Hauptmann

Hi Ed, Many thanks for the explanation on that. These are just beautiful pieces. I'm so glad the ball got rolling on all this as I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing them all and hope to see many more. Thanks, Dan

Darrell, This I must say is a very handsome little bar... wouldn't mind owning it myself... if you ever decide to pass her on... Simple... understated and yet very appealing. In other words I likes it alot! Thanks, Dan

Bonjour Darrell, Quel est ce Croix de Guerre TOE de qui vous parlez ? (What is this Croix de Guerre TOE you speak of?)... not familiar with that? Is it Vichy? Speaking of which how about seeing a bunch of Vichy stuff... no water though! As always, beautiful goodies! I'm like a kid in a candy store. Sounds like you and I are much alike... a bit of everything. I see's it, I like's it and if I've got enough $$'s I buy's it! Thanks for sharing, Dan

Hi Rick, Dan... very sheepish ... me not no damage my precious! Me am sorry me made you have heart attack. Me hope you feeling much better now. Just was getting a bit into the "frustrated" mode at that point and didn't know quite what else to say at that stage of the game as I've been trying to provide all the info I knew on this piece. Don't want anyone in any way whatsoever to think I'm hiding anything or trying to make this into something it's not. And think you said it best as quoted above... just not something I'd imagine the fakers wasting their time with... who'd buy it? But you are quite right and very correct in this Rick. Sooooo, here's the scoop: I have taken the first steps... it does indeed seem to be iron... magnets stick with no problem at all. It's 18.4 ounces (522 grams... or to be precise: 521.631 225 5 grams). That on a good quality Edmunds digital scale. Just ran down and unlocked the restaurant so I could do it. See... I's really tryin' folks! On Easter Sunday no less! It measures as follows: From the point between where the wreaths meet at the top to the bottom of the swaz circle is: 4 and 3/8ths inches. From the point at the tip of one of the top wreath peaks to toe bottom of the swaz circle is:4 and 9/16ths inches. From the horses ears diagonally across to the opposite side is: 4 and 11/16ths inches. Edge to edge on the ring is 3 and 15/16ths inches. Wing tip to wing tip on the eagle is 3 and 7/16ths inches. Thickness... this varies all around of course but on the swaz circle the thickness measures 3/8ths inches. This is a very difficult piece to measure as it has the "ragged" edge of the wreath leaves, etc. all around except for the swaz circle and horse. This is the best we could do. I do not have access to calipurs or any more precise measuring equipment... this was literally the best I could do. Hope all this helps to come to a conclusion one way or the other. Again any or all help, comments, advice are cheerfully accepted... as are platinum, gold, silver, diamonds and other assorted precious gems, stocks, bonds or even good old hard currency. Thanks, Dan

Hi Michael, WOW! Now that's a great set with some very important history to it! How bout some pics... would love to see them. Thanks, Dan

Hi Terry, Thanks for the heads up! Hope someone here can take advantage of this but a bit too rich for my blood right now. But I'm sure an excellent price, at least by the other comments that were made. Thanks, Dan

Hi Rick, I'm sorry... wish I had them for you to research... believe me I do!!!! Rest assured if I get some you'll be the first to know. Thanks, Dan

Oooooh, purty! Thanks for sharing! I do love that enamel. Keep em coming folks! Thanks, Dan

Hi War Lord, I quite understand. I'm kind of a very very tiny small fish in a great big pond. And to me Jack is up there at the top of the big school. I deeply respect him and have looked up to him ever since my first chat with him on the phone not to mention my first visit which cemented those feelings. He and Joy were extremely kind to Kim and I and our pooches fell in love and had the time of their lives on that first visit. They put out the red carpet for us and we were just sooo impressed and will cherish those memories for the rest of our lives. To me, if he says it it's like hearing it from God. Not that he can't be wrong... we all suffer from being wrong... me more than most. But to me, anyone who has owned that size and quality collection and written that many scholarly books on this subject can't be far from wrong. In case he's lurking, and possibly blushing by now... HI JACK!!!! We'd love to hear from you! PM and I'll send along our current info and such. I just got it, have it and don't know what to make of it either. I don't know where you are located... I'm in Carrington North Dakota which is over on the eastern part of the state, centrally located. But if there's a way down the road that we might end up in the same neck of the woods and can plan it in advance I'll be happy to bring it along and let ya take a look at it. If you can help me figure it out that would be fantastic as for now it's just another mystery. Thanks, Dan

Hi Terry, Hey, would be interesting to see if nothing else. Perhaps all the 57's should pool their resources and do one. Lord knows there are tons and tons and tons on TR but nothing yet on 57 to speak of... least not that I've seen. Just a thought... Dan

Hi War Lord, Do tell us more... as for me, at least, I'm not familiar with this. Sounds interesting. Thanks, Dan

Hi Terry, Oooooh COVET, heavy on the covet!!!! I know... shame on me, and on Easter yet! But me can't helps it... me love this stuff soooooo! They are gorgious! Sure wish I'd at least finished my mini's much less gotten them in boxes. Even back in the day those boxes didn't seem to show up very often. You are one lucky fellow! My hats off to you! Thanks for showing them off. They're terrific! Dan

Hi David, Oh Amen to that! That would be fantastic! And I'd want one of the first copies. And I'm sure it will happen before too long. And that logic is exactly what went through my mind back in the day. But then everyone including Jack Angolia who I really look up to in the extreme, said they were junk and would never amount to anything much. Not those exact words but that was the gist of what everyone was saying. So I didn't mess with it much. The pieces I posted being all I picked up. And yet back then you could get the KC's even for like $30-$50 each... cased!!!! But I can't blame anyone else as I was the idiot who followed the "advice". Oh how I wish I hadn't. I loved those even back then and that was exactly my feeling... I knew how every single time one area got "bought out" and dried up then the heard would move to the next grassy plain. Sure enough... happened with bayonets. Couldn't give most of em away in the day. Now even the common as dirt junk is demanding high prices. Alot of helmets were junk and now they're riding high. With the 57's it's a natural. TR collectors, many of whom are simply fed up with all the bother and frustration with repops as well as, in some cases, the negative connotations would have to go somewhere... why not the next best thing to what they love? They already had the knowledge so it was a natural progression... and I feel that's exactly what's happened. Just wish I'd listened to my inner voices and went for it. Well, still a bit of time to get a piece here and a piece there. So if you happen to run into any extras at a really good price (remember, I'm poor most of the time... very limited collecting budget... but it just makes me try harder! LOL!) give me a nudge... and I'll of course do the same. We 57's gotta stick together! Thanks, Dan

Hi Hendrik, Now that's the ticket! Beautiful!!!! I'm a sucker for enamel... and cases! My favorite is actually green enamel but that's another story... for which I'm hoping to take pics tomorrow. It'll likely be going over to the U.S. section... as it's around the time of the Spanish-American War. Oh, and gold... I'm like Goldfinger... I do love my gold! In the words of old Auric... "I'm in love with it's color... it's brilliance... it's devine heaviness." That and more. And amen... keep em' coming!!!! Thanks so much for sharing. And definitely... to one and all in the membership... Happy Easter! Dan

Hi David, Oh definitely... actually after I saw them here I realized I'd seen them back when I started to make my first posts on there. Terrific collection! You are indeed a lucky, lucky man! I'm surprised they're not going for more... like the German Crosses... Good Grief!!!! Got mine for about $25-30 and now they've gone through the roof... cased or not! If only I'd listened to my heart instead of all the nay sayers as in those days you couldn't give them away... and I had the wherewithall to have gotten up a huge stockpile. Now... neither is the case... no cheap supply and no seemingly endless funds. Of course had I don't that then my funds would be much more endless on this end. The Auxilliary Cruiser and Destroyer badge are also extremely fetching! Wouldn't mind having those or the Blockade Breaker! Well, any of them really but especially those. I do hope I run into a few at good prices before they're all gone. At times it's so tempting to sell off more of my remaining TR for the rediculous prices they're going for... buy up any and all of the 57's I can find cheap (saving some aside for my friends of course! ) and in just a few more years they'll be where TR is now! It's amazing! And they don't have the bad connotations with people that TR tends to have. Which is a definite plus. Well, if I decide to do that rest assured I'll set some aside for you, Grant and a few others. Thanks so much for sharing! I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing them and hope alot more start popping on before too long. Thanks! Dan

Hi Terry, Not sure... thought they all did... and the mini's in small boxes. But Lord knows I've been wrong before. But to me they're safer and more comfy by far in cases then out. Everything needs a garage! Thanks! Dan

And the makers: Thanks for looking! Night all. Dan

And last but not least the cases:

And my gold:

My silver mini:

My silver:

Hi all, Well, getting ready to zonk out after a long day but figured I'd pop in one more. Had intended to do it earlier this evening but got sidetracked, had to run some quick errands and then pick up Kim from work. So here goes... my collection of Mothers Crosses. Would love to eventually get a case for the bronze as well as cased mini's in bronze and gold and a case for my silver mini. Enjoy! First my bronze:

Hi David, Not at all... in fact the case appears to be much nicer and the badges are not bad at all! Nice set indeed! As is the 57! About what do those run nowadays? I'd love one but have a feeling they're out of my range just now. But perhaps someday... one can but hope! Thanks for sharing these... they are extremely nice. Dan

Hi Mike, I can well imagine. Great find! It's a beautiful piece and that is definitely the icing on the cake. One of these days I'd love a convex as well as a screwback or one of the other odd attachments I've seen on here. But I fear unless Ed McMahon hurries up and brings me a check I may be out of luck in that department... but one never knows. Dan

Hi Darrell, Sorry, had to run out on a few errands. Just got back in. Whew! I'm relieved. Again I deeeeeeply appreciate all your help. You can start painting little pizza's on the side of your cockpit! You'll have a boat load if you ever come to our little town to visit. Dan