2005 Tucson Report
by Jim Tobin

There will undoubtedly be many reports written about the Tucson Show. Each will reflect the personal experiences of the writer. That will of course be the same for me. However, this year I had a rather different visit to Tucson. I have never gone completely by myself. It has always in the past been my great honor to share the experience with Paul Harris or Alan Gayda or my wife. This year I was going to be flying solo. So when just before the show I got an email from Martin Horejsi that he was going to attend and would like to team up with me for the weekend I was delighted. It is always more fun to have a good friend going along. I would have Thursday by myself at the show to relax and unwind from the pressures of work.  I could get some rest after my first day of meteorite fun by turning in early. I knew that Friday night the birthday bash would run late. And I knew that as a bidder in the auction and attending with Martin (who was offering a large block of fabulous specimens) Saturday would be a late night also.

Well, I got a round to only the Inn Suites on Thursday. Saw Marvin Kilgore, we had a nice visit. Unfortunately, our schedule would not let me get back there for more that a few minutes the rest of the weekend. So I was glad I had that long first day time with him. He had his regular wonderful display of meteorites. His new book was not yet available which I had hoped to get. But, my disappointment I am sure was not as great as his. As a printer by trade I am acutely aware of the frustrations printing delays create in customers. But, it will be finished soon I am sure and the results will be worth the wait.

The Inn Suites has always been the hotel with the most meteorite dealers. But, this year it was a candy store bursting at the seaming with delights for every collector. Some of the dealers I had time to see were Edwin Thompson, Alain Carion, Michel Franco, Mike Farmer, The Labennes, Bruno, Peter with his gold and meteorites, Ahmed Pani, and Eric Olson. There were others I didn't have time to see. About five in the afternoon I needed to get to my hotel and check in. I had not eaten all day and my day had started at 4:45 am. So after getting my stuff in the room it was time for some Mexican food. Then being fed it was time to relax and watch a little TV till I couldn't keep my eye open. I was out for the night. A great first day.

Martin arrived at 10 am so that gave me enough time to get down to the Best Western in the morning before picking him up at the airport. I did what I always do; that is, forgot to print out the list of where people will be at the show off my own website. My hotel did not have a computer. I knew the Best Western did. So I got online there and printed out the list. I drove to the airport and arrived minutes before Martin's plane. A cheery greeting and short walk to the car were all that preceded my purchase of two of his pieces of meteorite (Coldwater and St. Michel). I all but grabbed his bag out of his hands to see what he had brought. I suggested that we start by going to the Days Inn and the dealers along the street. Making our way finally to the hotel that changes its name too often for me to remember. I said that there was the chance of rain and it would be more fun to do that part of the show while it was sunny. But, it never did rain much. We found some great pieces along the street, I got a nice slice of Rupota, Malampaka, and Mangawendi. I found some seriously distorted Gibeon. As many regular readers know I collected damaged Widmanstätten pattern meteorites. We saw a lot of meteorites and had a good visit with Erich and Silvia and Buddy Eisler.

A brisk walk back to the car and it was off to see Blaine Reed at the Ramada Limited. I stayed there a year ago. There were a few dealers then, now it is completely part of the show. I wanted to get a couple hexahedrites during the weekend. Blaine had a nice slice of Fredrickburg that would help reach that goal. Martin had a fun visit with Blaine as well. It was then time to hit the Inn Suites. But, we were not there long. Word was out that Robert Haag was letting go of some pieces from his collection and we headed up to see him. He was indeed selling some beautiful specimens. It is always nice to see him and Martin was really delighted I think. While he was there I slipped over to next door.  Alan Lang's room and sat down with a soda to catch my breath. They had a few copies of Kevin Kichinka's book there and I got one. Can not wait to have some time to read it. Martin emerged finally from Robert's room. He looked at the items in Alan Lang's room for the Sunday auction. I had by then bought a piece of Noyan Bogdo a Mongolian fall from 1933. It has a fairly small total weight. 1933 was a septacular year for falls by the way I think it holds the record for the most.

A lot of laughter over dinner and it was time to go to the birthday bash for Steve Arnold and Geoff Notkin. This was so much nicer than even as great as the other years have been. Getting to walk around in a larger room and talk to people was wonderful. And the crowd was even bigger than in the past. The Harveys were awarded and the fun went on till late. I even acquired a fragment of Weston at the party. It is America's first recorded fall. Martin and I left around 1:30 am.

Saturday was more of the same. Looking at meteorites and looking forward all day to Michael Blood's auction in the evening. Martin had 38 pieces in the auction and sold almost all of them. I got a piece or two also. I had bid on two Nininger piece in the afternoon at Alan Lang's other room at the Best Western. I had not won them. I did win two Huss pieces though. I still wanted to get a Nininger piece during the weekend. Martin was offering piece of Clover Springs in Michael's auction so that was another chance. The auction was better than ever. Michael did his very professional job again, things went pretty smooth. But it was almost 2 am before we left.

Sunday we spent mostly socializing finally. I did buy some nice fresh Gao material. Always a sucker for Gao. But in my own defense these were small and beautiful and black. Two were oriented and one had nice secondary fusion crust with little bubbles. During all the activity of the four days I managed to buy a kilo of Sikhote Alins for the the business and a kilo of mixed NWA material that had not been gone through. I cherry picked through it first this time. Some nice stuff and none I bought was NWA 869. Though there was a lot of that in the bin however. There was a good deal more mixing of the material this year. In fact I would have to say that there was a total lack of care to keep any meteorites separated by the tent dealers.

I dropped Martin off at the airport at noon and had just enough time to run to the wholesale show and get my lovely wife some jewelry for Valentine's Day. My plane left at 4pm. It was another great trip and I enlarged my collection with some fine specimens. Enjoy the pictures below of some of the new additions. Next year I hope that Paul will again be able to join me. Thanks to all our friends who are in great part responsible for making the Tucson show always so enjoyable.