Christchurch, NZ Swapmeet- so you can see what it's like on the other side of the world...

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Christchurch, NZ Swapmeet- so you can see what it's like on the other side of the world...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bede Cordes, New Zealand on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 01:23 am:

Hi everyone,

Last weekend was the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand's Christchurch Swapmeet (I'm up for correction here), but it's NZ's biggest swapmeet. Unfortunately, over the last 20 years, it has turned into a glorified garage or jumble sale with probably at least half of the stuff for sale household junk, plants, clothes, and the like. I'm sure however, it makes for good income for the Vintage Car Club. It runs for 3 days.

This might explain however, sometimes when pictures of what is thought of as rusty old junk or common parts up there in the US of A is posted on the forum, why it draws comments and amazement from some of us New Zealanders.

Hopefully the following pictures might give you an insight into what the T restorer here is up against.


crowd

There is always a big crowd at the Christchurch Swapmeet, but probably the focus for most is not about vintage cars.


1

This guy's trailer is carted to this swapmeet and one or two other ones in the region every year. I don't think he ever unloads it, it always has the same stuff on it year after year, which is as you might be able to see, a couple of generators, a few old inlet manifolds, a couple of old fan hubs, some spanners and a few other common bits T, most worn out or of little use.


2

These people had a pair of headlights with good lenses, a couple of 19-25 ammeters, and two early black T coilboxes with the switches on the front. The one coilbox I looked at had coils in it (unknown condition), lid, switch and key and they were wanting $250 NZD ($203 USD) for it.


3

This vendor has a few T parts amongst other things, I spotted a few inlet manifolds, a couple of spanners, a couple of old used and worn (useless) timers and an accessory distributor (that was probably ok, but needed work). There would have been a few other parts.


4

This chap was selling a few back axle halves, and some wheels, as you can see.


There were a few other things at a couple of other sites that I saw, being a set of secondhand 30x3 1/2 tyres, two original (Canadian, obviously )instruction manuals, a MTFCA Back Axle repair book (s/h), an old rusty T cylinder head, and a set of brass T fenders (not sure if they were genuine or repro). An Early Ford Parts Supplier mainly dealt with Model A but did have in his tent a new repro exhaust manifold, and the price on it was over $300 NZD ($244 USD).


And that's it.


There you go, New Zealand's biggest vintage car swapmeet, and that's all the Model T Ford parts.

This post is not intended as a shot at any of the stalls or people selling the parts mentioned above, but simply to show people here that T parts aren't as plentiful here as in other parts of the world.

Regards,
Bede


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nevin Gough on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 01:43 am:

I got 4 champion X plugs for $4.00, but that was it.
I stayed there for 4 hours on the Friday, and went home again (8 hours driving in total).

For some reason, I have done well at the Winchester swap meets, so I might just attend that one from now on.

Did the weather turn bad on the Saturday?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By wayne tomlins on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 01:46 am:

I have been going to this swapmeet [ on & off] since the first about 1975.
Yes, most of the vintage parts are well worn & if you were restoring a Model T or A you would be buying the new repro parts ex US like everywhere else in the world. Old cars had a long shelf life here in NZ up until the 1980's due to punitive govt import taxes on new cars after the War.
But you can still find 'that rare piece' for your car.Some unusual cars come out in the display area as there are a lot of old cars in the Canterbury region.
BTW, the first pic of 'a guy who lugs the same stuff every year'' is actually parts owned by the local Model A Club who use it to help club funds ; & I have found some nos items on that trailer for my Model A era collection.
You did not mention the usual foul weather this swapmeet gets in early Springtime here!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 02:02 am:

You mention brass T fenders under that last pic. I had no idea they ever made them out of brass??

Thanks for posting the pics! Nice to see what goes on at the swap meets in other countries.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bede Cordes, New Zealand on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 02:58 am:

Danial,

I thought I tried hard enough for you Americans by calling our "mudguards" , "fenders" for you, but now I will explain I was referring to "fenders" from the Brass T era (09-16) ? :-)

Nevin,

The weather on Saturday was far less than good. I gave it a miss but ducked back out on Sunday for a quick look but things were understandably quiet despite it being a cracker day.

Regards,
Bede


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gavin Harris (Napier, NZ) on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 04:02 am:

I bought that coil box in photo 3 but at considerably less than $250.00. I flew to the swap meet so was concerned about the weight and already have 30 + untested coils so asked what price for the box and switch without the coils. The lady stallholder would not entertain the idea so I took them all with the idea of giving the coils away. As it happened I ran into another Hawkes Bay gent who had driven down and was willing to bring them home for me. I will pick them up on Tuesday.

I did pick up 3 NZ price lists @ $20 each, saw the instruction manuals but did not buy at $35 each.

As Nevin said, Friday weather good, Saturday terrible, Sunday fine again and I was astounded by the number of stalls still open up until we left at 12noon. They usually start packing up at about 10am. Had we not been booked on the "red bus red zone tour" (through the still cordoned off area of the earthquake damaged CBD) we would probably have stayed longer.

I did go to the Model T Club dinner on Saturday night and got to meet a number of fellow club members; put faces to names so to speak.

I agree that the number of model T parts is dwindling but the coil box (switch was the main part) and the parts manuals made it a worthwhile swapmeet for me. All things being equal I will be back next year.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 04:05 am:

Look at all that treasure i wish i could go.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gavin Harris (Napier, NZ) on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 04:43 am:

Kep, where are you?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 05:59 am:

Thanks for the update. Yes, compared to the USA a much smaller selection. I keep hoping that someone will figure out a way to reduce the shipping cost of parts to and from New Zealand, Australia, etc. It would make the hobby a little less costly and hopefully increase the participation in our hobby.

I'm glad to hear several of your found something at the swap meet. That always make is better.

Again, thank you for posting the photos.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Alex Brown on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 06:35 am:

I bought one spanner (Not model T and that was it!)

It is getting to the point where the $10 entry fee would be better spent on Ebay!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mack Cole ---- Earth on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 09:18 am:

Well,I am glad you posted this.
There is parts all over this country that get wasted everyday because someone thinks "oh,that is to rusty","Oh that would cost a couple hours labor to repair".
When folkes like yourselves way down there would be tickled pink to get ahold of it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen - Nebraska on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 09:26 am:

Bede,

I "corrected" one of your pics so we (northern hemisphere) could view it properly. :-)

Rob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Danial - Veneta OR US Earth Solar System on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 12:56 pm:

Ok Bede, I'm a little slow...brass "era" fenders...got it...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 02:25 pm:

Wow! Those new exhaust manifolds are listed at $80 in Lang's catalogue. The shipping to NZ must be a real killer if that chap has any chance of getting his price.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 02:45 pm:

Stuck in the north..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 02:56 pm:

Stuck in the north..


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 03:07 pm:

Opps that'll learn me for F5'ing an error code.
When i see people give up on a part because it would take a few hours to repair i always thought it was because i was a slow worker or you guys could get $1,000 an hour at work so it was cheaper to buy new ones. Try having a month or 2 in just one fender and it still looks bad!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 03:52 pm:

And I thought you had a wealth of T parts there :-)
I would be glad if I find half of that in one of our major swap meets in Sweden.. Got the paying the overseas shipping blues :-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gerry .D .Best (NZ) on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 04:38 pm:

Hi folks.
Yes its rite the some things come out every year,and good on them ,as one day someone may be looking for that part. Here in NZ we do a lot off work to restore our parts,what we can,t fix we make,that is the resone it takes so long to restore.The model T that I am restoring from parts,was on the way to the land fill ,and boy was it bad. The good news is ,it is going and ready to paint then on the road. Thank you bede for the pics.
Cheers Gerryde (NZ)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nevin Gough on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 07:44 pm:

Seems like there is a Model T drought down here, as even Trademe (our version of ebay) has had few parts listed. I have everything I need for my T at this stage, and prefer to get parts in from U.S. vendors if possible, but I enjoy seeing parts for sale, and who is paying what prices.

I paid $300nz for a repop exhaust manifold from a NZ vendor when I urgently needed one. Here is how it worked. The manifold was worth $85US in the States but our $ was only worth 60 U.S. back then (now 81c). Freight is a killer, and I'm guessing the $85US was nearer $200nz plus when the manifold would have been at my doorstep after waiting one to two weeks. I had the manifold overnight, so it was worth the extra $100 to have my car on the road the next day. Still lots of money though.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gavin Harris (Napier, NZ) on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 08:17 pm:

When bringing parts in from USA we also need to be careful to keep the total cost (purchase plus shipping) below $400.00.NZ. Once over $400 they add on duty, then 15% GST.

I brought in a set of spokes for 1 wheel a couple of months ago. $232NZ landed. I would have liked spokes for 2 wheels; shipping would have been cheaper per wheel but total cost would have exceeded $400.

Our local wheel maker makes them for $250 assembled so that is the way I will be doing the rest of the car.

BTW, couldn't fault the service from Lang's. They arrived within 7 days. The other company (with the best catalogue) takes at least 7 days before processing the order.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 09:20 pm:

This thread is an eye-opener for us folks in the US. We knew we had it good because we and Model A folks have so many parts repopped (as opposed to other car makes), but I think we take it for granted that there are lots of parts available at swap meets and around the corner at our buddies' parts stashes. I sometimes get on edge over shipping costs of $10-15 for parts, but now it's obvious that we have it really good here.

Seeing what is a typical swap meet down Under, it's obvious that Chickasha would blow your minds. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bede Cordes, New Zealand on Monday, October 22, 2012 - 04:27 am:

Good one Rob,

just remember to hold your camera upside down (or is that downside up ?) to take pictures when you and your family come to visit... :-)

Regards,
Bede


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Monday, October 22, 2012 - 06:04 am:

T parts are scarce at swap meets in Australia too. I went to the Strathalbyn Swap meet on Sunday, 300 site holders. I bought 3 T jacks, two with the flip tops, two late T or A adjustable wrenches, A late T spark plug wrench and passed up on a 26-7 coilbox and coils. There were two 26 T wooden wheels with brand new 5.25 Firestone tyres and a handful of very used Champion plugs, oh and one 20s headlight with good lens at $100! Last year I bought 1 and 1/2 square ended early chassis. Nothing that good this year.

Allan from down under.


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