On eBay, original or not?

[Rendsburg]

Hi All,
Take a look, original or not?
Otto

http://cgi.ebay.com/A-KURASSIER-PRUS...QQcmdZViewItem

[Shenkursk]

Yes - looks like an original piece to me... just painted green and in really bad condition. At the current price it is well worth buying for parts, if nothing else. We got $185 for this one (found in a barn) recently, and 10-15 other people asked for it also:
http://www.advanceguardmilitaria.com...1/V26081-1.jpg
http://www.advanceguardmilitaria.com...1/V26081-2.jpg
http://www.advanceguardmilitaria.com...1/V26081-3.jpg

If you want a nice one, plan on spending $1,200 to $1,500.

[Chip M]

Jeff,

I'm a bit astounded that anyone, much less 10-15 people would pay good money for such a "helmet". Pickings must be mighty slim for an item like this to gain so much interest.

Chip

[Rendsburg]

I have bought one, Lachmann, very good condition for US$ 1,480. But I'm doing nuts, good or bad I asked is that badge, I do a mistake.

http://cgi.ebay.com/PRUSSIAN-Imperia...QQcmdZViewItem

Otto

[Shenkursk]

Hey Chip!

Oddly enough, the same people would not have asked about it if it was in a bit better condition. It seems like things sell very well only when they are mint, very good... or complete relics. Fair or poor condition items do not move quickly for me, no matter how low the price. Often, I can sell a rusted relic for as much or slightly more than the same item only in fair / poor condition. The only likely answer is that relics have their own aesthetic and thus a loyal following; whereas a normal item only in very poor condition is only that - an item in very poor condition - not bad enough to be a 'relic' of interest to relic collectors, but not good enough to be attractive to regular collectors.

Our computer system tracks the number of requests for each item. I use it to determine when I was high or low on prices, and what type of things I need to be buying more regularly in the future. After looking at the record of this item... I see that I need to invest more in rust. We'll have some interesting (and hopefully sufficiently rusty) trench shields, etc. on the next catalog!

Jeff,

I'm a bit astounded that anyone, much less 10-15 people would pay good money for such a "helmet". Pickings must be mighty slim for an item like this to gain so much interest.

Chip