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Archive February, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
I've been writing this newsletter for several years now but I don't know if I've ever featured pantyhose. You know you are a serious collector if you are willing to pay more than $100 for some WAC stockings.
One of the WWI inventions that is on the project list is the submarine. If you are going to tell the story of the German sinking of the Lusitania then it fits. The sub binoculars listed below are from WWII but are a reminder for me of that lesson coming up.
To get my class warmed up for their presentations tomorrow I showed them a video on the Battle of Jutland. I usually see more RAF stuff in this block as opposed to the Royal Navy. Although I grew up as an Air Force brat I was always interested in big naval ships.
The Zimmerman telegram was probably the thing that ultimately pushed the United States to enter the war. We have been talking in class about the entangling alliances and protection agreements we have in the United States today that could possibly draw us into a war that we didn't start. Even my students wrote out some hypotheticals that sounded like reasonable theories of how this could happen.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2016
I am sure the auction nannies over on eBay were alarmed when they saw the listing pictured to the left. It's pretty unusual to see an eBay listing that includes two forbidden firearms in the gallery pictures. Just to be clear the seller is only offering up the 82nd Airborne collection but it did get my attention.
The trench binoculars might be an example of war time equipment that was ingenious but would look pretty silly to use today. I don't know maybe a hunter in a deer blind could make use of them but I wouldn't take them to a NASCAR race to watch the cars make left turns.
For a minute I thought about purchasing the old Soviet flag to use as a lesson prop. But having grown up in the 80s I still remember how we looked at the Soviets in the Cold War. Instead of displaying this in my class during the lesson I'll just stick to a computer graphic and spend my money somewhere else.
The closing block is full of WW1 pieces including trench art, helmets, medals and more. Click any of these to see what the best selling items are from the war fought 100 years ago.
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Thursday, February 18, 2016
Speaking of old stuff there is plenty in this issue. Being a thread head I have to confess my favorite is the 533rd Bomb Sq. 381st Bomb Group Chenille pictured to the left that is over $400 and going strong.
For a treat in this block go all the way to the bottom and click on the Luftwaffe hat. It's over $500 and is in pristine collection. There is no reserve and with 28 bids I expect this one is not done climbing.
This block feature auctions from Italy, Russia, Japan and other actors in the war. The most interesting may be that green vet bring back Japanese helmet pictured to the left. At over $500 it's got some people's attention.
Click to see some of the best items in the WWI category on eBay. There is not nearly as much stuff in this smaller cousin to WWII but there is always some interesting auctions to go through.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The helmets in this block are a good mix of what collectors go for. I think most of us can spot a tanker helmet from far away and I bet back in the day that was true. It's kinda interesting how they don't really look like anything an aviator would wear or an infantryman.
The neat holster below is for a FN Browning Model 1922 pisto. Isn't it interesting that holsters seem to be something very unique to German collectors in the Hot Finds. I don't know but I can't remember featuring say an American sidearm holster but surely they didn't just keep them tucked in their pants.
What tends to happen in the WWII category is that people are fairly liberal in choosing which subcategory to list their item. So for example the Dutch uniform below is listed for sale in the United States category. No harm done I guess it's a matter of trying to find where the eyes are to get more bids.
My wife bought me a Hamilton watch one year for a present and not too long later I lost it at the fitness center (or did someone take it?). She still hasn't forgotten that and I've now been wearing Timex Wal-mart watches for the last decade. Still the idea has crossed my mind that it would be nice to get a quality Hamilton again. I'm not sure I want one as old as the one listed below but it's a good brand.
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Thursday, February 11, 2016
Be careful if you click on the nice Marine dress uniform below. When I did eBay threw up a link to one of those scantily clad models wearing a similar uniform. But hey if you need a pick-me-up right about now she is easy on the eyes.
The old typewriter below is not selling for big bucks. When I went off to college in the early 1990s I took my family's typewriter as personal computers were just becoming more common. Luckily I only remember banging out one term paper on the old machine before we put it into retirement.
Click on the auctions in this block to see what's shaking in several of the smaller categories within WWII. Each of these categories has it's own favorites whether they be Japanese swords or Russian medals.
While teaching a class the other day I saw a video clip of soldiers wearing those spiked helmets. I just don't know what the fashion police of the day were thinking with that style.
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