Brian Wolfe

Hello again.

I have been searching through past posts and here is the link to the question I had asked about my TWM.

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=42850&st=0&p=396374&hl=+turkish%20+star&fromsearch=1&#entry396374

I have also added new photos here just for reference (in case other members want to see what I am talking about without checking out the link).

Regards

Brian

I'm no expert and still don't have one of these in my collection; though I've come close a couple times (usually out-bid or too high a price). It's on my want list, but not a high priority; so, I'm willing to wait. So, therefore, I wouldn't take a chance on this one; my spider senses just don't feel right - I'd keep waiting.

I just don't like the pin (do those grooves suggest the original pin has been replaced). The crack on the back is undesirable and as noted by Kev - this doesn't show up as an issue with the enamel on the front - makes one wonder. And I just don't like the color of the front; shouldn't it be more silver?

Like I said - I'm no expert - but I'd pass on this one considering there are a lot more specimens out there...

I'm also no expert, however, the lack of silver finish is not a concern to me as this was probably a matter of over polishing. I posted a similar one a number of months ago and members with a lot more expertise than me were of that opinion. Having said that, and remembering that I am not an expert, I would tend to shy away from this one due to what I am seeing on the reverse. I was not aware these were being copied and if they are then this one would be one that was very well done. The enamel seems to be of top quality. I hate sitting on the fence! One side of me says go for it and the other says RUN AWAY! I hope the other members will weigh in on this debate.

Regards

Brian

Now this is what I think the GMIC is all about.

A great bit of history and a very nice medal indeed.

Please keep us posted if you find out more, Mervyn.

Regards

Brian

Hello Peter,

Just an observation.

It would seem that the likelihood of an explosion while attempting to produce an explosive compound or any such similar endeavour increases exponentially with the number of video devices in close proximity times the number of alcohol beverages consumed.

Video cameras X number of brews = Youtube

Regards

Brian

Hello Anthony,

I'd like to add my welcome to the forum as well.

While my input is more of a comment to Mervyn's post I hope it may help in the quest for the answer to your question.

I did a very short search on the internet for "serfontein" and it came up as a sir name. That would make sense especially with the initals P D and in the light of Meryvn's comment that it would not be Police Department. My first though was, provided Serfontein was a town, that PD was something like a Postal District but finding only submissions on the interenet stating this is a sir name I am left with the impressin that this is a name of a person.

A very interesting medallion and I wonder if this was part of a pair, the other with King Edward on it. What is on the reverse?

Regards

Brian

I have repaired medals with the mounting rings off before but it is a tricky business and unless you are very good with solder I would not recommend it. My wife's nephew is a jewelery designer and maker and one of the few real watch makers left and when I asked him for tips he surprised me with his answer. Since any medal in a collection will probbaly never be worn he suggested using epoxy (Super Glue is probably the same thing) and I have used this method with great results. Even though it is not solder you still must be very careful otherwise the repair will be seen but with a steady hand and only using a very small amount you will have a repair that will not show up. Black light will always show up a repair by the way.

The other method is, of course, take it to a professional.

Regards

Brian

hello there.

i have been looking at all the different posts of all kind of tinnies,and find it very great and interesting,so here is some pictures of my collection of tinnies.

http://www.jesperskou.dk/32983590

greetings jesper/denmark

http://www.jesperskou.dk

Hello Jesper,

Welcome to the forum.

You have a very impressive collection thank you for sharing the images of it with us.

Regards

Brian

Brian - I want to congratulate you on starting this thread - which has just exceeded 9000 posts. For that many on a Forum such as Police must be exceptional and, I am pleased to see, that the majority have covered subjects of interest to us all.

Strangely enough I have always found that our Specials have more interest in Police History than the Regulars. Perhaps it is because many Specials have never been able to actually join and for the older Regulars it has become just a job ? When my book was first published back in 1985 it was the Specials who got excited about our history.

I feel that this subForum will become a standard reference for the history on Specials and their equipment - and with Kevin adding so many good Orders and Regs. - I for one, know a lot more about their progressive history. Mervyn

Thank you Mervyn,

When I started this thread I had no idea it would catch on as it has. A while back I asked Nick to change the title from a personal collection thread to a generic title as the members soon made it theirs, and I could not be happier. Many thanks to all of the members who have made this what it is today.

Regards to all,

Brian

If I were going to purchase potassium nitrate I'd look for it at a garden supply store. It's used in fertilizer.

As far as making your own gunpowder, it's easier said than done. Mixture has to be exact as well as the consistency of the ingredients. What I am getting at is that a display of such ingredients should be fairly safe, or so my good friend Stumpy always used to say.

Regards

Brian

Hello IrishGunner,

Once again thanks for the information and upon closer examination of the badges and the newest photos you have posted I would agree that the ones I have are indeed of the beret style.

I won't comment on the ladies in uniform again least I reveal my inner hedonistic alter ego.

Regards

Brian

Hello IrishGunner,

I was actually wondering if that was what they were but thought I was just dreaming.

Now that I see the officers in your photos I think I am still dreaming. They're enough to make a fellow commit a crime just to be arrested by them.

Many thanks for the information.

Regards

Brian

Hello Everyone,

I just purchased a bulk lot of medals and there were two identical cap badges in the lot and I have no idea as to their identification. The badge measures 61 mm (2 1/2 inches) tall, 56 mm (2 1/4 inches) wide with the bomb being 25 mm (1 inch) in diameter. There are three holes, one at the top of the flame and two more holes, one at each side of the flame for attachment. It is made of stamped medal that is non-ferrous (non-magnetic) and has a nickel finish.

I think this looks like a grenadier's cap badge but that is only a guess.

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Regards

Brian

Hello Keith,

I can't help with your question though I would be interested in hearing the answer myself. I just wanted to welcome you to the forum and look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

Regards

Brian

Hi Mike,

I don't like to just say, "nice job", but nice job.

You've taken some great groupings and made them much better, not everyone can do that.

Regards (with no small degree of envy for your skills) ,

Brian

Hi Lion 101,

Check this link out. The medals are Indian but I use the same method on British except I don't stitch along the medal's mounting bar.

http://sagongs.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=2511

You can send me an email if you would like more assistance.

A great post all around.

I really like to see the historical component and the addition photographic images such as the charge and of Von Bredow himself along with the medal.

Regards

Brian

Hello djn,

First, allow me to welcome you to the forum. Your first submissions are fantastic.

I've collection some Austrian medals but never anything as nice as what you and Pinpon590 have posted.

A hardy thanks to the both of you for posting such beautiful specimens.

Regards

Brian

Since I first started seriously collecting back in the 1970s (where did the time go?) I've seen many of these. I let my only one go as part of a trade a couple of years back and regretted it ever since but there is a replacement somewhere in the mail and I hope arriving next week. When you get older you tend to drift off topic, sorry.

Back on track.

I am confident in saying that this is most likely an engraving made after issue. I've never seen one named, officially or otherwise, and the style of engraving, albeit excellent, looks like it was done by a jeweller, or more than likely a trophy engraver.

Nice piece, it certainly "beats" the unnamed specimens for interest.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

The mini above with the spelling mistake is like Vince said "pure fantasy".

The veteran medal however really existed, instituted in 1926 called: Gedenkmünze für Oberschlesien des Freikorps Oberland.

.

Hi Hardy,

Thanks for the information.

Now there is something else to watch for.

Regards

Brian

Hello Fellows,

I don't have the years of collecting to speak with any authority, however, I've searched through the internet as well as dealer's website and I've never seen these offered for sale.

I have only one publication dealing with the FreiKorps and it shows what I believe is pretty well the whole range of "official" awards and this was not among them.

Regards

Brian

Hi Luke,

If I recall correctly the First World War was the reason for the impementation of the Income Tax in Canada.

Hmmm, now the War is "over" I wonder how long it will be until Ottawa does away with the Income Tax Act?

I won't hold my breath.

Regards

Brian

Hello Greg,

Welcome to the forum, good to see that there are more and more Canadians joining all the time.

Those are some nice finds. There was a Gun Show about 2 hours from my place on the weekend but I decided to head South instead of North East). If it was the same show I will kick myself as I turned up next to nothing!

Regards

Brian

Brian - a nice old group. Always remember the old descriptive term - be it ,British, German or, any other Country. 'Mounted as Worn' - in other words - if that was how the owner wore it, then it should be left as an example. I am pleased that you are collecting SWA medals - there is a good market for them in SA and for European troops a high number covered only officers and NCO's - most of the troops were Askaris.

Hello Mervyn,

I am always amazed that some veterans would wear their medals the way they saw fit and not necessarily according to the regulations. Speaking about the Third Reich in this case I would have thought that would be one place were you would want to conform to regulations, OR ELSE! However, we've seen that this was not always the case. My own father added a campaign medal to his group because he believed he had earned it. I wasn't there so I have no right to criticize him on his decision.

Chris has made a very good point regarding this group. I would think that the police medal would fetch a much better price than either of the service medals so switching them may have been done by the dealer. I will say that all of the "problems" of wrong medals being on group ribbons has come from one dealer that I buy from. Or perhaps more accurately, used to buy from. Upon a closer inspection of this group I would have to say that the condition of both service crosses looks correct, that is to say, they look like they have been together since they were mounted. Before I am seen as trashing this dealer let me say that in all fairness it could be that the dealer's suppliers are making the switch before passing them along. It really is a matter of collector beware...I should try to put that in Latin, it would sound ever so intellectual. Drat! Missed my chance once again.

Having said all of that, I don't think I will switch any of the crosses of the group in favour of a police medal as I could not be 100% sure of being correct when completed. In the case of the wrong medal being on a ribbon I think nothing of switching the medals in order to bring the group back to the way it should be.

Regards

Brian

Hi Timo,

It's none of my business but I would suggest you hold off until you find one in a box.

One of the things I have been very poor on has been keeping track of how much I spend on my hobby. I've never cared about the money only the hobby, probably why I will never be rich. So I can't help you on the amount you should spend.

The one thing I believe I did do correctly, for the most part, was to purchase only boxed Japanese medals.

Just my 2 yens worth.

Regards

Brian

Just a comment on the skunk thing. The nose actually has sensitive olefactory receptors that shut down after being exposed to the skunk smell. The tomato doesn't really work! Just the smell has shut down!

Hello Kurys,

Welcome to the forum, it's good to see so many fellow Canadians joining.

It's that time of the year here, at least in Ontario, where these smelly little creatures seem to spend a lot of time crossing roads at night only to meet their end under a passing vehicle. It makes the drive to work in the morning a fragrant experience.

Just so this is not totally off topic, I also use vinegar as Unit8 mentioned in his post on 7 Sept. 2009. One must use caution when using any acid, I've found that leaving the medal in the vinegar, with extreme cases, works well but timing is everything. I experimented with a "junk" medal (unnamed of course) and it is possible that even an acid as mild as vinegar, which is only 5% acetic acid, will remove detail with too much exposure.

Regards

Brian