Telephone Collectors International
Last update Jan 13, 2025
| Telephone Collectors International | First posted Dec 31, 2023 Last update Jan 13, 2025 |
1383 Arcadia Road,
Lancaster, PA 17601
Greetings from the show host committee! It's time to start making plans for the 2024 Lancaster show. The show is scheduled for June 13-14 at the Lancaster Farm and Home Center. We hope to see everyone there.
Table Reservations The Lancaster show has grown to be an extremely popular show. Tables can sell out quickly. Be sure to register early. As always, tables are assigned "first come - first served." That means that the quickest to register get the best tables and the later folks will be in the overflow area if one is required.
To accommodate as many people as possible, we are limiting everyone to no more than three sales tables and/or one display table. If anyone wants to share a table, let us know and we will try to pair people up.
As always, additional information about other show events, hotels, and local attractions are posted on the bonus pages or on the TCI website when it becomes available.
We all hope to see you there!
$15 entrance
$10 each for sales tables, limit 3
Educational Display Tables are free, limit 1
NOTE
If submitting using the paper form, send to the following address
Dave Spafford
TCI Spring Show 2025
1425 Church Street
Reading, PA 19601-1231
Photos from previous years at Lancaster
2019
2018
2017
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2022
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. We will hold our traditional Saturday after dinner 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/).
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.
There are plenty of other hotels in the area too. Don't forget, however, that it's the start of the Lancaster County tourist season so make your reservations early.
It's time to start planning for the Lancaster Switchers' 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 an 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 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.
The switchers' tour ends up about 40 miles from the show location. For those 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," after breakfast.
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.
PIZZA! With soft drinks.
$15 entrance
$10 each for sales tables, limit 3
Educational Display Tables are free, limit 1
