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**Thomas Durante** · 08-11-2008, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by usmcaviator View Post

Hello,
This stuff surfaced here recently, a friend who knows I like military items sent me these photos. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on the breast eagle with snake wrapped around it?

Thanks for your help!

Mike, YOU need to get your facts straight. Here is your quote, you DID ask for our advice. I am talking specifically about pictures in DISCUSSION THREAD, not on the estand. If you post pics in the discussion forums, it is common courtesy to leave them here so that when people search for something in the future, they have a thread with pictures to go along with the text.

I don't care what you do with your sales threads. But, if pictures are posted in a discussion thread, I respectfully request that they remain.

Tom

**usmcaviator** · 08-11-2008, 07:54 PM

Originally posted by Thomas Durante View Post

Mike, YOU need to get your facts straight. Here is your quote, you DID ask for our advice. I am talking specifically about pictures in DISCUSSION THREAD, not on the estand. If you post pics in the discussion forums, it is common courtesy to leave them here so that when people search for something in the future, they have a thread with pictures to go along with the text.

I don't care what you do with your sales threads. But, if pictures are posted in a discussion thread, I respectfully request that they remain.

Tom

As a moderator on this forum I expected more from you. You are driving this thread to an entirely different path. I never once asked for help on the clasp. I specifically asked about the Luftwaffe breast eagle, not the badge/clasp. Go back and re-check the thread this time instead of answering in haste.

As for the pictures, I only purchased the badge, so when that sale was complete, I deleted all photos associated with the transaction. I do a lot of seperate US militaria business, and I do not keep all of my photos that are hosted by another website. I apologize for deleting the non E-stand photos and understand that forum is for education. I will not do that again if ever choose to use the forum in the future.

Mike

**Thomas Durante** · 08-11-2008, 08:10 PM

Mike,

I am NOT talking about the clasp. I don't care about the clasp, like I have mentioned in earlier posts. I am talking specifically about your snake/breast eagle badge. The pics you posted at the start of this thread is what should have stayed. The pics and the discussion help other collectors in the future when they search. Other members asked you to post pics of the clasp, which ofcourse is your perogative to answer their request or not. Again, I am not talking about your bomber clasp, but specifically the pics that you posted that started this thread.

Many well respected collectors have taken their time to post opinions on your snake badge. And inturn, offered some unsolicited opinions on your bomber clasp. No harm in that, but ignoring their requests, removing sales pictures and bad mouthing our hobby casts suspicions on your intent. Furthermore, with this attitude, don't expect much help in the future:

Originally posted by usmcaviator View Post

I use this forum only as an avenue to cut loose German militaria that I find.

Tom

**usmcaviator** · 08-11-2008, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by Gary B View Post

Dear Mike,

As I was the one who linked this thread into the sales link I think I should respond.

You are correct in what you state in your posting that this thread was only dealing with the Luftwaffe eagle and snake. I initially asked you to post the clasp not knowing you were looking to sell the clasp. I did so since all of the other items in the picture (Eagle and Snake, ring, armband) were either fantasy pieces or questionable at best. I was not the only one who questioned the pieces that were in the picture. Two other members who are well versed collectors also found fault in the items. My intent was to vet the clasp for you so you did not get burned. My assumption was if 3-4 of the items were bad/questionable then the clasp might be bad also. By your questions, and perhap I was reading into your thread, you are not well versed in TR items (and the posting of an eagle snake for verification led to this belief). Clasps are one of the most difficult items to determine originality on. Just because someone bought it does not make it real. A novice collector might hav ebought it since the price was good.

When you offer the clasp for sale and then remove pictures of the clasp AND remove pictures from this thread which by your own admittance did not even picture the clasp, you shed doubt on your intientions, whether intended or not. Without pictures of the clasp no one could offer an opinion. Without pictures of the items in this thread (which did not show the clasp) you removed anyones ability to see what you were asking questions about which would have shown your minimal knowledge base of TR items.

It is not my intent here to question your intentions. I am only pointing out that, I believe, you have a limited knowledge base of TR items based on your initial question in this thread and by removing all pictures it appears you are trying to prevent anyone from offering an opinion. Perhaps the clasp, although in the company of bad items, was real and you made a profit and the buyer got a good deal. If that is the case then good for you and him/her.

Gary B

Gary,
You are very condescending. Your assumption that I am a novice is mistaken. I had collected German militaria. I collected for about 15 years. I recently sold off a large helmet collection that I had amassed over the years. Many of those helmets now rest in collections of many of the top members on this forum. It is interesting to note that two of of those helmets were crapped on by forum members, and then later authenticated by one of the so-called "experts" who wrote a book on the subject.

It was things like having to get a perfectly real helmet (with provenance) authenticated by some guy who wrote a book, that made it frustrating for me. I became dis-enfranchised with the hobby and mainly the mindset of people within it. I am by no means an expert, but I can usually identify decent stuff when I see it. Like I said, I do not collect, so when I pick up German items, I acquire it right so that in the event I do make a mistake, I am not invested.

You are attacking me on an issue where you lack facts, lack pictures, and lack tact. You police your hobby to the point of paranoia, and it is amazing to see the bandwagon effect take hold and watch as people jump onboard to a thread they have no background on (or photos for that matter!).

I have had this conversation before with a different set of critics, so I am again not in my element here. I pick my fights wisely and see that this is one I should not participate in. I am outmatched and outnumbered by the endless critics with "two cents", a plethora of posts, and "moderator" next to their name. I have not the time to sit here and try to do battle with meaningless words. I would much rather put my talents to better use fighting the enemies of the United States.

The members of this forum deserve a better read than this thread. It truly is a waste of everyone's time, we are all no better for having read it. No one has learned anything from it. I hope it stops here and that you find some solace in your collecting field.

Mike

**usmcaviator** · 08-11-2008, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by Thomas Durante View Post

Mike,

Why not leave the pictures here in the thread? We are not trying to rip your item apart, or have an agenda. Everyone is entitled to their opinion on our hobby, but you came to usk looking for opinions and advice with a badge, the least you can do is leave the pics in the thread for future reference.

Removing pics from estand threads is fine and your choice, but please leave them in the discussion thread.

Thanks

Tom

Tom,
Again go back and check your post, you specifically are talking about the badge not the breast eagle. I even highlighted it for you this time. Way to go!

I thanked those that posted comments on the breast eagle, and waited until the thread had died, or so I thought, until the pictures were pulled. Again, you remain paranoid. Not everyone is out to ruin your hobby. I literally post stuff for sale at low prices to help your community and you attack me for pulling photos. Go back and read your posts and I think you will see a small glitter of your ludacris actions so far.

Mike

**Gary B** · 08-11-2008, 09:14 PM

Dear Mike,

My posting was not intedned to be condescending. If you read my post carefully I stated that based on your initial question dealing with the breast eagle, which appeared to be a pretty bad looking piece that most insignia collectors would have passed on, and your statement that you only sell German miltiaria when you get it (not collect it), I assumed that you were not well versed in the subject of medals. The fact that you had a great helmet collection means little in terms of knowledge on medals. I have collected medals for 30 plus years but no nothing about helmets. Knowledge in one subject does not mean knowledge in another area.

My initial point was in trying to assist you. When 75% of the items in a picture could be bad that does not lend credence to the remaining piece. The fact that you remove all pictures of the item that was sold (which is ok in itself) AND remove pictures of the items in the discussion thread make it appear that you are trying to quickly remove the possibility of anyone to discuss the items.

I did notice that you remove all pictures from your other threads after they have been discussed so, I can assume that this is standard for you and there was no malicious intent on your part by removing pictures from this thread and the e-stand clasp. To me it is the whole "appearance" I am talking about.

Gary B

**usmcaviator** · 08-11-2008, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by Gary B View Post

Dear Mike,

My posting was not intedned to be condescending. If you read my post carefully I stated that based on your initial question dealing with the breast eagle, which appeared to be a pretty bad looking piece that most insignia collectors would have passed on, and your statement that you only sell German miltiaria when you get it (not collect it), I assumed that you were not well versed in the subject of medals. The fact that you had a great helmet collection means little in terms of knowledge on medals. I have collected medals for 30 plus years but no nothing about helmets. Knowledge in one subject does not mean knowledge in another area.

My initial point was in trying to assist you. When 75% of the items in a picture could be bad that does not lend credence to the remaining piece. The fact that you remove all pictures of the item that was sold (which is ok in itself) AND remove pictures of the items in the discussion thread make it appear that you are trying to quickly remove the possibility of anyone to discuss the items.

I did notice that you remove all pictures from your other threads after they have been discussed so, I can assume that this is standard for you and there was no malicious intent on your part by removing pictures from this thread and the e-stand clasp. To me it is the whole "appearance" I am talking about.

Gary B

Gary,
I am glad to see you did some research on me. Copy all of the above, I'm tracking with what you have said. Thanks!
Best of luck in your collecting.

Mike

**Thomas Durante** · 08-11-2008, 10:06 PM

Mike,

You are reading too much into it, I really did mean your snake "badge" or whatever you want to call it. If I was talking about a bomber clasp, I would have said "clasp".

I think we have all had enough of this thread. Mike, either add the pics of the snake "badge" back or don't, that is your choice, but no more back and forth on this topic.

In the future, if you post some pics for discussion in a thread, PLEASE keep them in the thread. Sales threads are different, and I am only talking about Discussion threads.

Thanks

Tom

**PZIV** · 08-12-2008, 04:13 PM

He just wants you to keep the photos up for future reference! Is it so hard to understand?

**usmcaviator** · 08-12-2008, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by K98_man View Post

He just wants you to keep the photos up for future reference! Is it so hard to understand?

What is this? A peanut gallery? That thread added a lot to this discussion! No soup for you!

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