Monday 14 February 2011

14/2: Pin Meet

Update - Latest Plan
  • Date: Saturday 9th April 2011
  • Time: 2pm
  • Venue: View Tube (just outside the Olympic Park)
  • Transport: DLR to Pudding Mill Lane. Click here for directions

In honour of the 500 DTG milestone (and the fact that it's sunny today and I feel spring is coming), I was wondering if there was any interest in a pin meet/trade session sometime in early April. This would be the second "un-official" get-together, and whilst the first was attended by a small (but beautifully formed) group, we would love to see as many people as possible who are interested in swapping pins or just chatting to like minded collectors.

The suggestion is that we meet at the View Tube just outside the Olympic Park, but all other suggestions are welcome. Potential date is Saturday 9th April as this would give enough time for some 500 day pins to surface from sponsors if we're lucky. Again, I'm open to other ideas, I'm just trying to get the ball rolling.

I think those that attended the first meeting found it friendly and interesting, so please don't be shy. If you can get to London fairly easily on a Saturday afternoon and would like to see what other pin collectors have to trade, then please get in touch. You can leave a comment on this post, or drop me a line at info@londonpins.co.uk.

18 comments:

Pinmaster said...

Sounds good to me, the first meet was interesting and always good to put a face to the names we see regularly contributing and perhaps get a few new faces

Pippin said...

Yes please, count me in, too.

Bill said...

Why not

wookie said...

Unfortunately Sunday is the one day a week when I can't get there :-(

Anonymous said...

Ok, from the feedback and emails so far, It looks like the preferred date is April rather than March, but based on Wookie's comment, has anyone an objection to Saturday 9th rather than Sunday 10th? I'm ok for both days, but how about the rest of you? Does anyone have a preference?

Pinmaster said...

Saturdays fine underground prob better on a Saturday

wookie said...

If you could all make it Saturday that would be great!
I just checked and the train fare to London is only £22.... I can live with that :)
Can somebody tell me the nearest underground please

Anonymous said...

Wookie, you want Pudding Mill Lane on the DLR. I'll post a link later to the view tube, alternatively Google "Viewtube"

Pippin said...

Both 9th and 10th April are fine for me, and if it's on the Saturday, I don't mind missing the Grand National for once!

Anonymous said...

OK, I think we have a plan...

Meet at View Tube (http://www.theviewtube.co.uk/find-us.html) at 2.00pm on Saturday 9th April. I have email addresses for Pinmaster, Pippin, Tom and Wookie. Bill, if you're still able to come and don't mind sending me your email address I'll add you to our distribution list. Any other readers interested on coming, we'd love to see you there. Feel free to bring any trades with you and any items that aren't for trading, but you think the rest would be interested in seeing.

Bill said...

Paul, happy to send you my email address but how do I get it to you without publishing it online? I've tried to register twice in the past unsuccessfully.

wookie said...

I wonder if the London2012 shop would give out leaflets advertising the meet if we supplied some? The more collectors we can get there the better!

Anonymous said...

Bill, sorry about the problem registering on the forum, I must have lost you in the spam! If you want to email me at info@londonpins.co.uk with the name you used, I'll activate the account. That way I'll have your email address for the pin meet too.

Wookie, It's a good idea, but I think they wouldn't be able to 'advertise'. I think that their licence to sell London 2012 items would stop them effectively promoting or endorsing a group (i.e. us) that haven't signed an agreement with LOCOG. The guys at St P. and Paddington have been great towards me and have helped with information that they know and can share. I can't thank them enough for what they have done, but I doubt they would be able to help in this instance. The one thing I've discovered since I started this whole thing is that most people 'in the know' would love to help, but often can't for licensing and contractual reasons.

I know that this blog is read by people 'on the inside' so I'll take this opportunity to politely ask them to spread the word if they feel that they can. The more we can get turning up the better.

Bill said...

I suppose that you could always ask if you could take over the classroom upstairs at the viewing room, especially if it is raining. That would give you tables, chairs and a coffee or tea downstairs. That is of course assuming that you haven't got a guided tour staring at you. A bit more notice and we could have combined the meet with a tour, after all the reason why we are there is because of the Olympic site, isnt it?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
wookie said...

I take your point Paul, but a swapmeet wouldn't infringe any licences, as we are encouraging the collecting of official pins rather than fakes, something that they should be keen on.....

Bill said...

A minor complication means that I am double-booked for the event but the weird irony is that I will actually stopping by the view tube at that time but on a bike. I will be with a group of scouts who will be calling in at the view tube for their lunch half way through their sponsored bike ride. So apologies in advance but there shouldn't be too many of us there.

Sid Marantz said...

Hello to all you pintraders in the UK> My name is Sid Marantz and I just heard about your website through Paul. I have been to 13 Olympic Games and have been collecting Olympic pins and other memorbelia since 1984. I am on the Board of Directors of the Olympin Collectors Club. We are based in the USA but have members from over 30 worldwide. Check out our website at www.olympinclub.com . We are reaching to British Collectors and would be glad to help you out in any way we can. Over the next year and a half you will have a great deal of fun. Being in the nation which is hosting the Olympic Games is very special. Enjoy every day of it. Best of luck and please, all of you keep in touch. There is a chance I will be coming to London in June and would love to meet you all. Be well, Sid Marantz