Avitas

Hi Larry and Paul, Yes I got a new Mac Mini, it is pretty sweet for the price! Finally got that high speed going! My dealer mentioned he thought the top two were private purchase but definitely TR period, so the private railway could make sense. Any one else have any ideas? At work so gotta go! Later, Pat

Thanks Hardy for the links! I don't read much German so if anyone has a quick translation summary of their action that would be very helpful (or if anyone using Safari for a browser knows how to translate a page). Thanks, Pat

Perhaps he was a Dutch volunteer? Or just someone in Germany with a Dutch last name. There are many pics, many showing the Benz-like cars mentioned earlier in formation and being repaired and pulled out of mucky roads. Really nice piece of early army history. Does anyone know anything about this regiment? Thanks, Pat

..the reverse of the Flak-Artillerie, marked "Mc 1...D.R.G.M...Flak-Artillerie" for the records. Later, Pat

Here is my Flak-Artillerie example. The painter of this example looks like he was enjoying a beverage or 8 before he began his work...

reverse of Jager..

Finally upgraded my computer system, so here are my lowly examples. The navy one sold before I could pick it up! Anyways, here they are. First one marked "Jager 22 su." on the back.

Here is the reverse, any comments are welcome! Pat

Hello, here is my latest KVK (still going through a bunch of stuff I haven't been able to post until I got my new MAC, its good to be back!) for your consumption. A pretty average early KVK 2 civilian version. Enjoy! Pat

(note: the ring shown is from the 39 ek2 I posted today, should help with sizing). Here is the back of the armshield. Thanks for any comments. Pat

Hello Gents and Ladies, I picked this one up on the outside chance it was an original. It appears to be made out of copper/bronze. It has turned blackish around the edges (aging?) It does not match any of the known fakes I have searched out on the net, so I was wondering if anyone knows about this NSKK Sternfahrt 1933 Breslau Armshield. I know it is fairly rare, and it anyone has an example to show that would be a great help. Pat

Just bumping this one up, I think it is a pretty unique piece, anyone have any comments on it? Thanks in advance, Pat

Last post for now, the reverse of the Pay group official collar tab. Comments on any or all are appreciated! Pat

Last Reichsbahn collar tab of the day, this one I believe is for some kind of Pay official. If anyone can ID it that would be excellent. It appears to have had the piping removed for some reason. This one does have a swastika and the Reichsbahn insignia. Does anyone know why the police tabs have no swas and this one does? Thanks in advance! Pat

...and the reverse of the 3 oak leave Railway Police tab.

Here is the second Reichsbahn rail police collar tabs, this one with 3 oak leaves on each side of the Reichsbahn insignia, again no swastika. They both look like original period pieces to me. Any helpful info is great! Thanks, Pat

And here is the reverse of the first railway police collar tab...

Hi there, I am not an expert on the Reichsbahn insignia and I haven't been able to find much information on them. I got them from a knowledgable dealer and he was able to shed a few bits of info, but anything anyone can add or correct would be great. First up is a Reichsbahn rail police collar tab with 2 oak leaves on each side and no swaztika. I haven't found any good info on the different ranks so if anyone could provide a link that would be great. Pat

And here is the reverse, a fair bit of patina on this one, but I won't touch any silver polish or anything, I wish all medals would keep their original patina. Thanks, Pat

Hello all, Thought I would show this recently acquired EK2 by J.E. Hammer & Sohn (maker marked 55 on the ring). It is in fairly good shape and I am confident in its originality. Any comments or other examples of maker 55 are very welcome. Here is the front. Thanks, Pat

Good point on getting out of East Germany, any comments on the details of conversion? It was probably done in the 50s or 60s if not the 40s, just wondering if anyone has any technical advice on the method of the conversion as it does appear it was done long ago. Thanks, Pat

Just an addition, I would be 100% sure the gentleman was a German immigrant based on his East German Uniform (from the '60s I believe) and the ww2 era Russian bayonet would make the story make sense. Again, I have no reason to believe the man was making up a story as I already bought it before I asked about the origins of it (it was a good price for an original Modello Z regardless of the conversion) so he would have no reason to make it up, and his last name was Otto as well (lots of Ottos in Western Canada).

Just the story from the previous owner (who by in no way were collectors or anything). They had his fathers helmet (this one), a Russian Bayonet and the East German uniform which all belonged to his father (a german immigrant to Canada, no details, but his name is Dieter Otto.) My curiosity on the helmet comes from the authentic aging and decal of the helmet, plus the details I mentioned earlier and my research online on this particular type of helmet. I haven't seen an example quite like this one yet. Hopefully more light can be shed. Pat

Just the story from the previous owner (who by in no way were collectors or anything). They had his fathers helmet (this one), a Russian Bayonet and the East German uniform which all belonged to his father (a german immigrant to Canada, no details, but his name is Dieter Otto.) My curiosity on the helmet comes from the authentic aging and decal of the helmet, plus the details I mentioned earlier and my research online on this particular type of helmet. I haven't seen an example quite like this one yet. Hopefully more light can be shed. Pat

Ok, here is the last pic, of the other side of the helmet. So what are your thoughts? It was definitely converted but I think the wear etc. could point to the conversion being done late-war. Many other countries helmets (French, Czech etc helmets) were converted for civilian and non-front line personnel. I got this (and a high ranking East German Border Guards Medical officers uniform) off of the son of the supposed owner of this helmet and uniform whom I also assume was a German Army medical officer or something similar in ww2 as well. This could be the valid explanation for the conversion and light wear that would accompany a medical official who didn't visit the front very often. This is what I was told from the son. The owner of the helmet and uniforms name was Dieter Otto if anyone has research links. This obviously isn't a M42/79 refurb and by the looks of everything the conversion wasn't done any time recently. Thanks in advance for any help on this piece. By the way, I didn't spend authentic German M42 money for this either, just slightly over what an original Spanish wartime M42 usually goes for. It's good to be back! Pat