This year, it's the oldest of the antiques shows that will be moving. And a late-game development will leave the event one show short of its usual threesome.

The Philadelphia Antiques Show, now in its 47th year, will depart its venerable, if slightly fusty, home at the 33d Street Armory and move to the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal at Pier One in the Navy Yard, 5100 S. Broad St. The new location will be celebrated in the loan exhibit "Fore & Aft - Philadelphia Collects Maritime" during the show's April 12-15 run.

The sunlit historic building, once used for shipyard tasks, is a familiar haunt for local collectors. The site was "discovered" and first used by Frank Gaglio, who held his Philadelphia's Navy Pier Antiques Show there from 2000 to 2003.

When the pier became temporarily unavailable, Gaglio mounted a larger show at the Convention Center for 2004 and 2005. Since 2006, he has managed the Original 23d Street Armory Antiques Show, coming up this year April 13 to 15.

In 2006, a new show - Antiques at Philadelphia's Navy Pier - was put together by Barry Cohen and Jim Burk, who also have worked together on events in York. Their show at the Navy Yard had a roster of 66 dealers last year.

Cohen, who had offered antiques at various venues around the city since 1998 and the old Center City Antiques Show, was happy with his joint venture at the Navy Pier. The announcement that the more powerful Philadelphia Show would take the space this year left his team looking for a new location.

"Philadelphia is probably the toughest major city in America to site an antiques show," said Cohen, who knows the city.

He was particularly distressed when he discovered that he would not be able to use the show space at the 33d Street Armory either.

Cohen and Burk announced a new location for possibly 50 exhibitors, Sherman Mills in East Falls. But new venues have proved difficult to break in, and dealers can be reluctant to change course.

"Not enough of them were willing to risk the move to an untried facility," Cohen said, and the show was canceled earlier this year.

At that time, Cohen said, "our dealers had every right to participate in Philadelphia's Antiques Week."

He later wrote to the dealers, "I believe that bringing this particular show back to Philadelphia was a mission that far outweighed any risk."

The result will be fewer dealers overall this year and a narrower choice of merchandise and price points. Even the competition regrets the fact that many familiar faces will not be around.

Said Gaglio, "The 'Antiques Week' concept works - it's been proven in New Hampshire, New York, Nashville and in this city. I regret that this year very fine antique dealers will not have the opportunity to be part of Antiques Week in Philadelphia."

Gaglio put his finger on a problem that prevents the multiple-show concept from really blooming locally. "For a city the size of Philadelphia," he said, "there are very few appropriate venues for any antiques show to take place. You have to have a minimum of square footage to accommodate at least 40 to 60 exhibitors."

Gaglio's group of 43 dealers are happy on 23d Street, he said, adding, "The nice thing about the little armory is that it has a certain character to it - it's built like a castle."

The Philadelphia Antiques Show's move from its longtime venue results from Drexel University's planned renovation of the 33d Street Armory.

"As announced a number of years ago, the long-term plan is to convert the armory into a multipurpose space that would accommodate men's and women's competitive sports, concerts, and the annual university commencement ceremonies," said Philip Terranova, Drexel's vice president for university relations.

Work has not yet begun, and the space will be empty during this year's Antiques Week, but discussions are under way with architects. When the much-needed renovation is completed, Terranova said, "it becomes a public space that serves not only our students but also the community at large."

Joan Johnson, Philadelphia Antiques Show loan chair and executive board member, said, "We knew this was coming. There was a special committee that started looking four years ago.

"We found all kinds of spaces that couldn't be guaranteed more than a year, and what we needed was continuity," she said. "We don't want to do this move again."

It's no surprise that the committee settled on the tested Navy Pier location. The crowd at next Friday's preview party, however, will see a show with larger booths and fewer dealers than the Cohen/Burk event held there last year.

Easy access from I-95 and parking have always been pluses for the site. Self-parking in a nearby lot will be available for $7. Another benefit is good security for dealers and shoppers.