Reels missing USFA

[sallearmourer]

Some one at San Deigo decided to walk off with two of the USFA reels. That its stealing from all the members of the USFA . The $700.00 dollars going to replace the reels could have been appiled toward a new strips If the person that did it reads this post mailed them back to the USFA it would be nice.


Tim

[MikeHarm]

I think it would be hard for someone to grab some reels and run without anyone noticing in a room full of fencers. Describe where the reels were at the tourney when they were stolen and what type, maybe someone who was fencing at the strip that day who is on here saw something.

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by MikeHarm
I think it would be hard for someone to grab some reels and run without anyone noticing in a room full of fencers. Describe where the reels were at the tourney when they were stolen and what type, maybe someone who was fencing at the strip that day who is on here saw something.

not really. you could just walk in in jeans and a golf shirt and walk out with the reels. everybody would assume you are an armorer....

-m

[edew]

I don't think anyone not associated with fencing has any clue about what reels are of what to do with them or how they're attached to the floor or the strip.

The armorers are all pretty well known to all fencers, since all the fencers have to walk past them at one time or another.

If I have to suspect anyone, I'd point my fingers at coaches who might need a reel or two to complete his or her salle. Fencers themselves wouldn't have any use for reels, unless they're helping out a coach.

A more likely scenario is just an unfortunate misplacement by someone who was not affiliated with fencing. The International Sports Council of San Diego was the local organizer, and they were the one who hired people to set up the strips, tear down the strips, and put equipment in place. Those hired hands have no idea what reels or strips are, and are just told to do this or that. Maybe one didn't get the notice not to move the reels and voila, there it went (into the trash, loaded with other junk, mis-stored in a different container...)

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Originally posted by edew

A more likely scenario is just an unfortunate misplacement by someone who was not affiliated with fencing. The International Sports Council of San Diego was the local organizer, and they were the one who hired people to set up the strips, tear down the strips, and put equipment in place. Those hired hands have no idea what reels or strips are, and are just told to do this or that.

This is a very likely scenario. We arrived at the venue the night before competition started, and there was a large group of very nice, but very confused young Australian visitors there (hired thru the SD Sports Council) installing the strips. They had never seen a strip or a scoring box before, and had no idea how to lay them down. To make matters worse...they allowed that every person who stopped by to show them how to do it was giving them conflicting instructions.

We helped them put down a dozen or so strips, until they seemed to get the hang of it. But, given the somewhat chaotic nature of the set up, if the breakdown was similar, there's probably a box of strip tubes or some other case with misplaced reels in it.

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by edew
The armorers are all pretty well known to all fencers, since all the fencers have to walk past them at one time or another.

well, sure, I know the regulars, but I have also met many training armorers and less well known ones who I wouldn't recognize.

Also, I certainly didn't mean to imply that it was likely. I don't think it is by any means. I agree that it is much more likely that they were misplaced. For one thing, I can't imagine a fencer who would steal reels from the USFA. Most of us are aware of how counterproductive such theft would be.

-m

[sallearmourer]

Well consider the fact that teardown was done by my family and the armourers there was no misplacement of reels. The reels went missing on one of the back strip not being used. All they had to do is walk out the back doors with them


Tim

[edew]

It could have been missing since day one. In that case, it might have been misplaced.

Or, an "enterprising" coach might considered it a valuable addition to his or her club's equipment inventory.

[Zelda]

If it was Aussies setting up who didnt have a clue I'd go with the misplaced thing. Heck we cant organise our way out of a paper bag most of the time!!!

[DHCJr]

I wasn't there, but another way the reel may have got misplaced is referees. Since Tim said this came from a back strip, a referee may have had a problem on their strip and thought it was a reel problem and saw a strip not being used and grabbed from that strip. I have been called to a strip many times because it has no reels. If I look around I find another strip with extra reels.

[edew]

Yes, I have seen many referees at the San Diego NAC doing that, taking one reel out for another, and usually putting the bad reel right next to the good one. But that doesn't explain "missing" since there's still two reels present. It's just that one of them isn't where it's supposed to be.

Many of the reels failed because the clip broke. Many clips were the spring-tongue type, and that piece of metal flew out or something. I'd recommend going with something more substantial which won't break off so easily. The type that comes with the Uhlmann reel originally are all right, but they get bent out of shape after a while.

Lastly, there seemed to be too many sweat-shorts in foil. Too many fencers were shorting out to their lames through their mask or jacket by mid-repechage. Even in the women's events. I think the tolerances on the machines are set to big, and are allowing higher resistance conduction through jacket/mask to the lame to count. Is there a way for armorers to test for that? (Of course, why do I even ask?)

[sallearmourer]

The reels are number and label and knowning how many going out and are return is not that hard to determine. I agree with edew that a club or a coach walk with it. Two reels short on inventory sheets.

Tim

[MikeHarm]

What was the name and number on them? There still is a shot at someone on here being at a club that they showed up at..

[Chris]

Originally posted by epeemike81
not really. you could just walk in in jeans and a golf shirt and walk out with the reels. everybody would assume you are an armorer....

-m

I thought that's why Ron Herman had you guys wereing those stylish orange vests!


Sorry to hear about this.
Were there any identifying marks on them?

[epeemike81]

Originally posted by Chris
I thought that's why Ron Herman had you guys wereing those stylish orange vests!


Sorry to hear about this.
Were there any identifying marks on them?

us guys? not I.

Also, I didn't notice orange vests at Saratoga or Orlando, but that might be me being unobservant.

-m

[Chris]

Originally posted by epeemike81
us guys? not I.

Also, I didn't notice orange vests at Saratoga or Orlando, but that might be me being unobservant.

-m

Well, I guess styles have changed; they seemed all the rage back in 2000

[Inquartata]

Yeah, if you can post any numbers, markings or identifying features those of us who sometimes go to local clubs when travelling can keep an eye out for them. And if whoever has them KNOWS a lot of people are going to be looking, they won't be too comfortable using them, I'd imagine...in which case they're useless and might as well be returned anonymously...

[135711]

there's also the famous:

'is this mine? is this mine? would you please come here and look"
"pack it, it's your's"
"i think you're right"

"oh god, it's not mine"
"ditch it, we're in nevada, we can't go back"
"where"
"over there"
"oh god"

[neevel]

Just to update everyone, Ken Blount (head armorer at San Diego) sent me an e-mail with status on the condition of strips & equipment in preparation for JOs. The two reels in question were found underneath a table during tear-down.

-Dave

[Catal]

Well, well, well... So quick to blame, aren't we? Hmph! Sherlocks you ain't! Ah, ha ha haaaaa!