I know it has been a few days since I blogged, so perhaps I should catch up. Yes, we went to Brimfield!
Of course, I might as well fill you in on all the other minutiae…
On Saturday, the lovely personal personal trainer, headed off island, while I stayed and completed further finishing touches on the wine shop. And, as the appropriate hour, I hopped on the boat, and headed over myself. The afternoon, and the following day, was spent mudding and painting our mainland digs, and also a little further prep for the Brimfield adventure.
On Monday, I headed down early, to check into the house we rented for the week, and also to pick up Tommy from the airport. Along the way, I passed countless antique stores that were all closed given the early hour.
A bit after my departure, the lovely, who painted her way out of the kitchen, headed back to the boat to pick up our friend Alison would also be joining us for the Brimfield trip. They plan was to pick up some additional groceries (I already had the wine) and meet up at the rental house.
Tommy’s plane arrived as scheduled, and it wasn’t long before we were back at the house. He had brought a few corkscrews for show, tell, and possibly trade. And, I had done the same. He is rather desirous of the Western Appliance wall mount, and Tommy had recently acquired a Gorham Sterling prongs, that I really wanted as well. He also brought along a couple of unusual pieces that he recently picked up, one that looks to be a patent from the back of O’Leary. I have long felt that it is a good idea, when the opportunity presents itself, to be able to handle and examine new discoveries. What are the functions? What does it look like in person?
A little wine was consumed, and at that point no trades had been completed.
A little later, a message came in from the lovely, that they were about 20 minutes away. And, upon their arrival, we popped some Champagne, and toasted our third Brimfield adventure together (third with the four of us, I have been going for for a decade or so).
The evening was spent with convivial conversations, but still an early night, as we would be waking up early, for Brimfield Day One!
Brimfield Day One:
Day one started early. By 4:30 in the morning, Tommy and I were on the road to the show. Sue and Alison would catch up with us later. After parking the truck, we wished each other luck, and headed off in different directions.
There were many corkscrews to be had, but largely of the Williamson, Clough, and Walker variety. And, of those, pretty much of the common Williamson, Clough, and Walker variety.
Over the course of the morning, Tommy and I would cross paths, and eventually ran into Barry. For the most part, the conversation went something like,
“Anything yet.”
“Not really.”
And, we would then part ways again.
In the final field of the day, however, there were a few better corkscrews available. Tommy picked up a Murphy button, and Barry unearthed the find of the day; an Aaron Austin Toilet Necessity in really nice condition. As it is a double for Barry, Tommy was hot for it. I have no doubt a deal will be made between the two of them at some point.
I had a few nice little finds over the course of the day. Early in the morning, I happened upon a simple t-pull with brewery advertising; Rochester Brewing… At the hefty price of 8 dollars, I figured it was a good thing. Later the morning, I happened on the identical corkscrew with different advertising. This time for Genesee Brewing. It was a bit more than the Rochester, but it makes for a good pair.
There were a couple of perfumes, which will go into the lovely’s collection, a couple of mechanicals, a Nylin patent, an interesting figural fish marked DENMARK, and a really nice Anri Bacchus stopper–missing the cork. The cork will be replaced and will remain in the collection, although there is little reason for a wine stopper in our house…
Not a bad day one. Of course, there were lots of other things for sale!
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In between, the lovely and Alison arrived, and we met up for a picnic lunch; tail gating on the truck. Following lunch, they girls headed off on their own adventure, and we would get messages when they ran across a corkscrew.
With all of the fields of the day having been visited, we called it a day. According to our various devices, it showed that Tommy and I had traversed 14.6 and 13.5 miles over the course of the morning/afternoon respectively.
As has become tradition, the evening was spent with wine and stories of the day, and a Taco Tuesday dinner.
It was, again, an early evening as Wednesday would be an early start.
Brimfield Day Two:
On day two, I headed down to the kitchen and proceeded to consume several cups of coffee. Tommy soon came downstairs, and we were once again headed to the show. The first field opens at 6 am, and we rolled into the parking lot at 5:54. Hightailing it to the gate, we were walking in with the awaiting crowds, just as the field opened.
In the first aisle, I found an interesting Anri Monkey nutcracker, but the price was pretty high. I still toyed with picking it up. In the end, I left it behind, but let a friend who collects Anri know where it was. I did pick up a couple of things in the field; a flash was the first purchase of the day, this was followed by an Atlas Beer opener/pencil, and this was followed by a Murphy patent bell with the spike. I have lots and lots of Murphys, and this indeed is a double (or quadruple, if you want to get technical). Still, it is a good thing, at a very fair price.
After a bit more hunting, I ran into Tommy a booth where a particular dealer always has corkscrews. There was a really handsome Henshall with an interesting button and bone handle. I got to witness Tommy’s negotiating skills in action. Still, the dealer was a little less inclined to drop much in price, so we walked away.
We meandered a bit through other fields for the next hour, and in anticipation of the 9:00 field opening, headed over and grabbed a seat. A few minutes later, Barry joined us, and we discussed how the show was going so far and also gave us a chance to catch up on recent finds.
As the field opened, the lovely messaged to say that she and Alison had arrived, and would head over to the field. I had picked up a few things in my wandering; a few more perfumes, a Sterling roundlet (in not great shape), and few other interesting bits.
The 9:00 field, was eventually followed by the 12:00 field. Not much there, and Barry and I crossed paths multiple times. We actually found ourselves in one booth at the very same time, reaching for the very same corkscrew. But, 35 dollars for a Hercules seemed a little steep to both of us, and similarly both of us opted to leave it behind.
There were, however, other things to buy at the various fields…
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After exhausting the various fields, Sue and Alison decided to head off to Litchfield for a bit of an adventure, and TC and I decided to head off further afield, and do a little antiquing before meeting back at the house for the nightly show and tell and wine. This was followed by grilling a few filets, and a trade. Yes, a trade!
Between TC and I, it was quite the pile of corkscrew and openers accumulated thus far…
Brimfield Day Three:
Day three started, a little less early, and I drove Tommy back to the airport–amongst other corkscrews, the aforementioned Henshall was in his suitcase, as he went back to the dealer and attempted negotiating the price again. The dealer stood firm, and Tommy sprung for it. It is a pretty cool corkscrew, after all.
After dropping TC off, and heading back to the house to help check out, I returned to Brimfield for Mays; which opens at 9 on Thursday. Walking the line, I didn’t see Barry. I wondered if he had decided to skip, and start the drive to New York and then back home to Florida.
I wandered the aisles, and at the fourth tent, picked up a nice Murphy with acorn handles; one of the earlier ones. Two aisles over, I picked up a Bridgewater patent coffin guy. The price was fair, and I had traded my last one to Leon on his visit to the island. It was nice to find a suitable replacement.
Not much in the way of exciting corkscrews, but a few pieces. And, I managed to find another perfume for the lovely.
After one more traversing of the fields, I headed off to say goodbye to a few dealer friends, and hit the road for Rockland, and the following day, hopped the boat back to the island.
For those wondering, there were a few other things to buy in Brimfield on day three…
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All in all, a pretty good Brimfield adventure.
