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Archive April, 2015
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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Friday, April 17, 2015
I've said this before but one of the best things about assembling this newsletter is the history lesson that these items can serve up. Today I learned a lot about early 20th century body armor thanks to eBay seller italianwarfront. If you know that eBay user tell him good job on his write up and pictures!
If you are like me the first reaction to see a handgun clearly listed on eBay is raised eyebrows. From the beginning this has been verboten. However, the one included in this issue gets a pass - click to see how.
The lot of German patches below are not quite as juicy as some of the ones I've had in the Hot Finds recently. But the German's weren't known for flashy unit patches with cartoon characters on them.
Some times auctions in this block are listed from foreign countries and you have to decide if you want to play that game. The Italian aviation cap below is one of those. Perhaps if you live in Europe it's less of a big deal but for me I don't do much buying overseas.
I mentioned it earlier and I suggest if you want to get the full story you scroll to the bottom of the listing to get the history lesson.
I will be doing some swapping over the weekend at a big Scouting event and the weather looks like it's going to be nice. I hope you have something fun lined up too.
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Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Just when I thought this was going to be a kick-butt week of getting stuff done my daughter got sick last night so now I'm nursing her stomach bug. I hope your Monday is off to a better start but I'm still determined to get some projects knocked out.
In the military category you have to be a little careful when a seller says what you see is what you get. That's the case with the big lot of patches listed below.
There are three watches featured in this German block. I sometimes get into trouble when I include those in this category because there are some good fakes out there.
There are several interesting pieces in this block that catches up with listings in the smaller subcats of WWII.
I don't remember having a cavalry saber in this block before. maybe that is why it's going for $400+ as it comes to a close later today.
I know most of you are not interested in Scouting collectibles but I did want to give you a link to a short video I filmed to show people my antique mall booth in North Carolina that features memorabilia from that niche hobby.
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