POSTING NICKs COLLECTION!

[NickG]

Waffen SS Legion Wallonien recruiting pamphlet
(Wallonien is German, spelled "Wallonie" on the shield in French.

Note the SS runes style "S" used in the words
RejoinS (join)
RenseignementS (information)
BruxelleS (Brussels)!

[NickG]

More later...(neat US stuff)
Time to hit the hay!!!

[SteelhelmJim]

Why?

Nick,

It may not be cool for me to ask this, but I'm not the silent, polite type. I just have to ask these questions, so here goes...Has anyone ever accused you being OCD or a Hoarder? What compels you to buy/collect so much? When did it start? How much have you spent? How many rooms does it fill? Why do you just cram things together?
When are you going to get a building/museum to display everything?
These many items deserve to be shared with as many people as possible, not shoved into a storage room type situation. Don't ya think?

Your collection/hoard is jaw-dropping awesome!

Jim

[NickG]

Nick,

It may not be cool for me to ask this, but I'm not the silent, polite type. I just have to ask these questions, so here goes...Has anyone ever accused you being OCD or a Hoarder? What compels you to buy/collect so much? When did it start? How much have you spent? How many rooms does it fill? Why do you just cram things together?
When are you going to get a building/museum to display everything?
These many items deserve to shared with as many people as possible, not shoved into a storage room type situation. Don't ya think?

Your collection/hoard is jaw-dropping awesome!

Jim

__________________
Good question and yes it has been brought up before... this topic.... Its a shame that its all one big cluttered unorganized display (triple stacked make-shift mannequin displays)
in a relatively small 400 sq.ft area....but that's all I've got for now....and I'm using the word display loosely. Indeed more like a storage/holding area with limited access,
limited view-ability until I can deal with it better somewhere else... I have been offered places but these so far all had security concerns... I big issue for off site options!

My dream is indeed to have 150-200 mannequins all decked out and displayed properly one day in a suitable building to share with people.
That would be my goal (retirement project...I still have 20+ years to go before that happens!) Just buying that amount of mannequins is crazy money!

Why so much? (1) for a museum display one day to share with the general public and (2) for the investment value... So its basically my nest egg.
My 401K just lost 29% of its value in 2010 alone ...so that's a joke... I see this collection as a back up 401K. Can't go wrong with that!
Right? Thanks for asking and for your compliment on the wide variety of stuff that I own!

[SteelhelmJim]

Sounds good Nick. Let us know when that museum project gets off the ground. I, for one, would travel to see it.

Jim

[Paddy2010]

Those Dutch wings look amazing are they all wartime??

[NickG]

Those Dutch wings look amazing are they all wartime??

As far as I know YES (some even prewar), others mid-war exile types, marked "Toye" and Toye silver"

Regarding that topic;

Here's an interesting piece!
Its a Canadian tailor made officer's dress uniform + matching pants,
badged for a Dutch aviator (qualified observer) serving in the free Dutch Army Airforce (in exile).

Tailored in Hamilton Ontario Canada as the tag shows, using Canadian Airforce pattern service tunic with minor modifications
like Dutch pattern cuffs and an added a custom touch; a fob pocket for a pocket watch!

Googling this I found out that during the war Hamilton (Ont) was the location of a Commonwealth aviation school for observers (RCAF)
where also Dutch aviators received their training.
So the Lieutenant (Dutch rank = 1 star on collar) obviously had his uniform tailored locally in town near the base, during the war!

Tailor date = 1943 (5-18-43).
With a name like Lt. "Brevet" he was destined to become an aviator, perhaps a washed out pilot candidate,
turned observer... (in Dutch "Waarnemer").

[NickG]

details; dated and named (1943) ,Dutch pattern buttons made by "Guant London", aviation shoulder strap insignia!

[NickG]

Here's another aviation related uniform that's coming my way.
A US War aid (Lend-lease) produced battle dress jacket badged for a SAAF pilot

[NickG]

Italian M40 wool Sergeant's uniform impression

[NickG]

Another German acquisition!
NSKK Transport Gruppe Todt uniform jacket with late Speer style (Army like) shoulderstraps.

The singular collar numeral is unofficial, could indicate 2 kraftfahrer kompanie
(2nd truck driver company)

[NickG]

Mid war 6 button NSKK tunic also with NSKK Transport Gruppe Todt buttons,
like the previous tunic. Buttons are painted glass!
Collar has some damege unfortunately... Note bullion officers quality driver's raute!

[NickG]

Gemeinde (municipal) Gendarm officer (Lieutenant) great coat (orange branch color) with Volkssturm armband
and Schutzpolizei NCO great coat Green branch color) + Polizei fur cap.
I had shown the officer one before but here it is in comparison with the Schupo one! I just like Polizei!

[WWIIBuff]

Fantastic Nick! I always enjoy seeing updates to this thread. You have so many interesting items that are not normally seen in collections.

Every time I visit you I find something new to appreciate.

[NickG]

Fantastic Nick! I always enjoy seeing updates to this thread. You have so many interesting items that are not normally seen in collections.

Every time I visit you I find something new to appreciate.

Thanks John. I guess you could call me the king of para military collecting...so many variations!
and all that field gray gets boring after a while you know... I like NSKK, OT, SPeer,RAD,Pol !!!

This is what these glass buttons look like!