Spasm

A couple of medallions. What are these for? The translation sems to be for being prepared, were these given out by the ministry of war for having your suitcase packed and ready to go. Don't really know what the second one is for either, seems to have a blank on the reverse ready for naming. Any ideas gents.

Here's one but with a slider

I like his comments on your feedback

"I would hardly call a couple of random comments from unknown people with no credentials who have only seen photos conclusive proof of anything, buyers remorse is what i call it. Even so perhaps you should contact *********** who sold it to me as original or perhaps whoever sold it to him...as i bought it as original and merely resold the item on. My overwhelmingly positive feedback speaks for itself your negative feedback does not bother me."

liar, liar, pants on fire

I hate this. Not that it's any consolation but I've been done and ended up with worthless junk in a similar manner a few times.

Why do dealers do this? I know its greed but surely they get a rep and no one buys from them after a while. This keeps me away from some fairs on this side of the pond as I'll remember the dealer who did me and I don't want to see him again. These aren't mistakes, it's robbery, pure and simple.

Troy, I'm sorry mate but you're not alone.

Otter, I agree with you. I'd like to name these f*****s and help put them out of business. Every time I buy something now I'm going to ask for a card or contact details. I'll invite them round for afternoon tea at my house.

Yes, seems as though the jury is out on designation. Probably just an M42 produced without vents to quicken things up or not actually finished in the factory. No idea how this ended up in France as the factory was overrun by the Russians I believe.

Paintworks are by me. Most of them are close to death as they are more hole than helmet. But I like to give them a bit of history based on where they were found (If that info is available).

Hopefully brought back to life to be cared for a bit longer in someone's collection

By the way, this is how they will end up

Most relics have no remains of manufacturer, size or batch numbers but this one does (I've tried to enhance the picture so that the stamp can be seen more clearly....... ahem)

It's a cKl64 batch 3248. I have no helmet books so have had to rely on t'tinternet where these have been called an M1945. Although there's no written proof, these were either manufactured incorrectly and in a rush or done just after the war. Nothing clear other than one site saying they were all 66cm - this is clearly a 64cm.

Here's the inside

Oooops

You can clearly see there's no vent. I had a proper dig for it as well as they are normally filled in with mud, rust etc. Here's the other side

While going through them to clean, protect etc to give them new life, I found this one

Ok, so I started off with a pile of relic helmets like this

Chaps and Chapesses

I recently aquired a relic helmet with no vents. Blimey. I originally thought it was a M1942 with the outurned rim. On closer inspection the rear rim is stamped cKl64 (Eisenhuttenwerke in Thale) size 64cm.

Checking out various very knowledgeable sites there seems to be a train of thought that these are M1945s and were only manufactured in a size 66cm. There seems to be dispute as to whether they are reproductions or extremely rare mis-manufactured late war helmets.

What do I do, chaps and chapesses, throw it away or guard it with my life?

Spaz

Noel

Thanks very much - I wish I knew you then. When you next talk to Paul R can you say I'll get onto his photo soon. (Been playing with the bikes, sorry (I tend to flitter about as the interest takes me (In between going to work))) I have one medal bar picture to finish, Mervyn's policeman beating up a few robbers (I have the picture in my head, its just figuring how it should look) and his vet picture (trying to get photoshop to do what I'd like it to do rather than it doing what it wants to).

Unfortunately no, there's no clue to numbers anywhere

And here's the officer, obviously very relieved that the smoking competitions are over and gets to keep the cannabis growing on each side of his dugout. (Note that this bloke is either very big or his revolver is very small).

Cheers

Spaz

And again, 4th from left in the final of the trench warfare pipe smoking competition.

Again, second from the left in a trench smoking fags competition

Here he is on the left

The photos measure a weeny teeny 55mm by 40mm and are as clear as a bell

This is our hero

Gents

Found this today tucked away in the corner of a for sale box of stuff. It measures a weeny 95mm by 85mm.

Welcome Noel, you'll like it here :rolleyes:

Thank you all so very much unfortunately I just "doodle for fun" when I have the time. Just started on a WW1 Austro Hungarian 5 medal bar group thingy. Cor, the Iron Cross took ages.

Will post the drawings as I get them done.

Strapper - where's yours? Come along........

Mervyn and Paul, I will get on to yours, honest :whistle:

Merv

Here's a close up showing the paw print. I upload at around 120k so there wouldn't be enough detail to see on the posts, particularly on the smaller pictures. let me know if you would like a bigger size and I can send you one by e-mail