" Open letter " to Chris - " SS collector " ..

[Winkelman]

Even when I am not much of a writer , I just found myself typing the following = quite a long story , in another thread .
I would now like to know if other collectors agree , because I really feel that certain expert knowledge needs to be publicized - before it is lost forever .. !

Btw , of course I acknowledge all of the other experts on the subject , like Brad " Bwanek " , Ian Hulley , Emiel Niederlande , MM1985 , Disco and ALL of the other collectors that happen to like SS metal , I do not want to leave anyone out .
It is just that Chris - a long time ago - promised to write " THE " reference work one day , and I would like to see all of that knowledge in a book together one day , not just the fragments that I have gathered in posts ..

[Winkelman]

This is what I wrote earlier ,

Maybe some of you will endorse my petition - to jumpstart Chris .. ?!

I hope that somehow it is about time that Chris took that leap & finally wrote the long awaited & anticipated ,
reference book on visor insignia - it would very likely be a bestseller like the Bando / Beaver one .

If any reference work needs to be published on SS insignia right now , it would be this one ;

because a total overload of questions about these insignia has forever and again been on this Forum & all the others , again and again and again - all questions are exactly the same about these metal insignia . And it would not have to be a giant big fat Schiffer publication - allthough I would like it to be ..

I wish I had the knowledge to do it myself , but even though my collection of metal visor insignia is by now almost complete , I have more questions than I have answers ( who doesn't ? )

Chris once said that it would happen if he was 100 % complete in his own collection .
Word to the wise : Chris , that may NEVER , EVER happen .. ?

Even though unfortunately I do not know you personally , I do know this :
an author on any collectible will always find an anomaly later on , that he will want to include in his book afterwards .
Just put it in an addendum .

It is the very reason that the long awaited book on Dutch NSB insignia by Gaston is being postponed - for how many years now ? .
I think more than 5 , but I lost count .
I paid up front for that book , but now I realize that it will take forever .
Forever = most of us in our age will not live that long .

So , maybe .. just do it now , write it - what is there to lose .. ??!!

What I think is happening now is that too many collectors are relying on other publications that are very meagre on the subject = can my metal insignia be found in Bender / Angolia / Bando-Beaver .. ?

No , of course not - the rare & most interesting of metal visor insignia ( also think about all of the VT button variations ) are simply not to be found there ..

[Bob Hritz]

I have do doubt that Chris will finish his work. Seeking the final quality photos of missing pieces is what is holding up the work, is my opinion.

I also encourage Chris to keep up the work until the full material is included.

No one has worked harder than Chris to become THE authority on metal SS hat insignia.

Bob Hritz

[Felix]

I wait for the days as well

Cheers
//Felix

[Robert H]

I also would support Chris for any matters if I can help.

I am only concerned the book might get the Bible for the quality faker Mafia.

[istra63]

And I too will wait patiently in anticipation.
Good things take time.

[Ric Ferrari]

Chris's bible will gain for sure a place in my SS library.

Ric

[Ian Hulley]

I also would support Chris for any matters if I can help.

I am only concerned the book might get the Bible for the quality faker Mafia.

Yes, I know Robert BUT they've managed to screw enough people over without it anyway.

Good luck to Chris and his venture. The sooner it comes out the better in my opinion.

Cheers, Ian.

[SScollector]

Guys, I really appreciate the support and kind words. It is true, that I still need to obtain a couple of skull examples before I can finish the book, but those are not all that rare and as for the rest of the minor examples that I am missing, I will simply describe those in words, so that everything will at least be mentioned in the book.

Anyway, I hope that it doesn't take me too long to finish the book and that everyone will find it satisfying and helpful. It is a lot of work.

Thank you!

Chris

[Jeff V]

I also would support Chris for any matters if I can help.

I am only concerned the book might get the Bible for the quality faker Mafia.

This is completely false assumption made for years.

Look to all the incredible books that have been published in the last 10 years about badges and awards. Badge collecting has never been so safe due to the forums and books sharing all the details about what separates a fake from an original. The more books giving all the details about originals the better for the hobby!

[drbill]

Go Chris

A welcome addition to my ss reference library as well

[eldenwaff]

This is completely false assumption made for years.

Look to all the incredible books that have been published in the last 10 years about badges and awards. Badge collecting has never been so safe due to the forums and books sharing all the details about what separates a fake from an original. The more books giving all the details about originals the better for the hobby!

I tend to agree.
Fakers are alot of things but they are not dumb, naive, lacking in talent or resources. Some have made quality copies for years and decades even, I would hardly think a comprehensive reference ,,, If they could be troubled to buy it, would help them out very much if any.

[Robert H]

every ones own view, for sure certain bullion badges are in a very fine stage and level.

This is completely false assumption made for years.

Look to all the incredible books that have been published in the last 10 years about badges and awards. Badge collecting has never been so safe due to the forums and books sharing all the details about what separates a fake from an original. The more books giving all the details about originals the better for the hobby!

[maestro]

I'm still waiting Chris

[cris403]

Just a thought ... but rather than producing a physical book, would it not be better to produce this as an e-book (maybe in Adobe PDF format). You could then read this on your Ipad/Iphone/Smartphone & tablet.

This would allow for updates/modifications & additions to the book to be done very quickly & cheaply.

I do realise there might be a temptation for people to merely "share" the e-book without actually paying for it properly (hopefully most collectors would be honourable enough not to go down this route).

In this way Chris, you could produce something pretty quickly & at almost no publishing cost, then add to it when you have the final few pieces that you are missing.

As I stated.. just a thought ...

Cheers
Cris