johnnymac

Can anyone help me with this! The top box and cover, I can agree, is an old design but the bottom one seems to be a more modern-made box. Is there a time period for this style box? Second, as I see it, S.G. Adams was contracted by the U.S. Government to assemble the Victory Medals and, if so, my question is why would the Adams Company send out unassembled items to Veterans who would be clueless on how to put together their own medal? One can argue that the government sent Adams Company, “the box already stamped with the Adams Company name, with the medal, the ring, the ribbon cut to size, a brooch and any clasps needed for that medal. But I think if that was so the cost to the government would be a killer cost. Third, the stamped label on the lower box uses the term “unassembled with pin”. Didn’t the Adams Company know the word “brooch”? They used the word clasp on the top label, so we know that the Adams Company knows the difference between “pin and clasp” but not “brooch”. Last, I am well into my mid sixties and do not ever remember the use of the abbreviation “Mnfg” for the word Manufacturer which is used on the box in question, as it has always been “Mfg” in day, and in the United States. All help welcomed, JM

To Rob, Question It seem a lot of Czech & Japan VM’s. being posted on ebay, at least 2 to 3 a every week. Is this just a smart person(s) buying them up and remarketing them because the market is there, or is it a snake oil salesmen selling from his wagon? The bulk of the Japanese vic seems to be type1 and the Czech’s are a mixed bag of type 2 to 4 but never type 1? JM

To All, I hope that I am adding something good to this site. This a short story. I started my collecting days in the field of military uniform buttons. I lived about 115 miles from the home of the person who was most consided as the expert having written “The Bible” plus serveral other books on that subject. So after a few phone calls and a few visits, I was off to find these rare and hopefully unknown treasures at the Military & Guns shows armed with his book. I drove over 150 miles to a large show and after looking at countless items on the tables, I came upon a very rare button. The table was manned by a sweet old chap with a pipe in his mouth who had a box of these buttons. There was 10 in all. He was a local person not a dealor who travel from show to show. After going through his junk box, I found ten confederate buttons from the Civil War, all the same buttons and all same back markings. He knew that they were old but did not know their value and there had been no interest in them over the years. We set a price, $300 for all ten. The1970 book value was $100 each according to the “Bible”. So before I purchased them, I made a call to my new friend, the “Author” of the so-called Bible. After numerus questions from him, I was back at the table with my money in hand. Due to my excitement, I drove over 265 miles to my friend’s home with my find due to the fact that he had interest in purchasing one or two of these buttons from me at book price a they were very rare. His repsonse was “oh them!” It seems as though a very respectable collector in the field was selling them as a great find after his purchase from a warehouse in Jamaica. As the story goes: a blockade runner during the U.S. Civil War had a warehouse in Jamaica. A hundred years later, the items in the warehouse were put up for auction and purchased by this respectable collecteor. The respectable collector then sold hundreds of these buttons to collectors at very high prices even our “Author of the so-called Bible”. I asked him why there were no good references, details or photos of this button and over forty other known bogus buttons in his lastest book publication. He stated, “cost and time”. I tell this story because we are caretakers of these items “Victory Medal’s or Buttons” not the owners of them and their history. I see the need for proper and full exchange of information. As well, I see junk being sold on Ebay at very high prices. The interest is there but not all the information as to what is a good buy verus a questionable buy. Laslo’s book is a great starting point with its masterful details of the Victory Medal. However, because of the poor quality of its photographs, it has left me and I am sure countless others with a ton of questions. Since I have logged onto this chat site, you and all the others have filled in details that Laslo and Glein have left out. I thank you all for your time, JM

To All,

To All,

To All,

Hi to you All, I put up for Q&A, - my questions and your answeres. You see three official looking "SOMME, OFFENSIVE" clasps. The top one is for sure, an official issue clasp. The other two look like the official type, but as you notice # 2 has less spacing between the "coma and the O"? Number three has a period not a coma? Are they manufactures differences? Also the two "YPRES LYS" look like official clasp, but please note the lower bar and its stars, they are slightly offset to the left? I would welcome all in put, thanks, JM

Hi Rob, I added something to your posting. JM all feed back welcomed

Again to all The top two clasps (SOMME, OFFENSIVE & SOMME, DEFFENSIVE) are the official issue to the VM, the bottom two are French made. Please note letter style of these two bars. Compare the very noticeable (type-set) differences between the two sets of letters "S", "M", "E", "F", "V" and "N". Check the other differences, the "Star" size of both sets of clasp, and the half moons on the end on both sets of clasps. JM

Also to all, This is also a French made VM, but it does not has a rim marked "made in France". I have several of this type VM, but only this one I just listed is without a rim stamp. I believe that the rim marked ones are because of the import / copy right rules of the 1920's. Also the two clasp bars listed with this medal are the usual suspect "type-set" most often found with this type medal. JM

Hi to all you who are interesed. there is a (63) Victory medal listing for sale on ebay (item # 160379547347). You name it, it is there. Siam, Brazil etc.

Hi Rob I just sent Tim a reply and I also want to thank you for your relay, you wereright on the marking and medal, thanks again JohnnyMac

Hi Tim, I am sorry for not getting back to you sooner, but my internet service when down for three days, due to"Storm IDA". I live in a flood area in the state of Delaware, USA. I see that Rob has already posted the medal and photos of the French medal in question. I am also posting a clearer photo of the French triangle mark. I thank you both for your help. JohnnyMac

I have a question on the French official issue VM. I have not been able find out what mint used the triangle marking. In reading all that has been posted on this site, I did find this, "Here is yet another vic; this time a French official model. While it looks like the standard model of note is the makers mark on the reverse. In this case it is a triangle inscribed with 'JB' which is the mark of 'Janvier Berchot'. They produced the French official vic in addition to the Paris mint". My question is, is this triangle JB's mark? Or is the triangle a different mink mark without JB's influence? Thanks, JM

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-8368-125795724368.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-8368-125795725645.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2009/post-8368-125795726489.jpg Hi, I am new to the group and would like to throw something into the pot. I believe this is a Czech, re-issue, type 2? It had at one time a gilded finish as listed in Laslo book. But also it has some things that make it distinct from the official type 1 & 2 and the re-issue type 1. Obverse side, on the bottom by the feet, extra plant leaf veins. On the reverse side, Inside the shield vertical line, and the cross on it lower left arm is much longer. Any help here, JM