The (unofficial) German Mineral Show Home Page

Eppelheim - Rhein-Neckar-Halle March 29 th 1998

This is one of the "oldest" shows in Germany. The first one was held back in 1964 so this year it was the 35th !. Its still the VFMG (a non profit organisation of the friends of mineralogy and geology) main show and any profits of this show go to this organisation and do not wind up in the pockets of a commercial show promoter.
The table fees are extremly moderate and even lower for amateur collectors. The exhibitors are divided in three groups amateurs, amateur dealers and professional dealers.
In spite the fact its only one day and its the spring time, its still one of the main events in Germany by tradition and by the fact that it is the first important German show after Tucson. So anything what was new in Tucson will be offered by the German top dealers the first time in public.
But as there are also a lot of field collectors and amateurs you find a good mixture. There are not a lot of fossils and fortunately jewelry and artsy craftsy as far as healy feely stuff is very limited.
Many other German shows with commercial promotors are more like a general flea market, as collectors and good quality mineral dealers are not willing to pay the heavy booth fees.
If you evr have a chance you should visit this show and combine with a stay in "Old Heidelberg". Getting a booth is almost impossible, for any further information you may contact the dealer chairman Günter Segenschmid Haydnstr. 1 D-69245 Bammental (Please note that is a non profit thing and take care for back postage !). I do not know the show date for 99 but it will be arround middle or end of March so far !


The show is held in a local sports (and multi purpose) hall.	The crowds are waiting to rush in at 9 a.m in the morning !
To meet the demand for booth space also the basement is stacked full with dealers and collectors.	This well known dealer is looking forward to make his day. As obvious still a little bit sceptical about the expectable sales.
The public examins every specimen carefully before even thinking about spending a dime. Money is tight in these days !	However the dealers enthusiastical try to convice their customers that they will get the best deal at the show.
You will find old classics like this calcite from Elmwood... Jürgen Tron Reuthersberg 4 D-96135 Stegaurach	but also new finds like this bright red huge calcite from China. Gabriele Hölzl - Mineralien Neukirchnerstr. 17 D-83083 Neukirchen
The dealers pay a lot of attention to nice display cases as here the booth of Inge Sieber. The nice tourmaline crystal in the upper right middle is enlarged on the picture to your right. Inge-Maria Sieber, Cristallina Dahlienweg 18/2 D-73760 Ostfildern
If he smiles about good sales or is just happy that the show will be over soon is not commented. Anyway most of the dealers complained (as usual) about the slow business for which Germanys bad economy is blamed in general.	Thats what any dealer hates most. Packing up after the show is over and getting your mechandise ready for the next one.
Of course there is no better car on the market to be used as a dealers vehicel as this Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) convertible. But if there is a will there is a way...	Last to come and last to go. This old time dealer is notorius for being late with set up and beeing the last to tear down. They are all waiting for him so that the last tables can be put away.

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Udo J.A. Behner Crystal Growing
Zum Bildchen 62
D-66687 Wadern/Morscholz - Germany
Phone : 06871/91007 - FAX : 06871/91006 eMail : mr.bismuth@t-online.de

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