[meteorite-list] Newcomers and the Meteorite world

From: Gary Fujihara <fujmon_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:33:31 -1000
Message-ID: <3BC86E5D-186C-455E-ADC1-5BECAD2FA7A1_at_mac.com>

Aloha,

Its nice to see John Schooler on the list - I got my Paragould birthday meteorite slice from him-Mahalo nui John. And yes, dealers buy and trade from other dealers for their collections and inventory all the time.

I got my first meteorite - a Canyon Diablo back in the late '60s from my uncle who returned to Hawaii after getting his schooling at Creighton to become a dentist. I treasured that iron until it was lost during a move. I've always been interested in astronomy and space exploration beginning with the first Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions, and still drives me in my educational outreach endeavors at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy and as a NASA Solar System Ambassador (are there any others in metlistland?).

I have sporadically added a few specimens to my collection throughout the years, but it was the Ash Creek fall that got my juices really flowing again. My collection now consists of ~250 distinct falls and over a hundred finds, some of which can be seen on my Facebook album (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030992&id=1394318075&l=68d4748b5a). Each are a story unto themselves, as objects created out of the formation of our solar system, finding their way to earth, and how they were obtained. I have a passion for each and every specimen in my collection and in my inventory, but that does not preclude me from parting with any of them. For I believe that I am just a temporary steward for the care and curation of these cosmic interlopers, as they were here before me and will be here long after my mortal demise.

My foray into becoming the Big Kahuna and starting a business was to help fund my collection and my outreach (last year I gave away over five kilos of meteorites to students, teachers and schools). But more importantly, it was to reciprocate the service, support and friendship that was given to me by a few of the reputable dealers (both IMCA and non-IMCA) that helped me out during my start. It can be a daunting experience to build your knowledge and collection with quality specimens without draining your bank account. Those dealers were instrumental in providing me with not just screaming deals, but a business paradigm not built around profit as the major focus.

Mahalo nui loa, me kealoha pumehana,

Gary Fujihara
Big Kahuna Meteorites (IMCA#1693)
105 Puhili Place, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/
http://shop.ebay.com/fujmon/m.html
(808) 640-9161

On Aug 15, 2010, at 1:04 PM, john schooler wrote:

> Hello all:
>
> For those of you who do not know me, I am imca 9322, a serious meteorite collector and a dealer. I started collecting many years ago and now have 509 different witnessed falls in my collection, as well as 77 non-witnessed locations. I do not understand anyone associated with meteorites who sells but does not collect.
>
> For anyone interested in witnessed falls, check my website - www.schoolersinc.com.
>
> John
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg Catterton" <star_wars_collector at yahoo.com>
> To: <almitt at kconline.com>; <swschulz at astrum.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; <Impactika at aol.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 4:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Newcomers and the Meteorite world
>
>
>> A question I have thought about...
>>
>> How many meteorite dealers actually collect meteorites? Im not talking about one or two, Im talking about a nice collection that is not for stock.
>>
>> For me, I see and am finding out more and more dealers that dont actually collect meteorites. This is shocking to me. Perhaps this is due to the fact I am a collector (even if I do sell meteorites, its more to help build my collection) and have been bitten by the meteorite bug.
>>
>> Im sure this may draw some heat, I dont mean for it to, but topics like this seems to bring drama on here...
>> So... here it goes...
>>
>> Why do you dealers sell meteorites that dont have collections? To not collect something implies that you may not have a passion for meteorites that collectors have.
>> Is it for the money? What is it that draws you into the meteorite "field"?
>>
>> I have seen some of the bigger and longtime dealers used to be "treasure hunters" which leads me to think that meteorites were the next treasure for you to seek and get paid off.
>>
>> I ask this not not create problems or drama with this, but out of honest interest in why some of you sell meteorites that dont collect.
>>
>> I got into meteorites purely by accident, but it (anything related to space) was a passion I had since I was a child. Once I found out I could actually own a real meteorite, let alone pieces of the Moon and Mars, It was honestly like a dream come true for me.
>> I only started selling when I quickly found out that without the extra income, I could not afford this addiction I developed.
>> the whole reason I started selling is I couldnt afford the $1000 per gram for the cheapest lunar I could find 3 years ago. Now, its readily available, many types at less then $300 per gram!
>>
>> Hope everyone is doing good and no feelings ruffled from this.
>>
>> Greg Catterton
>> www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
>> IMCA member 4682
>> On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
>> On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites
>>
>>
>> --- On Sun, 8/15/10, Impactika at aol.com <Impactika at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> From: Impactika at aol.com <Impactika at aol.com>
>>> Subject: [meteorite-list] Newcomers and the Meteorite world (was STOLEN meteorites - from Allen Shaw)
>>> To: almitt at kconline.com, swschulz at astrum.com, meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>> Date: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 4:17 PM
>>> Al, and all
>>>
>>> When we got to well over 100 members in all corners of the
>>> globe, we had to
>>> organize, and become a legal entity. There was no choice
>>> there. And yes,
>>> that meant a Code of Ethics, ByLaws, Yearly Elections, but
>>> also a website, and
>>> the Encyclopedia of Meteorites,....etc, and yes that also
>>> meant $20 a year
>>> dues, to pay expenses, and so we could have funds to keep
>>> on growing and
>>> helping newcomers. And we now have 339 members and
>>> applications coming in
>>> everyday..
>>>
>>> Al!! You are more than welcome to come back in the
>>> Association, and I am
>>> sure members would line up to recommend you! I'll be at the
>>> head of the line.
>>>
>>> As for a "group of dealers that have some sort of stamp of
>>> approval and
>>> self governing". Isn't it how the IMCA started some 10
>>> years ago? And you know
>>> what happened when it grew! See paragraph above. Are
>>> you thinking about
>>> doing that all over again?
>>>
>>> Anne M. Black
>>> _http://www.impactika.com/_ (http://www.impactika.com/)
>>> _IMPACTIKA at aol.com_
>>> (mailto:IMPACTIKA at aol.com)
>>>
>>> Vice-President, I.M.C.A. Inc.
>>> _http://www.imca.cc/_ (http://www.imca.cc/)
>>>
>>>
>>> In a message dated 8/15/2010 1:22:29 PM Mountain Daylight
>>> Time,
>>> almitt at kconline.com
>>> writes:
>>> Hi Scott and all,
>>>
>>> There are quite a few good dealers who are not IMCA
>>> members. In fact some
>>> of
>>> the larger, most successful dealers are not. So don't cut
>>> yourself off from
>>> those long time decent dealers. I'd be glad to compose a
>>> list for you. I
>>> belonged at first but decided not to renew when they became
>>> official with
>>> dues and so forth. I believe as a newer person collecting
>>> meteorites it
>>> would be a better choice for your protection.
>>>
>>> Anne has encouraged me to join again and I probably should.
>>> Don't know if I
>>> could find two people to recommend me though :-)
>>>
>>> Perhaps we should have a remaining group of dealers that
>>> have some sort of
>>> stamp of approval and self governing but then in the
>>> beginning that is how
>>> things worked. Since we now seem to get a new dealer of
>>> meteorites about
>>> every month or two, not everyone knows everyone else like
>>> in the good old
>>> days.
>>>
>>> --AL Mitterling
>>>
>>> Mitterling Meteorites
>>>
>>> Mitterling.com
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Schulz" <swschulz at astrum.com>
>>> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 12:13 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] STOLEN meteorites - from
>>> Allen Shaw
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:41 AM, Barry Hughes <bhughes at sneezy.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> >> I am in the crazy newcomer mode of buying.
>>> My wife found a slice in a
>>> >> small box in the garbage yesterday, because she
>>> wanted the box for
>>> >> Christmas gifts. I had thrown it away.
>>> >
>>> > I am relieved to hear that there are others out there
>>> with "crazy
>>> > newcomer" disease. I caught it about a week ago,
>>> and it has hit hard.
>>> >
>>> > On the other hand, it is sad to see that even this
>>> hobby has it's
>>> > share of dishonorable folks. Sad. But I am
>>> glad to see that there
>>> > exists an organization like the IMCA. I know
>>> that logo is the first
>>> > thing I look for once an auction/sale notice catches
>>> my eye.
>>> >
>>> > SwS
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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Received on Mon 16 Aug 2010 03:33:31 AM PDT