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Archive April, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Ok so what exactly is a crystal radio? I didn't know myself until doing some digging trying figure out the listing pictured to the far left. It is described as a POW made radio of a very simple type and includes the dog tags from the Stalag where the prisoner was held. It's neat to find items like this in the category that have an interesting story to them.
Wow I know that binoculars are popular in this category. But if you combine that with the box and a complete kit to go with it you have a superstar auction in the German category. Click on the one pictured to the far left below to see an auction ending later today that is doing well.
There are several unique auctions in this block which covers many different countries. You might want to click on the RAF tunic below although some of the other listings are a little more unique today.
Click to see any auctions featured from the first World War including some colorful uniform pieces.
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Friday, April 1, 2016
There are a pair of sweet listings pictured below. One is at $1500 and has not me the reserve and another is wide open. These are the uniform groupings pictured below and I bet you can guess which one is over $1k in bidding already.
It seems like almost every week I can share a strange issue in this German block. So since the time that I started building this newsletter the box of binoculars below has been pulled. Not by eBay but instead by the seller itself. Could it be that someone offered to purchase it off eBay and he was willing to cut it down and save on eBay fees?
I have often commented on the photography of sellers in this category. We've seen mannequins and even scantily clad female models. I'm just not sure I've seen an average Joe offer to photograph himself demonstrating an item up for bids. I don't know if it helps but seeing a human face did catch my eye.
I probably don't mention it enough but there is a website that I maintain which serves as the archives for the Hot Finds Newsletter. It is located at www.WWIIHotFinds.com and you will find all the issues of the newsletter linked in there.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015
I am getting this issue sent out super late with apologies. I had a lot of things come up today but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss an issue.
Here are some great picks from the United States category which is the largest in WWII on eBay.
Here are German picks that are getting bids and ending soon on eBay.
The third block in the Hot Finds take a look at some of the smaller subcategories.
For years now I've included a WW1 block since there is a good bit of crossover in the categories.
The next issue is due out Thursday and I don't see anything coming up that would slow me down.
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Sunday, April 26, 2015
Today I've got to rush out the door to start a busy afternoon of kid activities and meetings. So I'll skip some of the introductions and get straight to showing you what I found in the largest military collectibles category on eBay.
In a little over a week eBay will roll out a policy that makes it free to run auctions so long as they sell. That is only a small carrot for expensive items like those in our category but I'll be curious to see if any users bite on that.
I've been watching the news about the former German soldier that is now on trial as being complicit in the deaths of as many as 300,000 Jews. It is interesting how 75 years later you can still find stories in the paper all the time that relate back to the war.
This block features items from Russia, Japan, the UK and many other small categories within the big WWII umbrella.
Click to see some of the most popular live auctions in the smaller WWI category.
I am off again this weekend to swap patches and camp with the Scouts. I'll be back Monday to report on more great military auction on eBay.
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Tuesday, April 21, 2015
I got the nicest compliment from a reader in Georgia last week. He runs a shop near Atlanta that sells WWI & WWII items and he told me that he forwards the Hot Finds to some of his own customers.
Sometimes you have to chuckle when you read descriptions and titles on eBay. Take for example the title of the mortar shell that is for sale below. With only 80 characters to describe his auction the seller made sure to burn a few telling you "never used". Hmm...you think!
I want to point out the nice listing below for a German MG34 Armorers Kit. That auction is closing later tonight and it's already up to $400.
Not everyone is interested in Italian uniforms but since the one listed below is for a General maybe it will get some clicks.
I read a very interesting article today about the Gallipoli campaign. The British are preserving a ship that saw action in that conflict and I honestly had never heard about it. After reading up it seems like several countries (Australia, New Zealand, Turkey) have that down in their grade school textbooks as a major one.
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