Hauptmann

Hi Charles,

Great find my friend! Much better than I've been doing on my trip to Florida. Been through Georgia twice and Alabama once so far and very little has popped up. But have picked up a few goodies on Ebay since I got here... seems that's just destined to be my primary for finding new goodies.

Keep up the great work. I just know there are more treasures hding in them thar hills!

Dan

And last but not least:

Kollektiv der sozialistischen Arbeit

1 bestowal with complete box

2 bestowal with complete box

3 bestowal with complete box

5 bestowal with complete box

5 bestowal with year 1971 - 1975

Dan

Badge for good work with suspension for second bestowal:

20 and 40 years DDR medals:

25 years FDJ:

Leistungsabzeichen NVA:

Sport Club stickpin:

Cased Activist badge:

Hi all,

I'm still on vacation. No luck as far as awards on the trip so far... but I have been able to get a few goodies here and on Ebay. Here are my latest additions to the DDR collection courtesy of Andreas (photos used with his permission):

Cased Artur Becker Medal in brass with clasp:

Hi all,

Still on vacation in Florida and so far have found nothing of particular interest locally. But I'm still finding goodies here and on Ebay. Here's my latest addition to my OGPW's... another 85 1st class:

I stumbled on it after a day of watching things I wanted go way too high. This was cheap so I grabbed it. Before long I think I'm going to need a ranch to keep this ever growing herd! I think this is my 14th or 15th OGPW of various types and of both classes. I guess it's like potato chips... you can't stop with just one.

Dan

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry it's taken me a bit to get back on this. Just been extremely busy down here. Anyhow so far we've gone up into Alabama and into Georgia with no luck save some very overpriced pieces close to home... more souvenir type items than awards.

However, I've managed to grab a few things off Ebay and here in the club so yet again that's seemed to be the best option in my situation.

Had hoped to find something nice while down here but it just doesn't look like it's going to happen.

Many thanks,

Dan

57 version of the Luftwaffe Air Sea Rescue / Reconnaisance clasp in gold

Hi David,

Terrific additions to your collection. But I especially LOVE this one! Has just the right amount of that "I've been worn... been there, done that." look to it. If you "ever" want to part with that one please give me a nudge. She's a beaut!

Thanks so much for sharing these!

Dan

Hi Grant,

This is a nice one. And also it's a military issued one due to the full ribbon. The civilian would have had the small rectangular ribbon.

Nice catch!

Dan

Dan

Hi all,

Here's my latest document... from our fellow member Vitaly Kudinov (okudinova on Ebay). The pics are his as well and used with his kind permission. Many thanks my friend for both!

Here's what was in his description but if anyone can add anything to this I'd be most grateful! Although Vic (Order of Victory) has indeed added that he was Ukrainian. Mucho thanks my friend!

"Original Soviet reserve officer ID document. Issued to major Komarov Grigoriy Vasilievich on November 25, 1967. Born November 25, 1914, graduated from Tula arms building college in 1938 and has served in different locations since then. During WWII the officer served in the Far East. Sent to reserve in 1958. Last entry is dated April 27, 2001 when the officer was confirred lt. colonel rank."

Hi all,

Fascinating thread! I do hope it continues. So many beautiful bars! Here's my latest addition and my first painted bar:

Note what looks like an imperfection on the bottom center of the right hand ribbon second row. It's not. It was a bit of grime that I easily cleaned off and now they look fantastic. But I don't have a scanner here to do new shots of it.

These seem a bit smaller than the other Soviet ribbons I have. These are about a inch across for a total of three inches across the top row, etc., and only an inch from top to bottom. Perhaps it's just that I don't have any others with me to compare with them but they seem smaller.

But they are very well constructed and the colors are still quite nice. Any ideas on the time period on these?

The photos (and the ribbons) are courtesy of our fellow member Vitaly Kudinov (okudinova on Ebay) who I've dealt with for several years now. He carries some great items. Check out his goodies if you have a chance. Many thanks for these my friend! I love them!!!! Here's hoping they're the first of many!

Dan

Hi all,

Was hoping some of my fellow members might be able to help me out. I'm on a working vacation down in north Florida not far from where I used to live. Been here since late May and won't be heading back till the end of the July.

I'm looking for any militaria shops, antique stores, flea markets or surplus stores that generally carry DDR, Soviet or Soviet block militaria, specially Orders, medals and badges... although other items are always nice as well.

I have access to lower Alabama and lower Georgia. I've just been up to Monroeville, Alabama and did manage to find MP Surplus not too far from Enterprise. But they're mostly uniforms and field gear. I'm hoping to get up to Moultrie Georgia as there are quite a number of antique shops up there. But no idea if they'll have anything like I'm looking for. Also looking to head over to Ft. Walton Florida before I head back and probably another trip up to Dothan at some point as well.

Anyhow I'm hoping some of ya'll might be able to help me narrow down my search and make it worth the time and gas to head out on the prowl. I'm certainly open to any kind of militaria but mostly trying to stay focused on my Soviet/Soviet block collection and with smaller item I can carry back (by train) instead of having to ship. But if something really good pops up at a great price I do have to ship some items up to the house so I can always add a small bit to the pile if need be.

Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Dan

Hi all,

Was hoping some of my fellow members might be able to help me out. I'm on a working vacation down in north Florida not far from where I used to live. Been here since late May and won't be heading back till the end of the July.

I'm looking for any militaria shops, antique stores, flea markets or surplus stores that generally carry Soviet or Soviet block militaria, specially Orders, medals and badges... although other items are always nice as well.

I have access to lower Alabama and lower Georgia. I've just been up to Monroeville, Alabama and did manage to find MP Surplus not too far from Enterprise. But they're mostly uniforms and field gear. I'm hoping to get up to Moultrie Georgia as there are quite a number of antique shops up there. But no idea if they'll have anything like I'm looking for. Also looking to head over to Ft. Walton Florida before I head back and probably another trip up to Dothan at some point as well.

Anyhow I'm hoping some of ya'll might be able to help me narrow down my search and make it worth the time and gas to head out on the prowl. I'm certainly open to any kind of militaria but mostly trying to stay focused on my Soviet/Soviet block collection and with smaller item I can carry back (by train) instead of having to ship. But if something really good pops up at a great price I do have to ship some items up to the house so I can always add a small bit to the pile if need be.

Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Dan

Hi all,

I'm on a working vacation down in north Florida. Was just up in Alabama poking around and found some binocs at a surplus store just outside of Enterprise Alabama. I'm hoping someone could confirm but I'm fairly sure they're Bulgarian.

I found these pics on the web which are pretty much what I saw. Can anyone tell me if they are Bulgarian as opposed to Soviet? All the writing on them and the instruction manual, etc., are all in cyrillic.

The lady I spoke with said she could sell them for $60 but after we chatted a bit she volunteered that she'd check with the owner and see if perhaps they could do better.

As much as I'd love a set of Soviet binocs with the star/hammer/sickle on them if these are Bulgarian I figured if I could get them for a really good price it couldn't hurt as I do collect Bulgarian items as well.

They all seemed very complete with case, accessories, manual, etc., and they had five or six of them if I remember correctly.

So if anyone could help me nail down if these are indeed Bulgarian I'd deeply appreciate the help.

Many thanks,

Dan

Sorry all... I'd forgotten to post that the troddel was sold a good while back.

Many thanks to the buyer!

Dan

Hey, freshly drawn plasma now sells at . . . let me run off and go see . . . (hi Dave!) . . . .

Now that's one I've not done yet... for some reason I just never thought about it. Let me know what the going rate is as you never know when it might come in handy.

Dan

Hallo Hauptman

I thought it was only ships that had figure-heads, or are you trying to hide the tank behind you

All joking aside some very nice pictures.

Kevin in Deva.

Hi Kevin,

Naw! I'd just kicked the tires (and that's saying alot with a tank... alot of tires to kick! ) and was considering when they told me it didn't have a tape deck or CD... or heat... or AC... or leather seats... or power windows and locks... well, the list goes on. So I passed. Besides... gas mileage was not all that great either!

Seriously though many thanks for the compliment on the pics. Nice thing is if I ever want to build one in model form I can go up and get all the closeup pics, etc., and any info off of it I need to make a really nice duplicate of it. I'm hoping at some point to find out who is in charge of it... probably someone at the vets club... and see if it's possible to get access to the inside as I"d love to get pics of that too, to include the engine compartment/engine, etc. Would love to document it as thoroughly as possible. But it sure is a great old machine. The stories I bet it could tell.

Dan

Sorry.

You have used a word here I don't entirely understand.

"Budget"???

Well Ed... "budget"... beg, borrow or at times... spend all that's in the account and then run for the couch and chair cushions, loose change in the drawers, in or under car seats... etc. And then if need be offer partial or full trades, first born male child or just about anything that's not welded down if it'll help make the deal for one more "precious" to add to the pile.

But hey... it keeps me off the streets.

Dan

That's what I thought as well when I wanted to buy my second Mongolian Sukh Baatar... but prices were going up higher quicker than I could save so in end I jumped in. I'm afraid that same thing is happening with this specific Bulgarian item.

Oh I know... it's a race against time with some of this stuff. I'm hoping within the next couple of months that things will change drastically for the better $$ wise and I'll be able to seriously dive on on several things such as the GD and get them while the gettin' is good.

Dan

there's one available on sammler-cabinett.de right now

Hi Bob,

Many thanks! Still going to be a while budget wise before I can jump on one.

Dan

They seem to keep everything well maintained and looking battle ready. So far our city of Carrington doesn't have any military vehicles, etc., for a Vet's memorial. No idea how such things are obtained but I sure would love to see us get something or other at some point. We've had folks serving for a looooooong time.

But I think New Rockfords memorial is very nice and a great place to stop and reflect on the services and sacrifices of our vets in all wars.

Dan