Brian Wolfe

Here's a shot of the tip.

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday while my wife was in a local Quilting Shop I visited a small Antiques Mall just down the street and found this African Spear. I don't actually collect such items but being a collector...well you know the rest.

The price was attractive and that all I needed to bring it home, that and I had to borrow money from my wife as I was a dollar short.

I have seen these spear points in photos of warriors years ago but I can't seem to locate the book at the moment. The photo I remember showed several warriors in a group all carrying two or more spears. At least one of the warriors was carrying a spear such as this one with a flaired tip. After a long evening of searching the internet I came up empty. Would any of the members be able to identify the origins of this spear point?

It is 26 inches long with the flaired tip being 2 inches wide. The socket would take a 3/8 inch shaft. There are designs cut into the steel in the form of lines. This seems to be well made but it could very well be a tourist item though if it is it is well made. I am suspicious of this being real due to the small socket but knowing next to nothing about such items I leave it to you to decide.

I would like to know where this comes from (Tribe etc.), is it an original and what is it called and what was this type of point used for (cerimonial, mark of rank etc.).

Your assistance is much appreciated.

Cheers

Brian

The more I looked at your post the more in awe I became. What a fantastic undertaking.

Thanks for this great post.

Cheers

Brian

An exceptional collection. As always it was a pleasure to read your post and view items from your collection.

Thanks for posting them.

Cheers

Brian

It is a shame the original base is missing, however, it looks just fine the way it is. It reminds me of the ancient busts one sees in museums. If you were responsible for the new base let me compliment you on a job well done.

Cheers

Brian

Nice digs.

Cheers

Brian

Hello Everyone.

I pick up this postcard today showing the Vickers Predictor in use during WW II.

The back of the card reads,

"Predictor - The Vickers Predictor is an ingenious mechanised contrivance for determining the course and future position of hostile aircraft. It transmits the information automatically to dials on the A.A. gun."

The Predictor is not shown too well in the photo as the Royal Artillery members are blocking the view.

It was leading edge tehcnology in its day which was needed due to the ever faster aircraft they were trying to knock out of the sky.

Cheers

Brian

Many thanks fellows.

I will inform the museum that they have German gun and not a French one on my next visit.

Cheers

Brian

Here's a photo of the breach area. I was taking this photo "into" the sun so it is not as good as I would like.

Cheers

Brian

Here's a view of the business end.

Note the decay on the section below the barrel. What a shame that this artifact is rotting away.

Brian

Here's a view from behind the howitzer.

Hello Everyone,

Here is another artillery piece, this time a British 105mm Howitzer, that sits out side at the Canadian Military Heritage Museum in Brantford, Ontario. It is showing some decay from being outside and there are no funds to restore and/or preserve it. I wonder how my wife would feel if it just "followed me home" one day?

Too bad it's not for sale.

Cheers

Brian

Now this is what I base my opinion (uneducated as it is) that this is a German gun. The German short form of number, I believe, is Nr. which differs from that used by the French.

What do you think?

Cheers

Brian

Here's another view of the front of the gun. I believe the areas to the right and left of the barrel are for the crew to sit while the piece is in transit. I would have thought this feature would have disappeared by 1918. I base that on pure speculation.

My next photo will show the breach markings that makes me think this is German.

Cheers

Brian

Here's another view. The tail is starting to rust away and the wooden parts of the wheels are starting to show decay. There are few things the bring tears to my eyes, the Last Post played on Remembrance Day and an artifact rotting away just about sums up my soft spots. What a shame.

Brian

Hello Everyone,

While at my favourite musuem I took some phtoos of the items that are sitting outside. The musuem lacks the funds to restore the items stored outside which is very sad to me. This particular piece is starting to rust away and there is no hope for it. Man, would I love to restore it and place it in the wooded area behind my house. Alas, it is not for sale.

The Chairman of the musuem said this is a French piece and made that determination based on the artillery piece being a 75mm. He says that the Germans never used a 75mm. I couldn't tell the gauge as I had no way to measure it and there were no such marking on the gun. I think it is German based on the markings that are on the breach and that the French 75mm had additional metal pieces on the end of the barrel giving them a quite distinctive look. I don't like to argue with those who are a lot more versed in the topic so I am asking the membership to comment.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Cheers

Brian

Here another view.

Cheers

Brian

The bike.

Hello Everyone,

This is the last motorcycle I'll post from the Canadian Military Heritage Museum's collection, unless they aquire more military bikes in the future. The rest of the collect, while every interesting, would not fit in this forum.

Cheers

Brian

This photo I took just as I was about to ride off (only kidding).

Cheers

Brian

Another view.

Now the bike.

Here's another motorcycle in the Canadian Military Heritage Museum's collection.

The museum is located in Brantford, Ontario. If you're ever in the Brantford area it really is worth checking out.

Cheers

Brian

Here's another view.

All of the bikes in their collection are in running condition. There are a lot more than I will post on our forum as most are not military related.

Brian

Now for the actual bike.