This week we caught up with one of our swap veterans, Guy Kelly.  Guy has been selling aluminum repair rod on Road 26, Space 32 for&hellip;{"id":5131,"date":"2014-04-01T10:07:09","date_gmt":"2014-04-01T17:07:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/?p=5131"},"modified":"2014-04-01T11:32:25","modified_gmt":"2014-04-01T18:32:25","slug":"guy-kellys-aluminum-repair-rod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/01\/guy-kellys-aluminum-repair-rod\/","title":{"rendered":"Guy Kelly&#8217;s Aluminum Repair Rod"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This week we caught up with one of our swap veterans, Guy Kelly. \u00a0Guy has been selling aluminum repair rod on <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"PSM: Area Map\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/event-info\/swap-meet-area-map\/\" target=\"_blank\">Road 26, Space 32<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0for nearly 25 years. \u00a0If you&#8217;re restoring a classic car, you&#8217;re bound to come across pitting, cracks, holes, or broken seams. \u00a0Whether it&#8217;s pitting in the pot metal, or a crack in a valve cover, your oil pan, radiator, engine block or intake manifold, consider repairing the damage yourself with aluminum repair rod and a propane torch. \u00a0Sometimes it&#8217;s just not worth it to take a part to a professional welder, and Guy&#8217;s aluminum repair rod provides a much more affordable repair method than buying a MIG or TIG welder for your garage. \u00a0We had the chance to learn a little more about Guy and his business:<\/p>\n<p><b>TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF&#8230;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 When and how did you get started in the industry?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 I started selling aluminum repair rod in 1987. \u00a0I started at San Diego swap meets, selling to support myself while taking college courses. \u00a0I was thinking about being a land surveyor, but it was too much math. \u00a0I didn&#8217;t like math so I just kept going to swap meets, then I expanded into car shows and motorcycle shows. Eventually, I started going to big, expensive shows like Ag shows, county fairs, boat shows, and RV shows. \u00a0When my kids were born, I cut back to mostly local shows so I was able to spend time with my family.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 What\u2019s the best part of your job?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 The friends I have made through the years at the different shows, being\u00a0able to travel, and not having to go to a job 9 to 5. \u00a0I like the freedom of being self-employed &amp; the feeling\u00a0of a successful show.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 Have you always been interested in classic cars?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 My first car was a 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente. \u00a0What a piece of junk! \u00a0My dad said, &#8220;I know it\u2019s your money, but my advice is you can do better.&#8221; \u00a0I said, &#8220;Dad, it\u2019s a great car. \u00a0Look, its red with black interior.&#8221; \u00a0After about 2 weeks, I was putting a new short block in and I said, &#8220;Dad, I guess you were right.&#8221; \u00a0My best car was a 1968 Ford Mustang convertible. \u00a0That car was worth it. \u00a0Lots of fun and lots of looks.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 Do you currently own a classic car?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 I\u00a0am not too sure people would consider my project car to be a classic car, but it is unusual. \u00a0I have a 1966 VW Double Cab pickup truck. \u00a0I&#8217;ve had it for 7 years now, and I still haven&#8217;t driven it. \u00a0Lots of things to work on, but I have enjoyed doing\u00a0it. \u00a0So far, I have replaced the steel on the floor, put in all new brakes,\u00a0rubber for the doors &amp; windows, but I still haven&#8217;t got to the expensive stuff: \u00a0tires, shocks, paint, upholstery. \u00a0So like most people, I wish I had more time and lots of money. \u00a0I look forward to being able to take it to the swap meets with me.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 If you won the lottery tonight, what\u2019s the first classic car you would buy?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 A\u00a01957 Chevy Bel Air convertible. \u00a0Red with white interior.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 Any favorite memories of the Pomona Swap Meet that you would like to share with us?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 Since I&#8217;ve been in practically the same space for 23 years, people around me have come &amp; gone. \u00a0I remember most of them and we all had a good time. \u00a0The thing I remember most is standing in the pouring down rain trying to pay my bills!<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 Ford or Chevy?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 Six of one, half a dozen of the other.<\/p>\n<p><b>NOW TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS&#8230;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 How can customers contact you?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0You can call me at <strong>951-306-6444<\/strong> or email me at\u00a0<strong><a href=\"mailto:GRK@Gmail.com\">GRK@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 What exactly do you sell?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 I sell a low temperature repair rod for aluminum. \u00a0It works like a brazing or soldering process, so you can make repairs with a propane torch.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 How long have you been in business?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 I started in 1987, and went full-time in March 1990.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 What is your main focus?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 Sales and customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 What makes you stand out?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 Whether at the show or on the phone, I try to answer all of the questions that a customer has, and I help however I can, so that my product is used correctly. \u00a0I have been selling aluminum repair rod for 25 years now and I still meet people every show who have never seen it before.<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 How long have you been selling at Pomona?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 The first time I came to Pomona was April 17, 1988. \u00a0Spaces were $18 and general admission was $3.75. \u00a0I still have the flyer. \u00a0I don&#8217;t remember how much money I made. \u00a0It must have been lots, because I keep coming back and so do the customers!<\/p>\n<p><b>PSM:<\/b>\u00a0 Anything else that customers should know?<br \/>\n<b>GK:<\/b>\u00a0 I would like to thank anyone who has stopped by my booth and talked to me. \u00a0I always appreciate your business. \u00a0And a big thanks to the people of the Pomona Swap Meet, past &amp; present, for having a winning formula for a swap meet and for making it better through the years.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">And we would like to thank Guy, not only for taking the time to talk with us, but for helping to make the <strong><a title=\"PSM: Event Info\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/event-info\/car-show-hours-dates\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Pomona Swap Meet &amp; Classic Car Show<\/span><\/a><\/strong> a success! \u00a0For more information on aluminum repair rod, call Guy at 951-306-6444 or come see a demonstration in Pomona. Guy will be on <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"PSM: Area Map\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/event-info\/swap-meet-area-map\/\" target=\"_blank\">Road 26, Space 32<\/a><\/span><\/strong>!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>P.S. \u00a0Yes, Guy, your 1966 VW Double Cab is a classic, and we can&#8217;t wait to see it!<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-5131 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/01\/chemical-guys\/apr-2014-studabaker-26\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-26.jpg?fit=750%2C529&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-26.jpg?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-26.jpg?resize=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5118'>\n\t\t\t\tGuy&#8217;s brazing demonstration in action.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/01\/chemical-guys\/apr-2014-studabaker-27\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-27.jpg?fit=750%2C529&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-27.jpg?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-27.jpg?resize=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5119'>\n\t\t\t\tFilling holes or cracks is a breeze with his brazing rods.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/01\/chemical-guys\/apr-2014-studabaker-24\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-24.jpg?fit=750%2C529&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-24.jpg?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-24.jpg?resize=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5116'>\n\t\t\t\tGuy showed us some of his vintage PSM flyers from when he first started vending.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/01\/chemical-guys\/apr-2014-studabaker-23\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"529\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-23.jpg?fit=750%2C529&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-5115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-23.jpg?w=750&amp;ssl=1 750w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-23.jpg?resize=300%2C211&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-5115'>\n\t\t\t\tHe&#8217;s also very knowledgeable about all kinds of metal&#8230; so don&#8217;t hesitate to ask questions!\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":5117,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[1151,1164,1154,1150,1149,1156,443,1152,444,1160,465,1159,12,1161,1168,1165,1158,1153,1167,1166,44,1162,1163,1155,1157],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Apr-2014-Studabaker-25.jpg?fit=750%2C529&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9nnZN-1kL","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5131"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5188,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions\/5188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}