ss hat

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 05:19 AM

and this...

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 08-08-2009 05:19 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 05:22 AM

and this, too, especially.

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 05:38 AM

and surely this, too.

**Aldo** · 08-08-2009, 05:37 PM

FB, no offense taken at all. I'm sure that prior to the internet, collecting required much more work and dedication. This hard work is what leads to real knowledge in collecting. Now people just post a pic and ask "Is this good ?" I myself am guilty of this behavior on occasion as well as the need for instant gratification. Thank you & keep up the good work. Al

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 05:59 PM

by Aldo

FB, no offense taken at all. I'm sure that prior to the internet, collecting required much more work and dedication. This hard work is what leads to real knowledge in collecting. Now people just post a pic and ask "Is this good ?" I myself am guilty of this behavior on occasion as well as the need for instant gratification. Thank you & keep up the good work. Al

Dear Aldo, your desire to get an assessment is entirely in order and is not what I mean with "instant gratification." I have known theUS publisher of military books for more than three decades, and he complained to me a decade ago (as he vastly overcharged me for a uniform I sold to him two decades earlier that I bought back...) as the internet emerged, that collectors over relied on dealers for their assessments, a phenomenon that has led to the internet guru ranter, in my opinion. I simply wish that people treated one another better in the public commons, because, in the process, more knowledge will come to come into view and consolidate. Such is why I do hector Adrian S. to police this site to keep it from devolving into what befell two other websites, one of which is famous now for bad behavior. The latter has a direct correlation to the spread of too many fake SS cap insignia or too many fake Lubstein caps.

Someone should do a content analysis of unpleasant, rude, stupid and juvenile posts and the proliferation like pond algae of stupid, fake cap "sculls" as well as misspellings. The two go hand in hand.

If, Aldo, I can help you with your collection, please send me a private note and I am at your service. In fact, you can just buy mine this afternoon, if you want.

Happy headwear and a pox on fake cap badges.

**BenVK** · 08-08-2009, 07:00 PM

by Friedrich-Berthold

I do not own 2000 of them, and, if I did, I would put one thousand of them in a big bag and send them to Ben VK.

FB, just a little bag of caps would be more than sufficient, thank you.

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 07:08 PM

by BenVK

FB, just a little bag of caps would be more than sufficient, thank you.

Within five to seven years, I shall sell you the lot, if you wish. You would give them a good home and prevent the ravages of time from the reduction to dust of said foetid woolens. But I am surely going to sell it all sooner or later, since in the next phase of my life, this stuff has no place.

I represent the elder generation of collectors who takes it up the @nu$ at the hands of the internet gossip gurus and ranters.....

Happy head wear to all readers on all continents.

**BenVK** · 08-08-2009, 08:35 PM

by Friedrich-Berthold

a phenomenon that has led to the internet guru ranter, in my opinion. I simply wish that people treated one another better in the public commons, because, in the process, more knowledge will come to come into view and consolidate.

Unfortunately, most web forums are a breeding ground for the argumentative, the rude, the ranters and the egotistical. It's not limited to our hobby believe me. The worst online behaviour I've ever encountered is on a classic car owners forum of all places. The amount of personnal attacks and insults is quite unbelievable. Makes the WAF look like a haven of the heavenly pure in comparrison.

This forum is a pleasure to visit in comparrison to all the rest. It's just a shame that we don't get more traffic. The appeal of the WAF is the shear volume of posts (when the site is actualy working that is!) That and the fact that I'm sure that a lot of people rather enjoy reading the mud slinging. It's that same mentality that makes people slow down on the motorway to have a good look a the car crash up ahead I suppose.

A few certain characters on the WAF have been guilty of overstepping the mark lately (myself included and I not too proud to admit that) but the Lubstein reference confirms who the other is that I think FB is referring to. All I can say is that I know personnaly that that person regrets acting in such a manner recently and that the advice given to him was that he doesn't have to go prove himself to everyone all the time no matter if it's in his fiery nature to do so.

The most exasperating part of this hobby is trying to help others who don't want to be helped. I've forgotten how many times I've advised someone in good faith that whatever they have bought is not the gem that they think it is only to have that advise ridiculed and shoved back in my face. That tends to generate a feeling of apathy towards unfamilar members so that circle of trust and interest starts to close around the people that you know and have known for years, even if you've never met them. This is starting to become my attitude after only a few years collecting. The same feeling must be tremendously magnified with guys who have been involved in this for decades. It's only natural.

A good example of what I'm taking about happened to me recently. Out of the blue, I get an email from someone asking if a particular visor cap was "good or bad". I responded as I always try to do and then recieved emails very day for a week with the same questions about everything from caps to tunics to medals. Not once did that person introduce himself or offer any personnal information or ask the same of me. I was just a free appraisal service for him and that became unacceptable to me so I blocked his emails.

To some extent, I think that's why certain forum members start to become a little bit frazzled and start doubting if all the accolades of being respected in your chosen area of study is worth all the hassle that comes with it.

Don't get me wrong, it's very nice to be considered knowledgeable enough to solicit requests for your opinion from complete strangers but it can become very tiring also so IMO, it's not a big surprise when certain collectors start to get a bit snappy and rude.

Just my thoughts in black and white, sorry for the long post.

**Aldo** · 08-08-2009, 08:43 PM

by Friedrich-Berthold

Dear Aldo, your desire to get an assessment is entirely in order and is not what I mean with "instant gratification." I have known theUS publisher of military books for more than three decades, and he complained to me a decade ago (as he vastly overcharged me for a uniform I sold to him two decades earlier that I bought back...) as the internet emerged, that collectors over relied on dealers for their assessments, a phenomenon that has led to the internet guru ranter, in my opinion. I simply wish that people treated one another better in the public commons, because, in the process, more knowledge will come to come into view and consolidate. Such is why I do hector Adrian S. to police this site to keep it from devolving into what befell two other websites, one of which is famous now for bad behavior. The latter has a direct correlation to the spread of too many fake SS cap insignia or too many fake Lubstein caps.

Someone should do a content analysis of unpleasant, rude, stupid and juvenile posts and the proliferation like pond algae of stupid, fake cap "sculls" as well as misspellings. The two go hand in hand.

If, Aldo, I can help you with your collection, please send me a private note and I am at your service. In fact, you can just buy mine this afternoon, if you want.

Happy headwear and a pox on fake cap badges.

BF, thanks for the offer to help and the insight into collecting. The fake "sculls" threads annoy me as well even though I couldn't tell a real one from a fake cast. The only reason I have participated in this forum was because of Adrian's response to my first post about a fallschirmjager badge I believed to be 100% authentic. Adrian as well as others took the time to point out all the flaws without being nasty or condescending. I then decided to become a member and try to learn as much as possible.
I do have one question regarding a word you used on cap thread I posted. You mentioned "Paspelisierung" as being the one of the keys to the recognition of fakes. does that refer to the piping or the shape of the peak ? Thanks, Al.

**Friedrich-Berthold** · 08-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Thanks, dear Ben, for your thoughtful and reflective post. I do not want to point fingers at a single personality with my own over long essay, to be sure. I also receive these bolt from the blue signals with the demand to vet something in a hurry, and, almost never receive even a thank you. Might I just say this: some of what passes for knowledge is not, in fact, and certain figures have propagated a lot of mistakes, errors, and misinformation which they never, and I mean never recant, correct, reclama, or redact. An expert does just that, and takes responsibility for getting it right, especially when so much is at stake.

I coaxed David Delich to join this site, and I want him to post here to the benefit of all concerned. I sincerely hope that he will share his considerable collection and even more considerable knowledge.

Thanks, dear Ben, for your hard work for all of us, and I surely consider you to be a very fine person invested of ideal manners for this medium.