Chattanooga Antique Militaria & Americana Show & Sale News
Originally published September 2021 · p. 44
Chattanooga Antique Militaria & Americana Show & Sale News EAST RIDGE, Tenn.—For the fourth year in a row, the Chattanooga Antique Militaria & Americana Show & Sale, sponsored by American Digger magazine, was held in the spacious Camp Jordan Arena located in East Ridge, just south of Chattanooga. As in past years, the walk-in traffic was brisk, with many making significant purchases from the dealers in attendance. The numerous categories of items seen at this show were nearly impossible to list here, but included swords, antique firearms, dug relics of all eras, old currency, old and new books, prints, artillery items, metal detectors and accessories, glassware, fossils, and stone-age tools. Dealers from across the country were set up on 235 eight-foot tables, offering a wide variety of items up to the WWII era. Despite a conflict created when the Show of Shows temporarily changed the traditional February date of their Louisville, Ky., show to the same weekend as the American Digger show,many notable dealers chose the two-day Chattanooga event over the longer five-day show in Kentucky. Replacing the few who missed this year’s Chattanooga show due to the scheduling conflict, several other dealers showed up at the American Digger event
Award winners at the American Digger Chattanooga Show, L-RJeff Jones, Jeremiah Simmons, Bill Blackman, and Riley Bryant.
for the first time. As a result, the table count was more than last year’s. Most impressive were several who set up at both shows, something rarely done except in the case of conflicting dates for outstanding shows. The Show of Shows website has announced that they will return to their regular February date in 2022, meaning that it is quite possible that next year’s Chattanooga show will be a full house as far as dealers and displayers go. An interesting trend at these shows is the number of metal detector manufacturers who lately are seeing the potential of setting up at American Digger events such as this one. After all, dug relics constitute at least a third of the items found at the show, and most dug relics are found with metal detectors. At this year’s show, metal detector manufactures Minelab and First Texas Detectors did a brisk business in sales, with Minelab actually setting up an outdoor venue to demonstrate various models. In addition to dealers were numerous items and collections on display. Awards were given for Best Dug Artifact (Riley Bryant, with a West Point Percussionfused 30-pounder Hotchkiss shell in pristine condition); Best Non-Dug Artifact (Jeff Jones with a Nashville Plow Works officer’s sword and scabbard); Most Educational, (Jeremiah Simmons’display of Chattanooga Civil War artifacts); and Best of Show (Bill Blackman’s extensive Confederate belt buckles and plates collection). Almost all dealers reported an outstanding show for both buying and selling, and a few even went so far as to say it was the best show they’d ever had. Add to this the fact that fast-growing East Ridge has added several outstanding eateries very near the Camp Jordan facility, and the ease of getting to the arena (located just off the I-75 Exit 1 ramp); this show becomes an excursion to be enjoyed by the whole family. There are several hotels located within a mile of the arena and, for the ultimate in convenience; an RV camp ground sits directly across the street from the show hall. The fifth year is already being planned; the dates are set for July 23-24, 2022, with Friday (July 22) dealer set up starting at 1 p.m. Those interested in attending this outstanding show should email Mark Schuessler at [email protected] or Anita [email protected], or call 770-362-8671.
