Good luck.

Steve

I've been going to Carlisle and Hershey for about 20 years. There's a definite distinction between the shows that no one has mentioned.

Carlisle focuses more on cars from the 1950's on up. You do occasionally find some automobilia mixed in. When I started off in the hobby many years ago, I favored Carlisle since it dealt with the 50's and newer stuff I was looking for.

Hershey on the other hand focuses on cars pre 1950s but does contain more automobilia than Carlisle. Since I started collecting automobilia over the past few years, I find myself favoring Hershey over Carlisle. It just depends on what your collecting.

To throw one more log on the fire....if you're only interested in petro than I agree with my comrades and say go to Iowa or Columbus. You will find more at one of those 2 shows than you will at Carlisle or Hershey.

Like I said, it just depends on what you are looking for. Me...I try to hit all 4 shows since I like it all!!!!

------------------
Chuck

Signs Wanted: Sunset, Clipper, Habor, Indian, Powerlube, Beacon, Sinclar Aircraft

[This message has been edited by Hemibird (edited 03-08-2007).]