It was a clear cool Saturday two weeks ago.  I decided to take my
Barrel Organ along with me to a Ham Radio Flea Market.  I also took
several copies of my book  "Building a Barrel Organ: an adventure
in plastic".    (Shameless  Plug)

On my table I had a fifty-year-old Hammarlund radio along with my
Barrel Organ and other computer items.  Several Hams thought the
Barrel Organ was a device to send code messages over and over.  As
a joke,  I would tell them it was an antenna  tuner.  When they came
closer I would crank  the organ causing them to break out in laughter.
I expected to have a few people ask me why I would built such a
project, but none did.  Three or four people stood in amazement during
the day playing with the Barrel Organ and asking questions.

An hour or so into the day a man came by...

Man: (Stopping in his tracks)  Hey, that's a barrel organ!

Me:   Yes, I built it. (holding up a book)  Would you like to buy my
book on how to build one?

Man:  There is a guy on the 'Net selling that !

Me:   Yes, that's ME!

Man:  (Looks at me like I stole the plans.)

Me:   You are from New York!

Man:  Yes.

Me:   You got your book even before your check cleared !

Man:  Yes!... Did the check clear?

Me:   Yes, and it's ME!

The man stayed a while cranking the barrel organ and checking out it's
operation.  He gave me a few suggestions, but most of them are already
in my book.  I thought to myself, "What are the odds of meeting someone
who has bought my book!"

John Kleinbauer
Kleinbauer@Juno.com

 [ I still enjoy my 1950s Hammarlund SP600 !   -- Robbie (ex-W6SDH)