New Collector

[marshmister20]

Hi my name is Marshall Bias i am new to collecting i love all the stuff i think its great. I just turned 13 in june and i'm starting to love all of this so if anyone could give me a couple of things just to get started on my collection I would greatly apprectiate it.

[Xray]

No free lunch son, you have to earn everything that you get.
You are in a forum of men, you ought to act like it, and soliciting freebies is not very manly.
[I might add, on further reflection that, although this forum is doubtlessly composed of majority adult males, no offense intended to any female & under 18 collectors out there].
My point was - At 13, a boy is approaching manhood, and its time to start acting like it.

[Chet Sowersby]

I can't say that I totaly disagree with Xray's comments. Were you to come and learn and partisipate over a period of time I'am sure some fellow collectors would realize your positon and perhaps help you with a gift. However, to just come on board and ask for a hand-out doesn't cut it with me. Put in your time and pay some dues young man.

Chet

[Xray]

I have found that encouraging "the easy way out" is a very bad habit to instill in youngsters, I was raised with the exact opposite ethic, and try to pass it on.
With young men especially, they must learn to earn, and take pride in providing for themselves, and their eventual families.
I realize, as well as anyone else, the financial constraints on most youngsters.
They have to accept that reality, and make moves NOW to be able to finance their needs, and hobbies.
I have 5 young ones nickel & diming me half to death every single day - But of course, they are family, and it is my obligation to provide for them until they are able to provide for themselves.

That said, marshmister20, you are a Association Member.
I'm guessing that wasn't just given to you.
Try putting up an add in the wanted section.
Explain that you are very interested in this hobby and are of limited financial means ect.
Properly phrased, perhaps a sympathetic collector[s] will give you a great deal ,,, But flat out asking for gifts for free is not the way to go about it.

Summers here - Mow some lawns and earn some EK2 money.
Winter ? Lots of snow in the mid-west. Don't know about you, when I was 13 I earned $100's every year shoveling lots of it.

[Voldbjerg]

Firstly I would like to bid you welcome to the largest and best militaria forum ever!

Secondly I would like to say some things that might help you:

It is always difficult in the beginning. Sorting out the originals from all the crap which flows around is probably the hardest thing in this hobby. Money is the second hardest thing.

If you want to avoid those anoying and expensive crap fakes, you will have to "suck" every knowledge avaible on the specific items you want to collect. Just find as much info as you can.
This forum is just as good as many reference books, so in the beginning those are not as important as they would be if you started out collecting Waffen-SS or Fallschirmjäger stuff.
Surf around and check everything related to your area of interest.
If you should find an item of interest like a helmet or EK, it would probably be a good idea to compare it with the confirmed originals on this forum.
This way you will save money for the real deal items..

If you should ever have some problems concerning fx. some items you can always turn to this forum.
Just remember to describe the issue in such way that other forum members clearly understand you.

When it comes to money I can only say one thing: Get a job.
As Xray already pointed out, a job is the most important resource when it comes to collecting militaria. Without money you're likely to get a very very few items for your collection. Unless you know some veterans ofcourse.
I for example, I work 4 days a week almost every week this summer. This way I earn some money which I can spend on what ever I want.
Especially TR items.
Also to notice is that having a job makes you mentally older and more strong, You will learn how to work and how to make your money last.


I hope this helps a bit.. And ofcourse, HAPPY COLLECTING!

[Finnishlion178]

Voldbjerg, is right about everything he said. From one young collcetor to another, don't get too upset if you end up getting a fake in your collcetion. It has happen to all of us at one point or another. When in doubt, walk out. If the items looks funny or does not seem right to you, just walk away from it. Never buy it if you have doubts about it even if the book say it is a orginal. Also use the forums, if you have any questions and don't be too shy to ask. If you don't know, you don't know. No one can fault you for that.

[Napalm]

When I was 13 I was more interested in Girls and drink and drugs ( we start early here :-) ) rather than decaying bits of metal and cloth but thats just me. Get a job if you can find one and best of luck young man and maybe Charlie S has an intern position going for the summer lol

[kirk]

Buy and read books on our hobby.Learn all you can.Be carefull what you buy.Be honest in your dealings.Earn money by working part time jobs to buy militaria.Good luck.

[STEBALIN]

I can´t but second all the guys who have ppsted here. I´ve gotten some items for free, but that´s just because of the goodwill and kindness of some experienced collectors who have helped me. But prior to that I earned my cash by washing cars, painting houses, cleaning toilets, working my butt out till late on pubs and restaurants and reselling the items I got. Nothing unusual in this for what we want always demands our sweat to get them in our hands.

Do not ask for goodwill nor kindness, because you won´t get it.
IMHO, This will not only be useful for collecting but for life too.

That´s my advice, free of charge.

[STEBALIN]

I can´t but second all the guys who have ppsted here. I´ve gotten some items for free, but that´s just because of the goodwill and kindness of some experienced collectors who have helped me. But prior to that I earned my cash by washing cars, painting houses, cleaning toilets, working my butt out till late on pubs and restaurants and reselling the items I got. Nothing unusual in this for what we want always demands our sweat to get them in our hands.

Do not ask for goodwill nor kindness, because you won´t get it.
IMHO, This will not only be useful for collecting but for life too.

That´s my advice, free of charge.

When I was 13 I was more interested in Girls and drink and drugs ( we start early here :-) ) rather than decaying bits of metal and cloth but thats just me. Get a job if you can find one and best of luck young man and maybe Charlie S has an intern position going for the summer lol

Yeah, I`m in that too now. Both collecting and these can be good bedfellows

[Xray]

Don't intend to continue harping on this kid, if such he is, but a juvenile should not be in a forum of adults looking for handouts.
What if someone pm'ed you and said "sure, give me your address, I'll send u some nice, kewl stuff!" ?
The guy might be on the level, or the guy might be a dateline NBC pervert.
I sure wouldn't let any kid of mine solicit donations on an internet forum, and I'd have a hard time believing that your parents would be too thrilled about it, either.

I also notice that this is not the 1st time you have sought donations.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=317900

Please, get a handle on this thing, and do things the right way - And begging is most certainly not the right way.

On top of that, you've got an SS pin and SS armband in your collection - Were these donated to you .. And you need us to "help you start your collection" with SS items, EK2's, PAB, multiple IAB's, stickpins and a HJ knife already in it ?
Sumthins not adding up here.

[John Macrini]

Please, get a handle on this thing, and do things the right way - And begging is most certainly not the right way.

On top of that, you've got an SS pin and SS armband in your collection - Were these donated to you .. And you need us to "help you start your collection" with SS items, EK2's, PAB, multiple IAB's, stickpins and a HJ knife already in it ?
Sumthins not adding up here.

NO DOUBT!!! I just turned 30, have been collecting for 2 1/2 years and I have an extremely fruitful job, and that collection blows mine out of the water!!!

[Chet Sowersby]

Wow, I just pulled up your past posts after having read the responses from other fourm members. To me it apperars that you are just a "user". looking for something for nothing. Its a pity, that here in the US we have accepted that something for nothing in the last twenty or so years is acceptable. I am trying very hard to be pc here, but you need to suck it up and be a man.

Chet

[bigschuss]

On top of that, you've got an SS pin and SS armband in your collection - Were these donated to you .. And you need us to "help you start your collection" with SS items, EK2's, PAB, multiple IAB's, stickpins and a HJ knife already in it ?
Sumthins not adding up here.

Is this true? And he's here asking for hand-outs "just to get him started?"

Hey kid....I've got a WWII German Marsch Kompass you can have. I think you need some direction in your life.

[panzer224]

Hi,

I know from where you are coming from. I too am only a teenager and at 15 it is hard to make money. I have been collecting since I was around ten and I absolutely love it as well. Trust all of the guys here that are giving you advice. I have done a lot of studying and a lot of hard work to get items and it is not easily. I though am lucky. My father owns a restauraunt where I live and I work to make the money for my items. Also, remember that you can't automatically go in asking people to find big stuff. I was like that when I fist joined but I have learned a lot. I am only focusing on items that I can afford and that are of interest to me. Just never try and ask for stuff to be handed to you. There are many kids like you and me who do have an interest but we need to work for it. Trust me on this. I only make enough money for the smaller things but with my american stuff I can make trades with dealers for german items as well.