Crushers,all sorts of crushers

[phild]

90th Light wrote: "The point I was trying to make however and you reinforce this with more detail, is that collectors incorrectly often discount the cardboard visor version of the "crusher cap". Collectors will pay a premium for leather visor yet walk away from a cardboard one saying that it is not a "crusher." As I have already stated, the thing to understand is the internal construction of the cap to determine if one is holding a true crusher or a look a-like."

I agree with you in all of the points above. Many collectors will walk away from the non-leather visored crusher or not pay as much, although I have seen several in common branch colors bring 2k and above in recent years. I know some crushers bring much more than that these days, but at least some are reconizing the cardboard fitted type crushers as the real deal.

I made a bad mistake the first 10 to 15 years that I collected by passing on these pressed paper/carboard visored crushers because I did not know any better and followed the herd. There are still many great buys in a lot of areas of militaria. Even even new collectors without a lot of means can obtain real "sleepers" for a fraction of what (I beleive) they will one day be worth, if they do some independent research and thinking.

[BPA-Paul]

Some very nice crushers here guys !!...... Tip top !!

[90th Light]

90th Light wrote: "The point I was trying to make however and you reinforce this with more detail, is that collectors incorrectly often discount the cardboard visor version of the "crusher cap". Collectors will pay a premium for leather visor yet walk away from a cardboard one saying that it is not a "crusher." As I have already stated, the thing to understand is the internal construction of the cap to determine if one is holding a true crusher or a look a-like."

I agree with you in all of the points above. Many collectors will walk away from the non-leather visored crusher or not pay as much, although I have seen several in common branch colors bring 2k and above in recent years. I know some crushers bring much more than that these days, but at least some are reconizing the cardboard fitted type crushers as the real deal.

I made a bad mistake the first 10 to 15 years that I collected by passing on these pressed paper/carboard visored crushers because I did not know any better and followed the herd. There are still many great buys in a lot of areas of militaria. Even even new collectors without a lot of means can obtain real "sleepers" for a fraction of what (I beleive) they will one day be worth, if they do some independent research and thinking.

Hello again Phil,

you have done a great job on this forum of bring to the attention of the collecting community that there are cardboard visored examples of the "crusher" and other acceptable variations different from the norm.

Over several threads about these caps you have explained in an easy to follow manner what you have experienced with these caps over the years and I think this has helped collectors to realise that on this type of headdress you need to know your makers but a non-text book original one can also turn up every now and then.

I for one appreciate very much what you have shared willingly and this thread only seems to be getting better and better. "Crushers" are not always easy to find and rarely cheap but man are we seeing some world great examples here.

Anyway all the best again and thanks to everyone contributing to a very enjoyable thread,

Chris

[Richard P]

Bob,

Your SS crusher...thanks to Phil, now everyone will know its a true crusher. I see Stonemints saliva had an acidic effect on the pressed cardboard. Next time he comes to visit bag up all your rarest hats. Very...very nice crusher.

Phil,

Great...you just ruined my pressed paper visored crusher buying strategy for the coming year. Now everyone will be buying them. I thought you were my friend. I think you should probably send me a free one now (my choice) as a consolation.

Richard

[90th Light]

Bob,

Your SS crusher...thanks to Phil, now everyone will know its a true crusher. I see Stonemints saliva had an acidic effect on the pressed cardboard. Next time he comes to visit bag up all your rarest hats. Very...very nice crusher.

Phil,

Great...you just ruined my pressed paper visored crusher buying strategy for the coming year. Now everyone will be buying them. I thought you were my friend. I think you should probably send me a free one now (my choice) as a consolation.

Richard

No such thing as a free lunch, crushed or uncrushed .

I do not think we can blame Phil for spilling the beans on this one but what he has helped to put a stop to, those who had a cardboard visored example or one of the other variations from being told that it was not right, not a crusher or not even possibly war-time.

Nice to see the things recognised for what they are and the record put straight esp when you get some from veterans and then get told that you or the veteran was mistaken.

Can even get them with chin cords and they are still "crushers" but there another point that kills off some collectors.

Will see if I can arrange to post a couple of mine over the next week. This is a good thread,

Chris

[Kreager]

I know there are more out there. Lets see'em, if you got'em.

[stefanob]

alter art #1

Nice thread!
My contribution...infantry.

Stefano

[stefanob]

alter art #2

panzer

[stefanob]

alter art #3

chaplain

[Steinar]

WOW what superB caps really salty dogs the stories these could tell...

[paul s.]

Thought that I would add a few more to keep this going
Best Regards
paul

[paul s.]

Propaganda

[paul s.]

Recruiting

[Richard P]

Paul,

Your not supposed to stack them on top of each other. Its easy to see which ones you keep on the bottom. Joking of course, they are some pretty crushed crushers and that recruiting...wow, it really stands out, never seen one before. How many more do you have waiting in the wings to spring on us? Thanks again for sharing, starting the thread, and keeping it going.

Richard

[phild]

Bob,

Your SS crusher...thanks to Phil, now everyone will know its a true crusher. I see Stonemints saliva had an acidic effect on the pressed cardboard. Next time he comes to visit bag up all your rarest hats. Very...very nice crusher.

Phil,

Great...you just ruined my pressed paper visored crusher buying strategy for the coming year. Now everyone will be buying them. I thought you were my friend. I think you should probably send me a free one now (my choice) as a consolation.

Richard

Richard, I think that you, 90th Light, Bob H., I and all the other owners of pressed paper visored crushers should pool our collections and you could write the definitive reference book on them. We could call it "Iron Men in Pressed Paper Visored Crusher's, A Retrospective Study of the Mis-Understood Headwear of Germany's Fighting ELite". I see a 600 page (800 photographs) full size format book retailing at around $160. After publication I could see the value of our paper visored crushers increasing about 400%.

Sorry, I forgot to add: Merry Christmas to RichardP and everyone on the forum!