Brimfield show still a big draw

By John Appleton

05/12/2008- The Republican

BRIMFIELD - The first session of this year's Brimfield Antique and Collectibles Shows will run from Tuesday to Sunday and promoters say the event will be as gigantic as ever with thousands of dealers selling their items at 23 sites along Route 20.

"There is nothing like it in the world," said Patricia A. Waite, president of the Brimfield Show Promoters Association.

"We can expect, I think, record-breaking crowds, despite the gas prices because a collector is a collector," Waite said.

And the dealers are ready to make deals.

Taking a break from packing zinc-covered tables onto her 16-foot box truck in Franklin, Tenn., late last week, antiques dealer Scarlett Scales said online shopping has taken a hold in her business, but Brimfield's massive outdoor venue still works.

Scales said there are some younger buyers of antiques who prefer to spot what they want by looking at their computer screens, finding items displayed on many Web sites run by antiques dealers.

"But the diehards, the good old-fashioned people who have been doing it for years, they want to get out and look at the stuff," Scales said in a telephone interview. "That is the thrill of antiquing."

Her parents were in the business and brought her to her first Brimfield shows 22 years ago when she was 3 years old. This year, her father, Barry Scales, will be making the trip and selling what he can from Scarlett Scales Antiques.

Laura May of May's Antique Market said she has been hearing from people all over the country, including some planning their first trip to buy antiques in Brimfield.

David M. Lamberto said he sold out the 180-dealer spaces at Hertan's Antique Shows and has been getting a steady stream of telephone calls from both dealers and buyers.

"There is a good buzz," Lamberto said.

Russ Prentice, manager of the Sturbridge Host Hotel, said most hotel and motel rooms in the area are taken; his rooms are fully booked for the week and have been for months.

Each of the 23 fields of antique dealers is run by an individual owner-operator. They stagger their opening days and times so there are multiple opportunities to line up and get a first crack at this year's fresh supply of old furniture and collectibles.

"I think you can expect to find anything and everything here," Lamberto said. "There will be interesting antiques and collectibles from all over the world."

There will be two more sessions of the antique show this year, one running from July 8 to 13 and another from Sept. 2 to 7.