I have a question about value?

[Ron C.]

This is not a uniform or headgear, but it depicts both. It is of course a statue or figure of Hindenburg in uniform. I brought it back from Germany in 1976, when I returned from service at the JAGC office in Bad Kreuznach with the 8th ID. I really have forgotten whether I bought it at an antique shop I used to go to often in BK, or if I got it at the Frankfurt Flea Market (I got a lot of stuff there). I can't tell you how big it is, but it is rather large. You can get some idea of the size, because behind it hanging on the wall is a riker mount with some of my jump wings and backgrounds in it.

Now the question, I am not saying I would sell it and obviously I haven't for over 30 years (and I know exactly where it is); however, if I were to consider selling it what do you think I could get for it? It is the only one like it I ever saw, maybe there are lots more.....but I never saw another and I used to go to a lot of the shows and set up to sell things.

Ron

[Shawn Southern]

Hindenburg Figure

Cool figure. Can you estimate the height? Is it 18 inches or 3 feet? What is the material of construction?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[jmcm]

Sounds like a secret!!!!!!!!

[Ron C.]

Cool figure. Can you estimate the height? Is it 18 inches or 3 feet? What is the material of construction?

Best Regards,

Shawn

It is much closer to 3 feet rather than 18 inches, I can't get downstairs to measure it yet due to Osteonecrosis in my left knee area of the upper left leg bone. The material is a pottery type, so I guess it is clay.......I really don't know what they make pottery out of...just clay.

I don't remember how big a riker mount is but it is likely around 12 to 16 inches on the bigger side. If mine were 12 inches tall, and this one is close behind the figure I would estimate the figure of Hindenburg would be 3 feet tall more or less.......I know it is much bigger than 18 inches.

Ron

[Ron C.]

Sounds like a secret!!!!!!!!

What do you mean "a secret"? I told what I was seeking. I didn't say for sure where I got it, because I don't remember. The reason I don't is had to retire as a judge because I had a stroke with resultant brain damage and memory loss. In my profile you can see where I am from and at least part of what I did in the past. You are the secret, one finds out very little about you except you are from the USA.

Now what secret do you mean?

Ron

[joerookery]

Ron,

I have never seen a full-size one before either. I have seen a bust that was very similar. Made out of some sort of ceramic material. It however, seems to have been in worse shape than yours. There were a lot of chips. I think it is quite attractive but I think your market will be limited by the large size. I would also be very concerned about shipping it without damage. As you live in West Virginia you would not be as far from SOS however, your mobility must limit that. Should you arrive at a price – values are something I am not good at – let me know. You might have a customer! God bless.

[ROBB]

He appears to be missing his sword , but its quite striking and a fabulous piece , value is in the eye of the beholder . Rob

[luftwaffenkopf]

a very nice piece. these are not common enough to know the market value. i would say at least a $1K.

this thread made me think about something i don't hear from collectors often. what will happen to your collection when you're gone? i don't mean this specifically towards you Ron, but towards all of us as collectors. that's just the reality of life. do you have things cataloged with current evaluations? the reason i ask is that often i see widows selling their husbands stuff not knowing what it's worth and being taken advantage of. just a passing thought, ignore it if you feel offended or think it's off topic. i meant it with concern for good

by the way, i saw a great play, 'The Price', by Arthur Miller last night and its subject matter deals with this topic, in part.

[Ron C.]

a very nice piece. these are not common enough to know the market value. i would say at least a $1K.

this thread made me think about something i don't hear from collectors often. what will happen to your collection when you're gone? i don't mean this specifically towards you Ron, but towards all of us as collectors. that's just the reality of life. do you have things cataloged with current evaluations? the reason i ask is that often i see widows selling their husbands stuff not knowing what it's worth and being taken advantage of. just a passing thought, ignore it if you feel offended or think it's off topic. i meant it with concern for good

I don't worry so much about that. I have been researching some, and sometimes some of the still active guys will give me some information........and I make a record of it. It is hard, as it is to use the computer with my hands having so much difficulty hitting the right keys since my stroke (it got better for a while, b ut now it is getting worse again); however, I recently got Dragon and I hope to use it if I can learn how.

In any event I don't worry about it much, my son Robert is 17 now and he has gotten interested in many of the things (in fact I have already given him several of them.....for instance he knows "Woody" Williams too and likes him and, although it don't have his Medal of Honor I do have a few of his things and I doubt he would ever dispose of them, he never met Paul Huff but he knows all about him and him giving me the Medal of Honor that General Clark awarded him in Italy.....even if it were legal to sell, he wouldn't). My wife will not be selling my things, I have made my will myself and I have provided for her; however, all of my collections of all types guitars, fountain pens, coins and all military stuff I have left to Robert. He has been informed about them and he researches everything, I doubt he will get "ripped off" on what he decides to get rid of when the time comes.

I am not in the least offended by what you said. Even though I have died 4 times and been brought back, I know sooner or later if will not be coming back, and it is good to plan for things.......I have to the best of my ability but I can't do anything to control things after I die, I just have to trust my son, and I do.

Thank you,
Ron

[Paul B]

Hindenburg Figure

Hi Ron

A really impressive item -I've never seen another one (and have no idea of it's value) but there's a similar piece (which appears to be missing the spike from the pickelhaube) on display in the German History Museum's WWI exhibition:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...?frame=2923119

I wonder how many variations of these there were -Hindenburg was a national icon and was immortalised on posters and ceramics, and there were even huge wooden figures of him that civilians could hammer nails into when they purchased war bonds.

All the best

Paul.

[Ron C.]

Hi Ron

A really impressive item -I've never seen another one (and have no idea of it's value) but there's a similar piece (which appears to be missing the spike from the pickelhaube) on display in the German History Museum's WWI exhibition:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/w...?frame=2923119

I wonder how many variations of these there were -Hindenburg was a national icon and was immortalised on posters and ceramics, and there were even huge wooden figures of him that civilians could hammer nails into when they purchased war bonds.

All the best

Paul.

Paul,

I really have no idea what it was for, however it is so big I can't see it being just like a figurine to put in a china cabinet. I thought maybe it might be something that a place that sold military medals or private purchase military effects might use as a display sort of like old tobacco or pipe shops used to have "cigar store Indians".

Ron

[mchap]

The details are quite nice and Im sure to the right person it would sell for $1k or more.

Ive seen similar text on a helmet posted in a thread before....it took awhile to locate the thread but finally I got a hit.
The text is not exact, but similar.... I dont think the two are related, but thought it might be fun to put it out there as a contemporary "Hindenburg collectable" possibility.

Pictures were posted by Luftwaffenkopf for another member, RGD51

[Brian L.]

The details are quite nice and Im sure to the right person it would sell for $1k or more.

Ive seen similar text on a helmet posted in a thread before....it took awhile to locate the thread but finally I got a hit.
The text is not exact, but similar.... I dont think the two are related, but thought it might be fun to put it out there as a contemporary "Hindenburg collectable" possibility.

Pictures were posted by Luftwaffenkopf for another member, RGD51

Mike
That helmet is likely Freikorps Hindenburg.

I suspect the sword is missing on this statue because it was separate and possibly a reduced size version of a real one rather than one made of clay, as at that size clay wouldn't be strong enough.

[Ron C.]

Cool figure. Can you estimate the height? Is it 18 inches or 3 feet? What is the material of construction?

Best Regards,

Shawn

Shawn,

Maybe now I can give you a better idea of the size of it. Since I am having some computer problems, I have been working on photos to try to save them in case it crashes. I found this shot of my room before the wall collapsed and it had to replace it. It is sitting in the old shelves I first had and it is next to the Luftwaffe tunic, so that should give you a better idea of the size of it.

Ron