Like most of you, I cruise local antique stores on a regular basis, so here are a couple of items that I purchased yesterday from one of the few stores left in my locale.
Royal Australian Engineers, obviously a modern hat and dated May 2006 but superbe quality of manufacture. I just could not buy it, as it is so cool and in like new condition!
Cloth engineers patch on the puggaree.
The felt on this hat is very thick and very stiff. Chin strap and liner are perfect.....how did this end up in CN?
My second purchase, a Ridgways tea tin which dates from 1914. This is the 3rd "patriotic WW1 tea tin" that I have picked up in my career as a militaria collector. I have never shown the other ones which are larger, perhaps the subject of a future post? Other members in Europe, may have examples in their collections. It would be interesting to see French or German examples.
Top lid with Lord Kitchener on it.
Field Marshall French
Admiral Jellicoe.
While in the store, I made sure to have a conversation with the owner behind the counter and naturally gave him my card. As part of the conversation about militaria in general, I was shown pictures of a real Samurai sword (not military issue) which had walked into the store recently.....purchased by him for $200 and sold in two days for $1,000. Arghhhh!! Obviously, I will be going back to that store regularly, all part of the hunt for treasure.

Royal Australian Engineers, obviously a modern hat and dated May 2006 but superbe quality of manufacture. I just could not buy it, as it is so cool and in like new condition!

Cloth engineers patch on the puggaree.

The felt on this hat is very thick and very stiff. Chin strap and liner are perfect.....how did this end up in CN?

My second purchase, a Ridgways tea tin which dates from 1914. This is the 3rd "patriotic WW1 tea tin" that I have picked up in my career as a militaria collector. I have never shown the other ones which are larger, perhaps the subject of a future post? Other members in Europe, may have examples in their collections. It would be interesting to see French or German examples.

Top lid with Lord Kitchener on it.

Field Marshall French

Admiral Jellicoe.

While in the store, I made sure to have a conversation with the owner behind the counter and naturally gave him my card. As part of the conversation about militaria in general, I was shown pictures of a real Samurai sword (not military issue) which had walked into the store recently.....purchased by him for $200 and sold in two days for $1,000. Arghhhh!! Obviously, I will be going back to that store regularly, all part of the hunt for treasure.