Brian Wolfe

I have nothing to base this upon but it looks to me like a training device for motor crews. Regards Brian

I wouldn't even begin to estimate the value. I no longer haunt antiques shops or auctions, so any value would be far from accurate. Regards Brian

Hello Cathey and Rex and welcome. I have been looking forward to your posts especially since Stuart has been "teasing" me for a while now about your collection and the possibility you would post some photos. I would also like to thank you for the additional history that you have included, this makes a posting absolutely priceless. Regards Brian

Hi Ed, I'd say your piece was one of the later pieces of Weller due to the general style and the clear stamped company logo which is in a half circle style, on the bottom. That would place this (in my opinion) in the first half of the 20th century. Weller pottery was made in Ohio from 1872 to 1946 with pieces marked, Louwelsa Weller, and numbered on the bottom. Earlier pieces were sometimes hand inscribed with this information. A very nice example of later Weller pottery. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I look forward to hearing from other members regarding their opinions on this piece. Regards Brian

I'm a blade man myself, though not as extreme as Chris. I suspose the idea of running a blade over your neck in the morning was the reason for the popularity of beards. I've used a brush and shaving mug for years only changing to the canned foam in the past few years to save time in the morning. I recall that when I was a youth, even though safety razors and electric razors had been popular for years, the local barber still kept shaving mugs for his patrons. The town's business men each had their own mug which was stored, for their use only, in a pigeon-hole style cupboard just to the side of the barber's large mirror. By the time I was considering shaving this was no longer an available option at the barber's. Great post, bringing back memories of a time when the pace of life was not as fast as today and people enjoyed life. You could never use a straight razor on an up and coming young professional today as the cell phone or Blackberry would get in the way. Regards Brian

Thanks for posting this interesting group and especially thanks for the infomation you have provided Frank. My knowledge of Canadian regulations is very dated and this has been most informative. Regards Brian

Excellent work and a fine collection. Thank you for sharing this with the membership, I'm sure you have inspired others with your display, I know I am. Regards Brian

Here is a really good article on the Fairburn-Sykes knives for your reading enjoyment. http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/fs/new/fs_new.htm Regards Brian

This is going to sound stupid, but when has that ever stopped me (rhetorical)? Sometimes when people get wrapped up in researching family they miss little details so I have to ask, did she look up "Frank"? Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, I know it is starting to sound like my anthem, but I really like Special Constabulary Long Service and Good Conduct medals when they are part of a group. The very fact that a soldier served his country in war and then continued to serve his community in the Special COnstabulary really srtikes a cord deep within me. This group, as may be seen in the photo, was issued to a member of the R.F.A. (Royal Field Artillery), the 1914/15 Star is marked so, the BWM and the Victory Medals are marked R.A. (Royal Artillery). I can only begin to imagine what this fellow saw during the Great War and then went on serving his community afterwards. This group, in my opinion, speaks volumes for the man's fine character. I hope you like it. Regards Brian

You attend a Community Policing meeting, place your forage cap on the chair beside you (with no thought given) and sure as anything soemone will sit on it. This would have prevented that, well...at least it wouldn't have happen twice. Regards Brian

Ouch, good pun Peter. Regards Brian

To add to Stuart's post (#11) here are two drawings based on actual photographs showing the tube vent helmet. These are from the Osprey, Elite series, #71, "Queen Victoria's Commanders. The first, in the red tunic, is Lieutenant Robert Rogers, HM 44th Regiment; China 1860. The second, in the blue tunic is, Lieutenant-General Sir Colin Campbell, GCB, The Indian Mutiny, 1857-58. Regards Brian

I agree Peter, many composite woods do "off gass" and this has caused a lot of breathing problems especially now that we are making our houses tighter and tighter to conserve energy and there for homeowner's money. We are, in a way, living in sealed bottles relying on mechanical ventilation to keep the air as pure as possible. As far as sealing the wood, I think if one uses enough coats of clear coat there should be little problem. I think we, as collectors, tend to either go to one extreme or another. Either do nothing or resort to over-kill, if one can over-do conservation. The worse thing you can do, of course, is nothing. Who would have thought that being engaged in collecting would lead to conservationism? Regards Brian

Here's the text from the book. I took the easy route and just photographed it. Regards Brian

Hello Ian, It took a while to find but here is what Frederick J. Stephen has to say about your knife in his book, "Fighting Knives". There is not a lot to add this post but I thought you would like to see this anyway. Text follows the knife's photo. Regards Brian

I will be most interested to see better photos when you can post them. This is a clasp I was not aware of, though I do not profess to be an expert. The photos do tend to make the medal look like a taylor's copy but that is quite common so it is not a big concern. Looking forward to more information and better photos. Regards Brian

Hi Stuart, Very nice display, though I am wondering if you are starting to come over to the dark side. Regards Brian

Hello Nick, Thank you very much for this most interesting video. This makes me want to go downstairs and renovate my room. Entering through a Police Box; that gives me just enough inspiration to result in me sleeping in the garage for a week. Regards Brian

Hello Mervyn, A very informitive and interesting post. I'm not sure if the police and other security forces around the world are finger printed but you are here when you join up. That's all fine and well but it really puts a damper on taking up a life of crime after you retire! Well done. Regards Brian

That's a very nice group and the archive and history that came with it makes it even more desirable. A great find Mervyn. Regards Brian

Hello Joe. This is most helpful and I know my friend will be greatly pleased to find this out. His next step will be to start to research for his ancestor in that area. Thanks again. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, Could any of the members help with the identification of this collar badge? The badge has the King's Crown but the municipality's identification is not clear. I have posted more written details about the photo on the Special Constabulary section but I was hoping that some of the members who never go there will see it here. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. Regards Brian

Here is the closest view I can get and still retain some detail. If you want to get closer please use the Ctrl + "trick", to get back to the normal size just use Ctrl -. Thanks again for your help. Regards Brian

Hello Everyone, A good friend of mine has forwarded this photo through the internet to me and we'd like to attempt to track the fellow down, so-to-speak. He could be related to my friend but all that is written on the photo's back is, "Francis Special Police WWII". Since it is not known what this fellow's last name was, as he could have been related to my friend's father or mother we thought that starting with the police force where he served would be a good start. I am hoping that one of the members will recognize the collar badge. The King's Crown is clearly shown but the rest is not so clear. Can anyone shed some light on this mystery? Thanks for any assistance you can give us. Regards Brian