Bahnschutzpolizei I guess

[jmcm]

tell me little Gottlieb never dressed up as Hitler?

[Rick C]

Dzyner,

I was pondering your post, again, this morning and thought I would comment a bit. You responded to my query resulting from the spread on value/pricing that I had noted in my research: “I would welcome if anyone has some thoughts regarding realistic current values of this style.”

You advised that: “prices you see on the internet on dealer sites (including mine) are "asking" prices” going on to say that: “doesn't mean the item actually sold of that amount”. You go on to say that: “any opinions on price are just that, an opinion. In fact, chances are that the opinions you'll get were arrived at by the same means; reviewing dealer asking prices on the internet”. In the end, you lament that: “there is no such thing as a set "value" or "worth" when talking about TR items.”

I have done what I consider ‘due diligence’ in researching this this cap on the infamous internet. I have attempted, as best I can to find similarly ranked 44-45 production caps for sale for this organization - I found none. Perhaps that’s because, as pointed out by Bob Hirtz: “The Reichsbahnpolizeifuhrer visor hat is a rarity for 2 reasons. First is apparently the very few survived the war, in fine condition, and secondly, that many have been 'converted' to Waffen-SS general visor hats.” That said, I’m investing the time to research this, not because I’m spellbound by Germany’s Bahnschutzpolizei but because, where it doesn’t ‘fit’ in where I wish to go with my collection I would like to fairly move it down the road so I might retask the proceeds towards something that will fit where I’m headed. That’s why I asked: “I would welcome if anyone has some thoughts regarding realistic current values of this style.”

By your comments, I can’t use the empirical evidence found on the web. I can’t or shouldn’t use “asking prices”, the rare occasion where caps are shown as “sold” where their prices are still shown, nor anyone’s pro-offered opinion of “realistic” or reasonable value as a guide to assist me in offering this cap to another collector. So, I’m sort of at a loss. If someone PMs me asking what I want for it (as someone has), how do I respond? I don’t want to insult the collector(s) by winging it with some highball asking price - I want to move the cap down the road to someone who would appreciate it as I might a General officer’s cap. I also don’t want to price it 30% under value especially where, as I’ve found, these seem not to be offered very often at all. Thus I’ve been sitting on this for months because A. I don’t ‘need’ the cap to move and B. I honestly still don’t know what I should (again ‘fairly’) ask for it.

So, it’s sort of a conundrum for me. Your saying I should disregard asking prices, sold prices and any opinion of value someone might be kind enough to share with me, leaves this cap out of the marketplace where it might find itself in a collection focused on the Reichsbahnpolizei where it belongs rather than collecting dust here.

[compressore]

Hi,

take a good average of the dealers asking prices and start with this. See what reactions you will get.
Or consign it to a good auction house with a minimum price satisfying you and attract maybe a broader audience to it.
Yes, dealers prices are asking prices....and many times they get what they are asking for. Why should a private sale going for less ? At least, try to get a maximum out of it.
It is a rare piece.

Regards
Christian

[dzyner]

Hi Rick.

I think Christian hit the nail on the head with his comment regarding taking an average of dealer asking prices and starting there. Remember, you can always come down on your asking price, but never up once it is out there. However, the more reasonable your starting (asking) price is, the more prospective buyers will show interest. If you price it in the stratosphere you'll get no interest at all.

Also, in your latest reply you mentioned...

Your saying I should disregard asking prices, sold prices and any opinion of value someone might be kind enough to share with me, leaves this cap out of the marketplace where it might find itself in a collection focused on the Reichsbahnpolizei where it belongs rather than collecting dust here.

...To clarify, I did not say anything close to this, but was simply laying out the facts of internet pricing. If you get suggestions from the kind folks here on the forum, certainly take their opinions into consideration, balanced with fairness and common sense. My closing sentence even noted this point...

You simply have to do your research and when it comes time to sell, throw it out there with a fair "asking" price based on your research and wait for feedback.

If you're looking to sell your cap, and it sounds like you are, I would advise taking Christian's approach and perhaps bumping up or down your asking price based on the condition of the items you research compared with yours. I would also recommend that if you see one for $4,500, and the rest are in the $1,000 - $2,000 range without significant conditional differences, disregard the one at $4k and calculate your average based on the others. This is just my opinion, please keep that in mind.

[Rick C]

Christian, First, thanks for the guidance. I have sought to “average” a value based on similarly offered visors however one can’t average any Reichsbahnpolizei visor they find. I can find a few enlisted visors but one doesn’t average enlisted with officers.

Yesterday (once again) I googled “Reichsbahnpolizei visor” “Railroad Police Officer visor” and a few other variations and, disregarding pro-offered fakes and enlisted hats, I went through around fifteen pages averaging eight page listing per page or 120 google listings for each variation in search terms, finding no equivalent/like BzP visor offered. Disregarding the Huesken (pricing) that Stonemint clarified was a fake, that leaves the only offering of late (that I’ve found) that was similar was the one described by Stonemint as “ mint” being Gottlieb's auction which netted $4,000.

Can anyone point me towards ANY Reichsbahnpolizei officer/leader visors being offered currently that are authentic caps. Or, of course, drop me a PM with their "opinion" which would be greatly appreciated.

Thanx in advance, Rick

[Diane]

A very nice cap!

Rick,

This is a very nice cap, in very good condition from a prized maker. I would guess it's around $1500-2200.

Today's market is tough and only getting worse.

Diane