grimble-nibitz

Thank you...can you tell me just what they are, IE regiment or branch of service, and is my guess as to the date correct, perhaps middle 1800's?

These came with 2 late 1800's German tunics, and another set of brass boards...I had a Saxon WWI Uhlan tunic which carried paddles that looked vaguely like this, does anyone know what these are, or if they are in fact NOT German? The border, as you may have guessed, is a snake sort of thing with little heads at the ends. Very odd, and from the manufacture and button they appear to be circa 1840-60 period. Thanks in advance.

There is always a new way to get burned, love how I was told it came "right out of the estate". Sucka!

Can anyone tell me what this is, or what this is SUPPOSED to be, I cannot find out anything, and it came with WWII bringback souvenirs from a NH soldier, with German flag, badges, and etc. Its about the size of an iron cross...any help will be GREATLY appreciated!

RNAS eagle must be silver or with remnants of silver plating, and smaller...this one is a full "sprig" too wide on each end. I have seen multiple examples of RAF eagles on naval bands, mainly to create WWI RNAS hats. Its also definately a WWII or later hat, appears to be rayon lining, no quilting, and either way, WWI did not use rayon (not invented) and unquilted lining. The crown is to big for WWI era. The leather visor is a bit to big. ANd the chinstrap is also not quite right. WWI era caps have very tight weave 'melton' type wool, 'boiled wool' so called, that seldom shows any 'fuzzies' at all, this is just a standard RN hat from WWII with an RAF eagle added. Several of these have been run on ebay in the last 3 years, appearing as WWI RNAS hats.

Should have said that the soldier was in ETO, France the Germany. ??

This came with material brought back in WWII by a NH soldier, and I have NO idea what it is...its about the size of an iron cross and appears to have cyrillic writing around a head that resembles Nicholas II, any ideas? Thanks in advance for the help!

This wing is sewn to a nice WWI Gabardine maternity jacket, it seems quite simple with no dots over the crown, and is on khaki...was this a normal occurence or is it known to anyone?

In an aviation lot, I obtained a RFC Officer tunic, cuff rank. It is named and dated to J B Davies. I pulled up his medal card, and it has the North Staffordshire Regiment and RFC/RAF listed. No dates, minimal info. It says "No Medals, not eligible" It is so neatly done that it looks like a later card. The tunic has the trio ribbons, and being loose at one end, the material is much darker under them, they have been there always. There are also Canada officer bullioin tabs, also loose and also with dark material under them. The tunic has been upgraded to Capt.: Did this man emigrate to Canada and therefore NOT get medals from the UK? Did he serve in some way in the North Staff's and have a later card done that refers to his RFC service as "no medals"...was he a trainer in the UK or Canada? Cannot find anything, help! Wing is missing, by the way and I would love to find a nice worn one, from shadow it was 4.5 inches wide.

Here is a shot of the whole bar. It came with German, US and Canadian/British stuff.

This comes from a Vermont antique shop, and strikes me as highly unusual. They seem to have been unissued, as there are no issue #s. They are numbered at bottoms on back 1-4. All on a silver plated bar marked "depose". The central figures are all soldered (braised?) in place, like early French medals. I wonder about the year of them, and if the style of construction makes them museum displays, etc. I bet one of you knows more about this than me. HELP!

As for the poor boy's age, they seemed to want to look older, and dealing with images for about 20 years (thats how I found this) I would say he is 20 or 25 trying to look 35, and balding, and a quantity of hair oil has helped him a few years along.

Came from Brattleboro area and anonymously, sadly. No info on exactly where. This is extreme southern VT. The name is in all impressed capitals, and is original to the medal. The image is an ambrotype, clear glass with black paint or varnished backing, so its circa 1855-65. Probably later in that range, as its not a ruby glass style, which were the first used c. 1855-60. Not a tintype, and is consistent with the 1866 era, give or take 5 years. I assume ambrotypes were used in Canada longer than the US, where we seem to want what is new before it even comes out! People seemed to pay little attention to correct initials at that time, or they get copied and lok like something else to someone. The name you found is most likely him, but there is no family left to tell for sure, it was a final cleanout.

Super item from a Vermont estate, I got this today. I love it, and would like to know more about the man and the unit. Rim stamped "GNR J E KING MONT. GARR. ARTY.". I know its to a gunner and for the Montreal Garrison Artillery, but know nothing about them, and if there is a way to find out about this man and how he came to the US. The value of this Canadian stuff seems to have jumped beyond catalogs and I wonder the rarity of these. Oh well, I'm sure one of you who knows more than I will be informative! Enjoy!

Thank you for the useful information! I appreciate the efforts. Interesting possibilities, sad there is no name and so the best (and the dullest as well) of fantasies can live in this outfit!

I assume it would have had a thin black leather chinstrap on the hat, but who knows? It had chinstrap buttons for sure. Attached is the imagery associated with the cards from the pocket of the coat. One image is of the fronts, and the other is the rear of one, with some kind of notation. Any idea what it says? Thanks in advance! I am certainly pleased with it, for sure. I have never seen or heard of another one.

I should also note that the hat buttons were gone, thread only remaining, and I used 2 prong back Frencvh officer buttons from a WWI kepi for replacements, but this may be wrong. Tell me if this is the case please! What was the chinstrap made of, leather or bullion tape or cord?

I posted these images on the MCF, and I must say that they seem to have some folks there who have most of their knowledge in their mouths...or their keyboard fingers. I got told it was converted from soviet parts...oh well, some of us out there know 'old' and some don't! These stripes are early metallic lace, the end of one is frazzled off a bit. All three match each other. So did the guys on the Western Front wear anything different than the officers at home? The appearance of these stripes makes me think this guy was not in Russia in 1917, or was a real stickler for rules. If he was in France, I see they fought well into 1918 as a unit, and the wearing of these, considering the late date of the insignia, would make more sense, to me at least. But I am biased. I know this is all real, but I just don't know where it was used! There are 2 business cards in the pocket, but someone told me they are in Serbian or Bulgarian, not Russian. Can anyone out there read that?

Thank you much for the information! Now...is there anything about this, understanding the stripes are 'wound' and not French Rank Eq., that would show this to be from the German/Russina front or the Western 'French' front? I know that there were very few Russian officers sent to the western front in the end. Thanks again in advance!

That second image is exactly what is on the coat. I wish I could read russian, I will try to get it to a freind that does some online translation. Thanks ever so much for the help, this is quite helpful!

Here is a closeup of the boards, no # and seems to show no signs of anything else ever there. 3 small bullion stars.

I recently got this wonderful REF uniform, including off white top hat with French style visor, tunic with 5 buttons and soft and very wide rank boards and blue riding pants with red striping on the legs. It is all made at the same time, and shows some age. Can anyone tell me exactly what rank this is, if the stripes on the cuff are French equivalent rank of some kind and anything about these guys and what guide there is as to the format and rules of their uniforms. Also, would like to put a russian medal of some appropriate kind with it, and I am sure a higher ranking officer like this would have had one...but what? I thank you all in advance!

Also...what does this mean, rifle brigade...is it a highland rifles unit or militia or what? Maybe I am too used to the WWI and later rigid regiment system...what unit is this, or is it just the 1st Bn. Rifle Brigade? Where in England or Scotland or ?? were they from I would like to read up about them and do not know what to search for online.

I appreciate this information very much, the idea of paying $25 every fifteen minutes for research at the British National Archives did not sound good, I ought to go into civil service, although in the US, what you get is a bureaucratic maze, and the chance to be mugged or killed in Washington DC. I will stay in New Hampshire, thank you. Where did you get this info?

That web site that listed past sales was great, and I shall surely use it again. Thanks! What course can I take to see if this man was entitled to this number of clasps, as rifle brigades do qualify, so its not out of the question. Thanks in adavance.