Sal,
I used to take a few Poloroid photos of the better items we got, but very few. The Spanish Cross was not something that would habve been photographed. I took photos of the truely rare items: standards, German Crosses with Diamonds, honor daggers, etc. The medals we chase today were not rare enough, then, to make archival records.
I am sorry that we didn't bother to document more, but we were running many-many ads and between the ads were selling at the shows. The hundreds of common daggers, common medals, hats, uniforms, flags, etc., were just stock and of little importance to us, in a historical context. We were seeking itmes that were unique and unusual. Jeff Roth found the Hitler City of Solingen Sword and we bought the two Lugers that George Lugar used for the 1908 US firearm trials. Jeff made fine photo albums of those items which were included when these items were sold.
Many collectors, who participate here, remember those days and had bought unique items from us. In that time, no one questioned our method of getting items and certainly no one questioned the authenticity of these pieces. We did keep records of the purchases as to the names and addresses, and former units of the soldiers, when bought directly from them. Jeff Roth may still have them, but I haven't seen Jeff in several decades, since he retired.
Back then, the community was smaller and we knew most of the people who bought from us. Of course, with the expansion of the global market, I often wonder where everything ended up. Many rare and unique items have never been in books or have been seen on the internet. I suppose these old collectors are less saavy with the modern collector instant information world.
Bob Hritz
I used to take a few Poloroid photos of the better items we got, but very few. The Spanish Cross was not something that would habve been photographed. I took photos of the truely rare items: standards, German Crosses with Diamonds, honor daggers, etc. The medals we chase today were not rare enough, then, to make archival records.
I am sorry that we didn't bother to document more, but we were running many-many ads and between the ads were selling at the shows. The hundreds of common daggers, common medals, hats, uniforms, flags, etc., were just stock and of little importance to us, in a historical context. We were seeking itmes that were unique and unusual. Jeff Roth found the Hitler City of Solingen Sword and we bought the two Lugers that George Lugar used for the 1908 US firearm trials. Jeff made fine photo albums of those items which were included when these items were sold.
Many collectors, who participate here, remember those days and had bought unique items from us. In that time, no one questioned our method of getting items and certainly no one questioned the authenticity of these pieces. We did keep records of the purchases as to the names and addresses, and former units of the soldiers, when bought directly from them. Jeff Roth may still have them, but I haven't seen Jeff in several decades, since he retired.
Back then, the community was smaller and we knew most of the people who bought from us. Of course, with the expansion of the global market, I often wonder where everything ended up. Many rare and unique items have never been in books or have been seen on the internet. I suppose these old collectors are less saavy with the modern collector instant information world.
Bob Hritz
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