Avitas

...and the close up details. Thanks, Pat

Thanks for the detailed info! On a related note, would it be better to store this in a sealed airtight baggie or a loose box then? One would assume an airtight bag would be the best choice to minimize oxygen exposure. Anyways, here is the best scan I could come up with with my crappy new HP scanner (it can't manage to focus anything unless it is 100% flat!, unlike my old Agfa) of the Narvik shield (came in today) and a couple better pics of the details. Any ideas on a maker? Thanks again for all the help, I will look more into the vasoline idea. Pat

Thanks Justin and yes Barry is a great guy and has some amazing stuff that I'll never be able to afford! I've bought a few items off him and have been very satisfied. So for the vasoline treatment do you just rub a small amount of it on the corroded parts then? I have never done this so any tips are welcome. Later, Pat

Found a floorplan for a quaint cottage including all plumbing in the pocket of a DDR Medical Officers uniform. Looked like a nice little retreat! (I'll have to dig out the original and scan it if anyone is interested!) Later, Pat

This is what I expected, but I haven't really seen any proof that this conversion was done pre or post ww2 by the details mentioned. Any points to ponder and compare would be a great help in determining this one (it is labeled as a 1942 era Spanish Z conversion). At any rate, the decal has been on there a while and maybe this is an early movie piece or something, just doesn't make much sense why someone would convert this helmet so long ago (when originals were VERY affordable) for any purpose other than being the poor guy in a biker gang or a movie prop. Any further technical help is greatly appreciated! Thanks for the info! Pat

Any comments at all on this one? All info is welcome! Pat Go Penguins Go! (sorry in advance for being off topic!)

Hello, great thread! This ones in the mail, looks almost identical to the zincer in post 71, but with a little more salty flavour! The "4" plainly gives it away with the long curved top on the four. I don't know but I just like these period worn corroded pieces more than the unissued/unworn "mint" versions out there. Any agreement or disagreement out there? Sorry about the pics, I will post my own scans when it arrives (hopefully in a couple days) to add to this great thread! Later, Pat

From what I've seen out there I think this one is a good one, albeit not as rare as I initially thought. It has the right material and construction from what I can tell so I am led to believe it is a good one. Does anyone have any info on these shields? thanks, Pat

Thanks for showing your examples, look like mine alright. Any more out there? Pat

Any ideas on this one? Pat

Hmmm, so I need to bribe a doctor to x-ray my medal! That would be very cool as I can't really make out anything besides a bunch of scratches where the name was. The bars are all original to the medal so it would be nice to know. If anyone knows of someone with a connection please let me know. Thanks! Pat

I have mine in acid-free plastic hockey card sheets and then put in a binder. You can get full 8 by 11 sheets for the larger insignia or get them divided up into 9 sections (hockey card size) which works well for chest eagles etc. This is a safe way to keep the elements away from 70 year old cloth. Cheers, Pat

Hence the whistle , a little tongue in cheek indeed... Thanks for all the responses, Pat

Duly noted Darrell I was messing around with my new scanner so if you need a better scan of something please ask (Officers eagle?). Thanks again and it's good to be able to post again and not be a silent observer anymore! Pat

Here is a couple pics of the engraving on both sides of the blade. The maker mark is only on the one side, sorry no pic of the mm right now, but I can get one if you want. Again, any info is appreciated! Pat

Hello again, I am still going through a few items I picked up over the last year or so that I have been unable to post pics of due to my old computer. Here is my birthday present to myself in 2008, a ww1 Bavarian Officers sword with a more stylish? hilt construction. I saw one almost identical to this one on the Australia war museum archives with a different engraving. I think these were a Bavarian option on the design, perhaps made post ww1 as a show/parade piece, but it could have been wartime. It has a beautiful engraving of the Bavarian coat of arms and the blade is in exceptional shape. It is marked with the back to back squirrels and the CE of the Carl Eickhorn company. I would appreciate any further expertise on this sword and any comments are welcome. Here are some pics. Thanks, Pat

Thanks guys for the comments, Darrell, are you talking about the Officer's eagle or the first post cloth eagle? Just wanted to clarify as they both have a blue backing. How does the Officers Bullion one look to you gents? Thanks again, Pat

Thanks Naxos, I was way off! Guess I have a lot of work to do on my translations...Any comments on the plaque? Cheers, Pat

Thanks Darrell and Ed for the info, I knew in the back of my mind about the obverse/reverse thing but somehow it makes more sense to have the Monarch on the back I paid less than market value for it (170 Canadian dollars, not sure if that is a fair price for this example) and it was sold as an introductory medal to the QSA's. The dealer has a couple more named examples that he is asking almost twice as much for. Also, out here in Western Canada it is almost impossible to find any selection of reference books, if anyone knows of a good source please let me know. I have the Medal Yearbook which has some prices mentioned but that is it for British books for me. I just wanted an example to accompany my ww2 and ww1 British medals, maybe I'll delve deeper in this area in the future. Thanks, Pat

Here is another pic of the details... Pat

Hello all, I recently picked up this very large wall plaque commemorating the 100th Birthday (If he would have lived that long) of Kaiser Wilhelm I. It has the inscription which translates loosely to "I exist only in the time I was chosen" or something close to that (if someone can provide a more accurate translation please do.) It is approximately 18" by 12" in size and the wood has been split from age. It has some excellent metal work on the plaque with a huge centerpiece. My main question is where would this have been used? Is it a private piece or perhaps some sort of wall plaque that would hang in a government or municipal office of some kind? Also, are these very common, I have seen medals commemorating this date but no other plaque like this one in my searches. Any and all comments and info are great! Pat

Next one I am not sure about, my experience isn't refined enough to have a solid thumbs up for it,but it does match another one I have that has been confirmed original. Any Kriegsmarine insignia experts have any comments on this one or the Officers eagle? Thanks, Pat

A belated thanks for the replies! I have a couple more Kriegsmarine Eagles to show. First up is an Officers bullion eagle. I think it is a good one as the construction is extremely detailed and has proper aging. Any opinions on this one? Thanks, Pat

Here is the reverse of the Type 2 Boer War Medal. I wish the name hadn't been erased, but at least its a nice example. Thanks, Pat

Hello Gents, I picked up my first QSA about a month ago and I thought I would test out my new (and inferior to my old AGFA) scanner. This example has had the name erased which seems to be somewhat common, and has the Transvaal, Driefontein, Paardeberg, and Modder River clasps. This medal is the type 2 version and has faint ghosting of the date. Any comments are welcome. Thanks, Pat