Telephone Collectors International
Last update Jun 8, 2014
| Telephone Collectors International | First posted Feb 7, 2014 Last update Jun 8, 2014 |
1383 Arcadia Road,
Lancaster, PA 17601
The Lancaster show continues to be TCI's most popular show for many reasons including an extraordinary "Switchers' Corner," a good home cooked lunch, and a bright spacious show venue with some of the easiest loading facilities that we can remember at any show.
The Lancaster show usually has something for everyone ranging from a large switchers' demonstration to some early telephone displays dating back to the beginning of the telephonic arts. Plan to join us for dinner Friday night at Miller's Smorgasbord. (http://www.millerssmorgasbord.com/). We will hold our traditional dinner at Outback Saturday night followed by the open house tour. You don't need to be a switcher to attend either event.
We have to warn everyone that the Lancaster show has become extremely popular and tables can sell out quickly. Get your registrations in early to avoid being placed in the "overflow section" in the lobby. Either way, we will try to make enough tables available for everyone who wants them.
If you're planning a family vacation, Lancaster is a great destination. It's in the center of an area that is bursting with history. Students of the Revolutionary War and the founding of the USA will want to head east to Philadelphia and Valley Forge. Students of the Civil War can head west to Gettysburg. Those who are interested in other mechanical contrivances may want to visit the National Watch and Clock Museum in nearby Columbia, PA (http://www.nawcc.org/).
Railroad enthusiasts will want to spend a day at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/) which is just across the street from the Strasburg Rail Road (http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/) and, yes, Rail Road is two words!
If you head north to Harrisburg, you can visit the State Museum of Pennsylvania (http://www.statemuseumpa.org/) which hosts a very nice display commemorating Daniel Drawbaugh, the inventor of the telephone.
For those family members who aren't interested in history (or the phone show) there is the Tanger Outlet Center (http://www.tangeroutlet.com/lancaster/directory) which is only 9 miles from the show site. After the show, the entire family can go to Hershey Park (http://www.hersheypark.com/). There are also the antique markets in Adamstown, PA which are all open on Sunday.
Of course, there's always the plethora of antique shops in Adamstown, PA (http://www.antiquescapital.com/). Most of the stores are only open on Sunday so you need not cut short your visit to the show. Register soon. We hope to see you there.
It's time to start planning for the 2014 Lancaster Switcher Corner!
We'll once again have a working C*Net connection and I'll organize the interconnection of various systems, providing a coordinating function as well as in-bound and out-bound trunks. While it is not an absolute requirement that everybody be in the "switchers corner", it does simplify cable runs and helps to maintain a safe environment.
You don't need to have a elaborate display, just an interest in "interconnecting" with other equipment and people. Very few of the Switchers bite!
We're interested in getting a sense of those who plan to participate, how much space you may need, and what kind of interfaces, if any, you might need. If you plan to bring either a standalone working demo or a non-working demo, we'd like to know that too.
After the show, as in past years, some of us will get together at the local Outback for dinner. This is then followed by an open house switch tour hosted by a couple local collectors. Those who are interested should note their interest on the show registration form. You don't need to be a switcher to attend either event and have a good time.
Please contact John Jones at for additional information.
The switchers' tour ends up about 40 miles from the show location. For thoes who plan to join us for breakfast at the Windmill restaurant Sunday morning, the following hotels are very close to the switchers' tour locations and the Windmill restaurant. And for those who need to make a "quick getaway," Sunday, both hotels are a short distance from the Morgantown exit of the PA Turnpike.
Nearby Hotels to the Switchers Tour
While the building does have an alarm system, we must advise anyone who sets up Friday that there will be no overnight on-site security personnel.
$15 entrance
$10 each for sales tables
Educational Display Tables are free!
