For the first time in its history, the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market has so far had a perfect season, not having to close a single Sunday due to weather or wet fields. The show opened for the season early in March this year and has been open every week. The market will be open three more times this year, closing for the season on December 9.
Manager Greg Baecker said it has been an excellent season, and that buying has been up over last year, due to strong attendance as well as not losing any days. The field averaged about 300 dealers weekly and though there were a few weeks with only 30 to 50 dealers, if the dealers came, the market was open, he said. The peak months were July through September.
A few changes are planned for next year for safety reasons, Baecker said. To keep from driving around the field while patrons are shopping, dealers will only be let onto the field before 6:45 am and dealers may not leave until 2 pm.
Last Sunday, November 18, was sunny but the early morning hours were chilly as temperatures hovered in the 20s. Dealers and patrons were bundled up, and most clutched a hot cup of joe in their begloved hands while a layer of frost built up on glass frames and plastic covers on antique scrapbooks.
The cold never stops serious buying, however, and there was an interesting mix of items to choose from here, as always. The “merch” ranged from vintage Santas and Christmas ornaments at The Perfect Thing, Pound Ridge, N.Y., to petroliana, including a round two-sided Texaco tin sign that sold early; to antique postcards and cigarette cards at Karl Sales, New Milford, Conn. Of interest to male shoppers were a stag mount offered by Gui Hendricks and a variety of saws from a Flushing, N.Y, dealer.
For additional information, www.etflea.com or 508-265-9911.
⁁ndrea Valluzzo
