One vendor at the American Refining Group swap meet Friday said
there was so much muscle put into getting vendors to the site that
he canceled plans to do another show.

“It’s slow,” said Dwight Sawyer of Chatham, N.Y. “A lot of the
people coming through here are local. It was a great parade last
night. It was fun.

“I’m not bitter, but I am used to larger swap meets,” he
added.

Sawyer owns Chatham Auto Body, Antique toys and petroliana.

The items he had available for sale included a Champion brand
spark plugs clock, thermometers, pens and pencils, keychains, and
buttons that held a look of age touting names of car brands.

Even if the swap meet was small, there were plenty of people
coming through who felt it held just what they needed. There were
also vendors who said they believe ARG will improve its
participation if they continue to hold them each year.

Anthony Marzucco and Clayton Vecellio of Lewis Run said they had
a wonderful time.

“We have both sold a lot of stuff. I hope they have it again
next year,” said Marzucco.

Vecellio said he has been collecting items for 30 years at
garage sales and flea markets.

Marcuzzo commented on the food and service available in the swap
area.

“The food and service was great!” he said.

Bob Stanley of Buffalo, N.Y., said he enjoys seeing the swap
meet in Bradford.

“It’s nice to have these things in these small towns,” said
Stanley. “It’s their first time, but if they have it again each
year, they will improve. I will be back tomorrow.”

Stanley said he has been collecting for a number of years as a
hobby. He adds that he has been trying to sell items he’s collected
for about 10 years – to prevent his children from “dumping” his
stuff.

“But I sell a few things and I buy a few things – I guess I will
never get ahead,” he added with a laugh.

Stanley was selling old oil cans that require filling by bulk
sized cans of oil for use in lubricating items such as old cars and
sewing machines, among other items.

Traveling from Dover was Bob Stitley, who had on display and for
sale very old gas pumps and air machines. He also had an oil can –
that was still full – made by Motor Rythn from the 1950s.

The can offered ideas for use such as adding it to the crank
case thereby tuning up the carburetor every 5,000 miles to increase
gas mileage.

Stitley had other cans on hand as well, including one he said
came from the mid-40s. The brand is Veedol Motoroil.

But vendors were not just selling oil and gasoline related
items.

Molly and Tom Marsh were heading out with their purchase, which
included an antique-looking train set for their grandchildren.

“It’s nice to see oil get a little bit of credit,” said Molly
Marsh. “We have been in the oil business. We were involved in
drilling and production too. We sold it, but it is nice to see it
here.”

Stitley was also selling repainted and refinished coin-operated
gumball machines, something he said is profitable.

Sandy Guenter of Wellsville, N.Y., said she and her husband Cory
have had a lot of good sales.

“We sold a Yellow Dog, a Mobile glass globe that sits on a pump,
and signs from the oil and gas industry,” said Guenter. “We also
have replicas of Sinclair truck banks” – which she explained was
her husband’s collection.

“We have really done well – we are really happy to come,” she
said.

Wayne and Karen Daggs, from the gulf coast area of Texas, said
they enjoyed the swap meet and had several purchases.

The couple takes care of the Kiasutha Campground on the
Allegheny National Forest.

“We have a close friend with a Gulf distributorship and there is
nothing in Texas (with the Gulf emblem) on it. So we find things
and take them to him,” said Wayne Daggs, who also purchased a
Prestone Anti-freeze can, which will become part of his collection
as a former 40-year employee of Union Carbide.