Nack

Nice! I wanted to do this, but couldn't bring myself to buy the remaining medals I'd need for the set (Sevastapol and Odessa, of course)

Cool stuff -- don't see much of that over here unfortunately.

Were there Guards "Air Armies" or something, or do Airforce guys with Guards badges represent AF personnel that were attached to Guards armies. Or am I just not knowledgeable as to how Guards units were put together?

That do-it-yourself-at-home-drycleaning kit called "dryel" works nicely too, just use common sense when deciding how aggressive to go. Obviously, not reccomended for visor caps and the like.

The simple slava-ors group would have been a nice entry-level set for someone. Too bad some people suck.

The ORS and first Glory 3 look good and the corresponding entries look ok, the rest is bad?

I tried to edit my post to replace the photo with this better one, but with no luck. So here it is again so you can see the front and back.

And the book

Here's mine.

Nope. But these are nice boards that are right up my collecting alley, so I'm jealous.

Go on, ask how much he paid. He's dying to tell you! ;>)

Was it for a song?

I find the differences between the various countries very interesting! I've been Mason for 30 years and a past master for 24 and I have never seen anyone, except for a past grand master, wearing a jewel after they retired from office. If you look in the many US catalogs from the Masonic supply companies they are filled with past master's jewels, yet I've never seen one actually worn.

Now I have to admit, I'm not very widely travelled and perhaps they're popular in some states more than others. My home lodge is in Georgia and I've never seen a Georgia past master wearing a jewel. Past master rings are extremely popular, but, at least in Georgia, not the jewels. Perhaps one reason, I don't really know, is that these jewels are always made of gold or are gold plated. Under the Masonic Code of Georgia only grand lodge officers may use gold, all subordinate lodge officers must use silver. I've never seen a past master's jewel in a catalog in silver.

Same here in Ohio--lots of PM rings, but no jewels. Thanks for the info though guys.

I have never seen medals, jewels, or anything of the sort for sale here in the US. I see Knight's Templar swords around, and aprons here and there, but thats it. I've personally never encountered medals/etc in the craft here either--are masonic medals more of a British thing?

Yup, nice pins. I've got some of the same ones. BTW, the middle one in the second row is an "excellent soviet army" badge--the sucessor to the old-school otlichnik-badge series, so its not really "commerative." Details, Details..

Hmm, guess I never noticed before. The only screwbacks I have are Red Stars and OGPWs. Maybe someday I'l get a ORB and see for myself.

Isn't that Red Banner a bit small too--unless the guy has huge hands it looks to be the size of a 50-cent piece. Did they make them that small?