Dear Chip,
Thank you for your thoughtful note. I have thought long and hard about this issue; it is sort of a 'No-win' situation - I am bound to step on somebody's toes, so here goes:
There are those in the community that started collecting early enough or have deep enough pockets to have access to the very finest helmets that enter the marketplace. Quite frankly, I would accuse some, though not all, members of this group of arguing in their own self-interest.
Then there are a lot of collectors (myself included) that count themselves lucky if they can afford a piece that is, shall we call it politely: "a project piece."
Well, I am guilty as charged. My objective is to build a modest business to sell replacement parts to collectors who need them. In-so-doing, my intention is to offer my customers the best possible quality that I can.
That said, I am quite happy to be guided by the collecting community if there are ways that I can sell my pieces that will guard against fraudulent resale.
I have been around antiques and collectables for many years and it just cannot be avoided: When buying, the only ways to protect oneself are to:
1) Study, study, study.
2) Ask lots and lots of questions - never be embarassed to ask questions!
2) Only purchase from people you trust.
3) Where ever possible, purchase on the basis of documented provenance; a Seller's well-spun yarn doesn't cut it. This is particularly true for expensive pieces.
4) If that little voice in the background is telling you that something is not quite right, keep your powder dry.
Thank you, all, for allowing me to use the old soap box.
Cheers,
Laurie
