Post by stonemint on Apr 19, 2014 1:28:28 GMT
First off, I would like to give a hearty congrats to BvK for taking on this project, and I look forward to contributing to it.
Regarding myself, I have posted this before, but here is my background:
As a young teenager collecting back in the 1970's I was doing this all by myself, by trial and error--which meant getting burned by Altestes, Jankes & BRD poseurs.
Unfortunately, back then (and even into the 80's) there was a "veil of secrecy" and the vast majority of dealers did not want to clue a young collector in to what was fake and real, and what to look for (basically, because they were trying to divest me of my meager, hard-earned $). They would always tell me "buy the books", which was worthless advice, as there were only 2 headgear books out back then, and they still did not tell you how to identify fake from real.
Back in the day I used to literally photograph every visor at shows that I could find with an old 110 Instamatic camera (which made for lousy picture quality), and I would then tape the photographs to legal pads with identifying information and what concerned me about an item--such was the state of "technology" back then. (I wish I had kept those, but I think they got tossed by my mother sometime after I had moved out of the house!)
People ask why I "give" secrets away. The bottom line is that the fakers, as good as they are, are not up to par with the Muetzenmachers of the Third Reich, as it is basically a lost art. But my primary reason is the sanctity of the hobby--I do not want any level of collector to make the same mistakes I did, for all that does is sour them on the hobby and cause them to leave it. Furthermore, the youth of today are literally the future of our hobby, and I want them to feel the same excitement I did when I was their age when obtaining the genuine article (and not the sinking, stomach-wrenching feeling of being taken by a fake.)
As you know, I only collect visors. Why? simply because imho, they are the most attractive piece of headgear ever developed by any country, any era. The quality is stunning, as is the endless variety of makers, styles, quality, and fabrics. These hats are truly works of art, in that they are made by hand.
I have also been questioned as to why I collect minty visors. Part of that is a reaction to my early days, when all I could afford were "beaters" with mothing, rotting sweatbands, dangling visors, etc. But the major reason is that I do not really celebrate the man that wore the hat, or the organisation it is from--what I celebrate is the hand that made it, and the hat most purely reflects that in an unworn condition. (it also keeps me from buying up everything in sight, as I was once wont to do in my younger days.)
I do fear a loss of this information, and that 50-75-100 years ago everything we have learned will be either forgotten, lost, or simply not cared about (especially in an age of mass technology). So, by posting these threads, (hopefully) the information will be retained for future generations.
I would love to write a book, but I work in a profession that does not allow me the time to do so (and it seems even collecting visors is always a work in progress). However, I just turned the big 5-0 last week, so I have placed at least getting some sort of draft manuscript out on my "bucket list" (which someone told me becomes a "f**k-it" list the older you get!). But for now I will just continue to add to the threads I have started (and start some new ones).
Obviously, all I have learned in the past 10 years has not been in isolation, and I thank these forums and the people that also so readily contribute their knowledge and information, which assists us all in keeping this hobby "pure."
