Kev in Deva

Hallo EuRob, very nice, here I show pics of mine. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Carol I, thanks for the additional info, I did write in my post "I have been told it was traditonal for units to adopt children and they would be raised in the barracks." I used the term mascot to diffentitiate between writing "soldier's child" which could heve been misinterprited as the soldier own children. Can you supply any more information with regards this practise? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, just a tired thought from a tired brain thats near dead from over 38 hours on the go since yesterday morning, (17th) but did Zeppelins have wheel steering?? to proppelors. Airship possible connection?? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents just a quick post of one ot the items I picked up at the above mentioned Collectors Expo in Brasov, central Romania today, left home Friday evening at 20.15 by train arrived Brasov at 02:30 this morning, same procedure as always, stand in the train station till 05.45 then walk the 2 km to the factory canteen where the expo is held, thankfully the weather was cool to mild, and no snow. The doors (not the band ) opened about 06:30 then it was a case of patroling the tables till goodies could be found, the down side of searching amongst, stamps, phone-cards, postcards, bric-a-brac, banknotes, coins, general rubbish, was that all militaria item prices were sky high equal to the west (where the average Romanian punter was supposed to come up with the cash god only knows, Gas, Electric, Food prices are rising but the wages stay low!! While searching through the place I discovered this picture, dated the 14 April 1931, and which shows 3 men of the Romanian Mountain Artillery Corp and their boy-mascot, I have been told it was traditonal for units to adopt children and they would be raised in the barracks. The boy quite a cheeky looking chappie, is sitting quite confidently on the gun carraige in his little uniform complete with beret, the gun I think is a German Krupps, probably war booty from WW1. (But any corrections welcome.) I left the expo at 13:00 and caught the train back home arriving in the door at 20:00, as you can imagine very tired..... Kevin in Deva. P.S. I will post some more items, here tomorrow but I am falling asleep at the keyboard so its time to hit the hay. ...........

Hallo Robert the first guy pictured in close up, on post 2, has. Bavarian MVO II class with swords, in silver. Prussian Iron Cross, II Class 1914 version, German Honour Legion, Unofficial Veterans medal, Comm' for WW1. MarineKorps Unofficial Veterans medal, Comm' for WW1. The Kyffrsbund Unofficial Veterans medal, Comm' for WW1. Bavarian State, Military Service Medal for 9 years service. Working on the other one to identify. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gentlemen while I love Royal Romanian bars, the way they push 14 medals on it, dosent display the ribbons to best advantage looks more like a salad bar than a ribbon bar Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Alan, Its not a comparason as such with TR, just trying to figure out what was used as a model for it..The rear view of the Eagle is what you would expect., which is???? Thats why I asked you to post some close-ups too help, but if thats to difficult. . . . Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents The one listed under NVL12 - 049 - EARLY 2ND MODEL NAVAL - E. & F. H?rster. http://www.wwiidaggers.com/17172.htm or under Minitures, MINI - 023 - TRANSITIONAL HALF SIZE NAVAL - No Maker http://www.wwiidaggers.com/22891.htm looks remarkably similar to the one posted, at the start of the thread. Sword & Dagger Firm represantatives carried with them mini versions of the daggers the firm had for sale as samples, I believe later the small sizes versions were sold as letter openers. After looking at the first picture I thought of this as a sample but the picture was to small to say wether from Germany, Austria, or Bulgaria, Hungary, or even Romania, that why I asked the original poster for better pictures of the handle and cross-guard. Kevin in Deva

Jacky the document states the award was to FRAU DIREKTOP thats Lady Director so its to a civilian, for good work in the service of Austria, so maybe its for political / Civil services rendered to the state, and not connected to the military. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo sptregalia Is it possible to post some better pictures / scans of the detail on both sides of the knife handle / grip?? Kevin in Deva

Hallo Jim, While agreeing with you, I see no way to control this, the seller has the right to do with his property what he wants, we can blacklist all we want, but that wont change anything, it is not only Russian items, but even WW1 German medal bars, one seller; 24432081 on British Ebay persistently strips the medals from the main bar and sells all items, as seperate objects, he has been doing this for over 5 years now, and behind his thinking is money, if you want all the items together then you better be prepaired to bid high on all of them individualy. One of his current descriptions "Direct from Germany. Nice, original, Soldbuch. Part of a small collection, for a musketeer, Wilhelm Lindhorst, from the K?nigreich Preu?en / Kingdom of Prussia, who survived WW 1, served in Inf. Regt. 83. Holder of the Iron Cross !!. Here ; "Soldbuch". Not complete, pages 1-10, & 17-24, + coupons at the back (loose). With personal & some service details. Dated from 1914 - 1919 (coupons). Page 2 records the award of his Iron Cross, 14.6.1918, & the award of Black Wound badge. Page 5 has details of his innoculations, for typhus & cholera. Lots of other hand written details & assorted unit ink stamps. In good/fair, used condition, with slip case, - see scans." See his latest offerings at: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GERMAN-BAYERN-MVK-RA...1QQcmdZViewItem This seller alone must be responsible for splitting up hundreds of items, Ebay love him because he is a POWERSELLER with 4582 sales, but thats what happens when people are in it for the money not the history. It's up to each of us to try and hold together what we can, for future genorations. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Carol I , thanks for the quick reply, I find it strange that there was not a parallel fabrication of both types, Civil & Military, after all Peace-time versions would have been the norm, until WW1 started, also the fact that the Romanian Armed Forces did not engage in WW1 till 1916. Even in war-time it would presumably be surmised there would be awards for Civil types to civilians and political types etc..etc.. I wonder if an awardee felt slighted to get a chopped up award Do you know is it documented how and what the Decree procedure was for the contracts to be awarded, when and how many awards were required at any given time? or has this information been lost with time?? Romanian Order's & Decoration award Statutes seem to be somewhat of a very big "Black-hole". Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Carol I, can you explain the reason why modified designs like these would have been used? I mean it must be very uncommon for conversions to be made, what reason could you suggest for it?? Or is it a basic design flaw that was never caught at the production level?? I always imagined Royal Orders would be subject to a rigerous inspection, after being made and before given approval to be issued?? Do you also know of any official information on this? Many thanks, Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gents, seems the film crew were not the first to locate it as evident from some of the missing dials in the cockpit, still now we must wait and see when it will be offered on Ebay Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Frank1, with regards dealers / collectors, wether proffesional or not, here is a condensed version of events told to me by a friend who lives in Kempten Allg?u, where I lived for a few years, that happened this year with regard medal collecting and dealers. Instance 1: The beginning of the year (2006) a medal collector in Kempten had a visit from a old lady, who happens to be friend of one of his relations. She brought with her a small wooden jewellery box in it was a WW2 Iron Cross First Class in mint condition and more importantly a very slightly worn Knight Cross plus the paper work, not the big certificates, but the slips accrediting the medal to such & such person, which is as good as, and she was asking 70 euro for the lot. Needless to say she got her 70 euros. Everything was kosher. The book price for the Knights cross is 6500 euro another collector has already offered him 10000 euro for the two medals and paper work. He's holding on to them for the moment and regards it as picking six right in the lotto. Instance 2: The other side of the medal collecting coin, in the beginning of September "Michels" the shop just off the Fischer Strasse, Kempten, which deals in stamps, coins, bank notes and occasionally medals. Had a Knights Cross for sale with a provenance certificate from Niemann's stating its genuineness and market value. A local collector bought it for 2500 euro, and showed it to a few Kemptener collectors one of whom was Boris, they were not happy with it. So he sent everything back to Niemanns for another assessment. And its a fake, the entries on the provenance are false only the provenance certificate is genuine. Michels took it back, paid him out his 2500 euro and as stopped selling anything militaria ever again. This too has enter the local medal collectors folklore. A rum world, what?? A.H. Kempten October 16th 2006. I must add that personally, for a dealer-collector to take the Knights Cross knowing what the current market price is and fob the old dear off with just 70 euro is disgraceful, we all search for a bargin, but that goes beyond decencey In some cases it's the buyer who is not fully aware of all the details as to the item he is purchasing, and some times the seller is not a 100% expert on all the items he is selling, they both can and do make mistakes, I have and probably will again. If your items turn out to be duff, hopefully the dealer will give you a refund. Kevin in Deva

Hallo Gentlemen if anybody is interested this book is up for grabs (BUY IT NOW) on US Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ISRAEL-DEFENCE-FORCES-...1QQcmdZViewItem ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES INSIGNIA REFERENCE GUIDE WW I - 1985 An Illustrated Reference Guide for Collectors. The reference guide is divided into 3 parts. It serves for easy identification of military badges, insignia and decorations during period WW I -1985: 1. PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD Introduction Jewish Soldiers in WWI British Mandate WW II and more ..... 2. WAR OF INDEPENDENCE Haganah Palmach Jeursalem-Etzion and more ... 3. ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCE-ZAHAL Army Navy Air Force Border Police Civil Defence Ribbons Military Decorations Army Flags Plaques and Medals and more ... Paperback, 8.5 " x 5.5 ", black and white illustrations. It consists of 67 pages. Most of the illustrated items are actual size; by Marian Furlan. Excellent condition, black and white, new book. Kevin in Deva

Hallo landsknechte looking at the US equipment, I tend to think South Korean or Taiwanese circa mid 1950s to mid 1960s. Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Chip, all the items were present together, in fact the lady who sold them to the Dealer was just on her way out of the shop, as I came in, she must have been in her late eighties if not more. There was some French Medals from her second husband but these were worse for wear, particularly a Legion of Honour with the mini, but with very bad damage to the enamels As it was I got the Austrian Iron Cross set for 80 Euro and was quite happy with it. Perhaps some more knowledgebale members could enlighten us on the Austrian paper-saving with regards small Legitimations Kevin in Deva.

Hallo Gents, the full set as prieviously mentioned, any help finding out about this chap would be appreciated, Kevin in Deva.

Dear Gentlemen If I may be so bold, as to tack on a post to this thread, in my collection is a minty zink version of the Iron Service Cross, it comes complete with box in perfect condition, a tunic ribbon, the 2 x push-stud fastning type, and a very tiny hand-written Legitimation. (2,6 X 9,5 cm). With regards the previous postings is this item researchable as well? Forgive my question as II have no idea how to go about such research, most of my items do not have the coresponding Urkunde or paperwork This item, I believe was the property of a Doctor Karl Pohl. I obtained it a few years ago in Kempten, Bavaria, and was told at the time his widow sold it to the dealer, along with a second husbands French Military Medals!! Kevin in Deva

Hallo Dave, in this auction alone he manages to use the word "superb" 19 times He is also notorious for not replying to any questions sent him. Kev in Deva.

Pat I think these are standard civil issue masks, and because the word Luftschutze is on the box, dosent mean the boys were actually in that organisation. As such, the issue to German civilians of these items, would come under the Luftschutze organisation. Much like the Civil Defence issue of Gas masks to civilians in the UK. etc..etc.. Kevin in Deva.

November 11th 2006 And look where it ends up on sale next: http://cgi.ebay.ie/GERMAN-WW1-IRON-CROSS-9...1QQcmdZViewItem While there, feel free look at the "Eagle Warrior Association" offering http://cgi.ebay.ie/GERMAN-WW1-IRON-CROSS-3...1QQcmdZViewItem Ebay seller: george1990 Kevin in Deva

Hallo Frank Sounds like a good sales pitch to me hopefully you havent bought two duff items, with a genuine one. Kevin in Deva

Hello Gents, Would anybody have any idea who this chap is, the picture was taken in Afrika I believe, and is up for auction. Kevin in Deva.