Dear Readers:
Beginning with our next issue, GEM will
officially be a monthly publication, as we have previously
announced. Many, many of you have written to let us know that you
support our decision to publish monthly. A few have written to
argue against monthly publication, or to complain that there is too
much advertising. We feel that the advertising is extremely
important it keeps you touch with one another, helps you
find needed parts and information, guides you to shows and auctions
and keeps you informed of new services and publications which may
be offered. The addition of more issues will give those who plan
events more flexibility in making them known.
As the amount advertising of grows, we must caution you that we
do not screen advertisers, nor are we able to monitor their
performance. We have occasionally refused advertising to
individuals after receiving numerous complaints, but we cannot
vouch for the good will of every advertiser, so do be careful in
your dealings with others. We do know that the overwhelming
majority of our advertisers are wholly dependable and sincere.
With this issue, Charles Wendel has added a new section to his
REFLECTIONS column, called READERS WRITE. Here will appear the
responses to questions which come to us from our readers. I would
encourage those of you with answers to share to write to Mr. Wendel
when you have information.
We won’t start sending our earlier renewal notices
until later in the year. For now, you will continue to receive only
one notice in advance of your last issue. For those of you who are
concerned about uninterrupted service, you will need to mail your
renewals back to us promptly! We can no longer send the back issues
in the way we used to (Postal Regulations), so all renewals
received after an issue is mailed will begin with the next
published issue. Because of the time taken in mailing, you may
miss an issue if you wait until you get the renewal envelope in
your final magazine, so it is much better to respond to the advance
notice! (Missed issues may be purchased for $3.00 each.)
One more word about expirations and renewals! Individuals whose
subscriptions which would have expired with the May/June
’85 issue, will receive an advance expiration notice soon.
You’ll also have an envelope in both your May and June
copies if you don’t renew before they’re mailed. We hope
this won’t confuse anyone. T639.he May issue is FREE for all
current subscribers. Those of you whose subscriptions would end
with July/August will receive the May, June, and July issues.
I think I should mention that we did receive one phone call from
a reader who is an electrician, regarding the article ‘Zapper
Upper’ which appeared on page 16 of the January/February issue.
This gentleman advised us that the process described by A. R.
Nelson in the article could be dangerous. Since we are not
electricians, we are unable to comment as to the danger involved.
Articles which come to GEM are published without
review for technical accuracy or safety. Again, we have always
relied on the integrity, sincerity and knowledge of those who
submit manuscripts.
Another word of mention should be made concerning the
‘Metcalfes and Manufacturing in Quincy’ article in this
issue. The intriguing history of this little known Pennsylvania
manufacturer has been capably told by Roger Mowrey. We are
especially grateful to Charles Carbaugh and Elmer Rice, Quincy
collectors, for the role they played in bringing this article to
print. Both gentlemen made a special trip to our office to provide
us with rich illustrative material from their own collections,
giving much added dimension to the story.
Our Annual Show Directory is now available, and show season is
beginning in the Southern states. We hope that we will all get to
more shows that ever before, this year!