Mineral Shows

Tucson, Arizona 2022

After deciding to skip the Tucson show in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, I sold once again in 2022.  Since one of the themes for this year’s show was fluorescent minerals (first time in 25 years), I was proud to once again come out of retirement from doing shows and exhibit some of my sales stock.

I decided to sell for the full 18 days of the show, commuting each day from Phoenix!!   All that hard work did pay off.  I ended up having the best show I have ever had in over 40 years of being a fluorescent mineral dealer. 
 
Thank you once again to all those who made the trek to Lester Street to visit me in my obscure location.  It was wonderful to finally get to meet some of my customers in person, as well as saying “hi” again to those I have known for many years.  Seeing a lot of new customers to the hobby was also quite enjoyable. 

Thank you to Stan Esbenshade of Midwest Minerals for once again allowing me to sell in his warehouse on Lester Street.  Stan is well known in the mineral collecting community, and always has good material for sale during the show.
 
As always, a very special thank you goes out to David Giebelstein and Nate Johnson, two of my dearest friends, for helping me set up and tear down my sales booth.  Without them, it would not be possible for me to do shows again.  Loving thanks go to Deborah Polman for helping me at the show on her days off and keeping me sane while commuting from Phoenix to Tucson for 18 straight days!

Nate Johnson (left) and David Giebelstein (right) helping me setup my sales booth 2 weeks before show time.
The left side of my sales tent, featuring longwave specimens.
The back side of my sales tent, featuring midrange specimens.
The right side of my sales tent, featuring shortwave specimens.
Deborah and I just minutes before the opening of the show.
My good friends Kyle Owen (left) and Steve Caldwell (right), visiting my booth early in the show.
My long time friend Jan Wittenberg, past President of the Fluorescent Mineral Society, stopping by my booth to have a look.
Finally got to meet my friend Axel Emmermann, who came in from Belgium to see the show. Axel could not visit while I was open for business, but was able to visit 1 week later during my tear down.

Previous Mineral Shows

Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona 1992

Me and my good friend AJ Lombard who sold with me when we did this show in the early 1990s.

Franklin, New Jersey 1999/2002

My first year inside on the stage at the Franklin, New Jersey Mineral show in 1999. I still can’t believe I brought all those rocks with me on the plane!
Lights out at the 2002 Franklin Show.

Tucson, Arizona 2000-2006

A portion of my room at the Inn Suites Hotel, during my first showing at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2000.
My room at the Inn Suites Hotel in 2003.
Some of my shortwave minerals at the 2004 Tucson show. Photograph by Tom Nelson.
Some more of my shortwave minerals at the 2004 Tucson show. Photograph by Tom Nelson.
Some of my midrange minerals at the 2004 Tucson show. Photograph by Tom Nelson.
Some of my longwave minerals at the 2004 Tucson show. Photograph by Tom Nelson.

Tucson, Arizona 2020

After a 13-year retirement from doing mineral shows, I decided to once again sell at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. The show was a huge success for me, and I am confidant that all who stopped by my booth were impressed with the variety, quality and quantity of the specimens I offered for sale. It certainly was nice seeing customers in person again and discussing this great hobby!

A special “Thank You” to all who went out of their way to find me at my new location, the warehouse of Midwest Minerals. The new location worked out very well for me, and I plan on being there again next year for the 2021 Tucson show. The theme for next years show will be Fluorescent Minerals, so it should be a good one!

Another special “Thank You” to my good friends David Giebelstein and Nate Johnson for helping me set up and take down the booth. I could not have done this show without their help and support. Thank you also to Stan Esbenshade at Midwest Minerals for allowing me to sell in his warehouse and to my wife Deborah for helping me on her days off from work.

My good friends David (left) and Nate (right) helping me set up the booth. We started set up 2 weeks before the start of the show.
Here I am all ready to go just minutes before the grand opening for Midwest Minerals on January 29, 2020.
Some of the longwave mineral specimens
I had for sale during the show.
Some of the midrange mineral specimens
I had for sale during the show.
Some of the shortwave mineral specimens
I had for sale during the show.
Some of the shortwave mineral specimens
I had for sale during the show.
Some of the shortwave mineral specimens
I had for sale during the show.