For an American this is the saddest thing I have ever seen. I can't help but think these helmets were worn by men who died in WWII and Korea. It bothers me to see something like this. I found this on a museum site that was pretty much bragging about the dump loads of WWII gear that have been submitted by people around the country. One man had collected 2 tractor trailer cars of WWII/Korean era helmets. After looking over the internet for just an hour I became sickened by the ammout of authentic gear and memorabilia being sold on Ebay and by private collectors. 101st airborne helmets. Original D-Day helmets. It's wrong. It's just plain wrong...
It is always sad to see this, not only for a collector, but especially as matter of principle. Yet there has to be a distinction between surplus that could be recycled and material that had been used, especially by the fallen. Asto the selling of material, it can not be prevented. It is bad that some people make money on the back of our heroes, but at the same time I can understand a collector who sells a helmet because he is trying to get a complete uniform from an other unit and needs the money. Speculation is an other matter.
I can't see how it's wrong at all really. The WW2 stuff was treated as junk for decades, a market slowly developed and rarity increases the values. As for any military surplus stuff acquiring some sort of 'magic glow' due to it's previous usage, for the vast majority of items I can't see that either. Much of it is fascinating to the interested, but should museums preserve tens of thousands of helmets, uniforms, discarded TOW tubes, etc. etc., or concentrate on decent reference collections with good examples of each item alongside other military stuff that can make a better case as culturally significant? My house is littered with the lower end of old military junk, and I love it, but excluding a handful of items it is still really just junk. Cheers, Adam.
I couldn't say it better, Von Poop, like I said there is a differecne to be made with rare items and surplus that could be recycled.
Regarding Ebay sales, over the years my father repeatedly mentioned how he lost his dress cap to moths. I was able to purchase one in the correct size on Ebay earlier this year. The smile on his face when I gave it to him on Father’s Day was priceless.
Adam, you said-it-brother. The U.S. Militaria, has sky-rocketed lately. As a matter-of-fact, most if not all militaria collectors, have been dumping their German stuff in order to purchase American stuff. Lt. Col Angolia, is one example of a long-time German collector who is dumping stuff on the market. Im not saying that these collectors are giving up everything but, they are pulling out all stops, into buying as much American stuff as they can. Im still collecting only German, but do not have much else I really need or want to buy-except for twp pair of officers boots; in order to complete two complete uniforms.
I'll tell ya what, If anybody out there has any WWII Artifacts we will gladly take them at our WWII Victory Museum. See website: World War II Victory Museum Please consider donating or loaning us the WWII artifacts before you sell or throw them away. Let the world be able to share your history.
i understand your anger, my father left behind many of his belongings in Holland when he emigrated here after WWII, but as he said, it's not the house that makes it home, it' s the people.
