Help me decide about this Feldmuetze Alter Art (crusher)

[Friedrich-Berthold]

I would add, good sir;

That the level of discussion here is of a such a high level that one is often humbled into silence, although one is desirous to contribute to the discussion. I commend your acumen and fortitude in pulling the trigger on such a rare set.

Thanks. No need for humble silence, at all. Each according to his own, so long as each entry here is in a spirit of good humor and the search for knowledge.

Very often such does not obtain, especially on the other site. Ben has worked very hard as a collector and pillar of our community, not the least in his skill as a craftsman artist, to whom I would entrust my junk were he on the same continent.

Some of us here are treated more or less like a public convenience of a kind, which would not gripe me as much if others with nice collections shared more of their things, whereas the trend is plainly away from such service of the common interest.

I actually did get some response to my SS Hauptamt Montur, truth be told, when I re checked, but generally the work of the few garners usually indifference from many.

Ben is more acute about it than am I, which is his right.

But when he remarks upon this phenomenon, I realize how right he is, indeed.

Happy junk, dear readers.

[Friedrich-Berthold]

The discovery of a possible sophisticated fake or, instead, a rare and desirable variation is an especially gut wrenching thing in this world devoid of privacy, where every jack ass can bray his nonsense if someone bares their soul. Not a fine thing, really, and something that has done much more harm than good per saldo.

Ben deserves our respect for his honesty and forthrightness with all of this. If he thinks his hat is fake, then it is likely fake. Maybe it is real, but I could only tell if I looked at it in person, sniffed it, rubbed it, gazed at it from across the room and also inspect it with a glass.....and then many here would still not accept my assessment.

The electric picture puzzle is not always a means to the truth, in fact, and can often just mess things up even further.

The only way to understand these things is to have them in one's hands and look at them without some interfering medium.

But others choose to live in the 21st century, which I refuse to do any more than absolutely necessary.

[davejb]

FB and Ben, Please do not become despondent over the lack of "apparent disinterest", the main criteria here is that both of you , among some other well informed members, have the everlasting committment to post these rare items for all to see, the knowledge that has been accrued by yourselves over the years , by exhaustive research, is in the main, above the normal pararameters of the general collecting community, but nevertheless is most wholeheartedly welcome and is desperately needed to help younger collectors for the future, most of us have an interest in all military subjects whereas your goodselves have endeavoured to specialise in a very complicated and indepth subject and one that escapes a fair few of us , myself included but i am willing to learn , even at my age, I , on occassions may ask what may appear to be some very basic, sometimes silly questions but I'm pleased to say that they are treated with kindness and an attempt to educate, I am lucky in that I know Ben and have visited him, He is a very kind and discerning person and has on occassions shown that kindness to me above what one would expect from just a brief meeting, no matter what, you must both continue to post your comments, doubts and items for all to enjoy, without this, forums such as these would surely suffer, in the words of the carry on films, carry on regardless, it is much appreciated and a vital component to a continuing successful forum
cheers Dave

[Friedrich-Berthold]

FB and Ben, Please do not become despondent over the lack of "apparent disinterest", the main criteria here is that both of you , among some other well informed members, have the everlasting committment to post these rare items for all to see, the knowledge that has been accrued by yourselves over the years , by exhaustive research, is in the main, above the normal pararameters of the general collecting community, but nevertheless is most wholeheartedly welcome and is desperately needed to help younger collectors for the future, most of us have an interest in all military subjects whereas your goodselves have endeavoured to specialise in a very complicated and indepth subject and one that escapes a fair few of us , myself included but i am willing to learn , even at my age, I , on occassions may ask what may appear to be some very basic, sometimes silly questions but I'm pleased to say that they are treated with kindness and an attempt to educate, I am lucky in that I know Ben and have visited him, He is a very kind and discerning person and has on occassions shown that kindness to me above what one would expect from just a brief meeting, no matter what, you must both continue to post your comments, doubts and items for all to enjoy, without this, forums such as these would surely suffer, in the words of the carry on films, carry on regardless, it is much appreciated and a vital component to a continuing successful forum
cheers Dave

Thanks for the kind words, which you have offered with eloquence and purpose in the past, for which I thank you, too.

Ben is a fine man, indeed and we esteem him highly.

Thank you, Dave JB for the intervention.

onwards to new foetidness, black and mouldy.

[BenVK]

The electric picture puzzle is not always a means to the truth

It was worth starting this thread just to read this line. You do have a beautiful way with words my friend.

But actualy the reasons for the thread were more mundane and less romantic.
The number 1 reason was to attract some interest in what we are trying to achieve here. It might sound ridiculous but we (moderators) do discuss forum participation and what we can do individualy to increase it and make the whole experience more insightful.

In all honesty, the decision about what to do with my cap was one I was quite capable of conducting myself in private but I thought that maybe it would of interest to others to show that everyone, regardless of experience or knowledge can sometimes have doubts after a purchase. This is the most inexact science that I've ever been involved with and a subject where there is no end point to the study. A better man than me said "the more I learn, the less I know" and it's very true.

I am glad that I posted the question though because for me, it only confirms who are the ones out there willing to advise me when I need help. I'm sure FB and Derek and others will relate to this because after awhile, the main awareness of participating on forums such as this is the one of handing out advice and knowledge. Asking for help or input to further ones knowledge becomes rather alien and uncomfortable...does that make sense? I know it to be true because I've seen too many collectors turn from having the most enquiring minds to being self satisfied armchair experts who's only participation is to declare this or that fake or original and nothing more.

I don't ever want to be like that and thanks to people like FB, hopefully I never will.

In this respect, it's just struck me how valuable FB's photo montages are. Each post and montage contains at least one or more images worthy of more discussion if one wishes to pick up on them. The cycle of study therefore continuous and who knows where it will lead which is in stark contrast to the "original or fake" type threads that can only have one conclusion and an inevitable end.

[Friedrich-Berthold]

It was worth starting this thread just to read this line. You do have a beautiful way with words my friend.

But actualy the reasons for the thread were more mundane and less romantic.
The number 1 reason was to attract some interest in what we are trying to achieve here. It might sound ridiculous but we (moderators) do discuss forum participation and what we can do individualy to increase it and make the whole experience more insightful.

In all honesty, the decision about what to do with my cap was one I was quite capable of conducting myself in private but I thought that maybe it would of interest to others to show that everyone, regardless of experience or knowledge can sometimes have doubts after a purchase. This is the most inexact science that I've ever been involved with and a subject where there is no end point to the study. A better man than me said "the more I learn, the less I know" and it's very true.

I am glad that I posted the question though because for me, it only confirms who are the ones out there willing to advise me when I need help. I'm sure FB and Derek and others will relate to this because after awhile, the main awareness of participating on forums such as this is the one of handing out advice and knowledge. Asking for help or input to further ones knowledge becomes rather alien and uncomfortable...does that make sense? I know it to be true because I've seen too many collectors turn from having the most enquiring minds to being self satisfied armchair experts who's only participation is to declare this or that fake or original and nothing more.

I don't ever want to be like that and thanks to people like FB, hopefully I never will.

In this respect, it's just struck me how valuable FB's photo montages are. Each post and montage contains at least one or more images worthy of more discussion if one wishes to pick up on them. The cycle of study therefore continuous and who knows where it will lead which is in stark contrast to the "original or fake" type threads that can only have one conclusion and an inevitable end.

Well said and thank you, indeed.

My goal is to share what I have for the betterment of others, since when I was young Patrick Lewis' age, the thought that one could, like von Fuchshain, inadvertently blow open the treasure trove with one lucky shot, was utterly impossible.

I had to wait years to see advanced collections, and the trials and tribulations were great indeed.

In any case, thanks for the interesting essay and best of luck with your collecting, Thank you all for your own solidarity in what is sometimes a deeply frustrating and humiliating process.

The lack of exactitude in all of this is nerve wracking, since I am sure in my life in Germany and Austria forty years ago, I walked by women who made these things, who knew everything, but I had neither the wit nor will to ask them.

Nor, of course, was it much of an issue, because the whole thing was so different then. The material was plentiful; the fakes were awful and easily seen; there was no means to exchange information or knowledge with dozens of people across the globe.

Of course, the people who really know are all (...or nearly alll....) now dead, and much of what we speculate on turns within its own circles, much of which is made more opaque and confusing by the lack of curiosity and odd pecking order of this brave new world.

It is like the Lorelei, "oh, das wirst Du nie wissen.....!"

[BenVK]

I am lucky in that I know Ben and have visited him, He is a very kind and discerning person and has on occassions shown that kindness to me above what one would expect from just a brief meeting,

Dave, your always welcome in apartment BenVK

[BenVK]

Richard, our refuge from the other site posted this one a few years ago. Apparently a victim of a poor post war repair job i.e. glue all over the place.
The interior looks like a Lubstein creation to me.
Needless to say, it passed most by at the time, 4 or 5 comments only I seem to recal.

[davejb]

Thank you Ben, i must admit i really enjoyed our chat that day and PMs since, keep well my friend, look forward to our next meeting
Regards Dave

[BenVK]

Your most welcome, sorry about the horrible coffee!