Birmingham Fair (UK)

[lenny]

Ah well, as long as kids enjoyed it!

It was OK...kids loved it!!!! They ended up with a new toy each...I ended up with less money and wet!!!!

/Ian

[Tim R. B.]

Lenny it was good to meet up with you and the boys, i think Arthur said he would be receiving the Kelly Hicks books in a couple of weeks. I was tempted to buy the latest radovic books, there's some good helmets in there and some fantastic period photos. It was good to have a wonder round checking out the helmets, i am pleased you picked up a helmet because i know you were tempted with a P38. We did spot a few traders selling helmets that were in the Radovic volumes, they were all at the top end of the price scale. I did get the camera out a couple of times but i did go down too well with the traders. The price of the MP40's are starting to come down, i saw two around the £1500 mark compared to twelve months ago when they were touching £2000. I didn't manage to pick anything up, i went there hoping to find a minty m35 green dd police helmet, this is my latest quest. I think we will have to get a wad of cash together and get over to the MAX or SOS and liberate some helmets.

[BenVK]

What's the best show in the UK then lads?

I went to the one in Detling in August and thought it was a bag of ****e. I was really gutted because of all the fakes on sale, most weren't even good fakes at that.

[Ian Jewison]

What's the best show in the UK then lads?

I went to the one in Detling in August and thought it was a bag of ****e. I was really gutted because of all the fakes on sale, most weren't even good fakes at that.

To be honest I tend not to get much from fairs these days, either I get my items from other collectors, contacts or off the internet!

I use fairs as meeting up with other like minded enthusiasts and catch up with forum members...a good chat over a tea and sausage butty, or a pint goes down well!

Pudsey is OK, bit far for you though

[stevezz1]

What's the best show in the UK then lads?

I went to the one in Detling in August and thought it was a bag of ****e. I was really gutted because of all the fakes on sale, most weren't even good fakes at that.

Hi Ben,
I would agree with Ian.
Militaria shows over here seem to have gone down hill over the past couple of years.
I was not very impressed with Beltring this year, didn't bother with Detling, and any future purchases i make will be from fellow collectors.

Although this, and other forums, are a mine of support and information, they have made me rather paranoid............
Even checking items with the best reference books there are still leaves me with a nagging doubt........

All the best,
Steve.

[BenVK]

Hey Steve,

It's funny really, I went to Detling thinking that I'd be out of my depth compared to all these professional collectors, after all, I'm a totally newbie compared.
But, after talking to a few dealers, I quickly realised that their business is mostly talking bull****!
The only guy who knew his stuff and had anything worth buying was this Italian dealer with a tiny little stall and a handfull of stuff, we got chatting and he turned out to be a top bloke and I'll definitely buy from him in the future.

Best part was seeing a few of the guys that I'd sold blank firing MP40's to doing their stuff in the battle re-enactments, man! hearing fifty plus of them all blasting away at the same time really made the trip worthwhile!

Any new additions to the Luger family? I never did get one in the end. Had a few nice blank shooters but that's as far as I got.
Must admit that I've got the headgear bug big time now, so many pitfalls but that's just part of the challenge I reckon...the forum is a good place for opinions but you've still got to go with your gut feelings haven't you?!

Take it easy mate..
Ben

[BenVK]

a good chat over a tea and sausage butty

Ian, I've never had a tea and sausage butty before, doesn't the tea make the bread all soggy!

[lenny]

HI Tim,

Yeah, good to meet up! It's a long drive for us, 4 hours down and 5 back, traffic was bad, but worth it anyway. Nothing much helmet wise, but worth it to see osme of the "usual suspects".

I got the latest Radovic books from Arthur at the last Carlisle Fair, they're ok, glad I got them!

Tredwyn had a trop with a dent from Radovic book, wanted £950. Mmmmm..

Pudsey is on 17th Oct, should be there!

Lenny it was good to meet up with you and the boys, i think Arthur said he would be receiving the Kelly Hicks books in a couple of weeks. I was tempted to buy the latest radovic books, there's some good helmets in there and some fantastic period photos. It was good to have a wonder round checking out the helmets, i am pleased you picked up a helmet because i know you were tempted with a P38. We did spot a few traders selling helmets that were in the Radovic volumes, they were all at the top end of the price scale. I did get the camera out a couple of times but i did go down too well with the traders. The price of the MP40's are starting to come down, i saw two around the £1500 mark compared to twelve months ago when they were touching £2000. I didn't manage to pick anything up, i went there hoping to find a minty m35 green dd police helmet, this is my latest quest. I think we will have to get a wad of cash together and get over to the MAX or SOS and liberate some helmets.

[Tom M]

Where's the photos?

[lenny]

Where's the photos?

The dealers were a bit arsey about pics.. sorry! You're not missing anything though!

[Ian Jewison]

The dealers were a bit arsey about pics.. sorry! You're not missing anything though!

Now thats a suprise

[Tom M]

Thats OK lenny. I wish I could've gone, for meeting up purposes I can imagine the dealers would get funny.
"No, No you can't take pictures sir, they're 100% original and I don't want them copied". Yeah rite mate

[lenny]

Yeah, maybe at the next B/Ham fair we could all meet up, better to prowl in packs!

Tim and I compared notes on a few.... great way to do it.

Thats OK lenny. I wish I could've gone, for meeting up purposes I can imagine the dealers would get funny.
"No, No you can't take pictures sir, they're 100% original and I don't want them copied". Yeah rite mate

[Tim R. B.]

Lenny a fair old way to come but you did pick up the KM. I did hear a quote the other day though, Brits think a 100 miles is a long way and Americans think a 100 years is a long time.
I would like to make Pudsey, but if not i will be at the next Birmingham show, i think it's good to have a pack checkout helmets, we'll have to meet up again along with anyone else who'd like to join in.

[lenny]

Yep, will be at next Birmingham fair, if a few of us want to meet up, do a wolf pack on the helmets?

Guys?

Lenny a fair old way to come but you did pick up the KM. I did hear a quote the other day though, Brits think a 100 miles is a long way and Americans think a 100 years is a long time.
I would like to make Pudsey, but if not i will be at the next Birmingham show, i think it's good to have a pack checkout helmets, we'll have to meet up again along with anyone else who'd like to join in.