I typed out this very long and detailed reply but felt so awkward that I just canceled that and have to say it's a private matter for now because I'm on the verge of a huge come up and don't want my blabber mouth to ruin it like it does everything in life so far. But yes, named helmets of Hanoverian colonels are involved. lol.
I did decide to purchase the new helmet (on the left) because the seller is trustworthy and because from what I know it's a helmet that a colonel would have maybe worn, like if it's believable that a Hanover colonel or captain might have worn it then that's good enough for me to believe it because I combine that with my knowledge of the seller and his source and my past purchases etc. So, I paid $2k for it and when I prove who it belonged to pretty soon you will see I did good.
Nice set of swords! Congratulations on winning them! You wanted them a little more than I did.
I always try to buy an item not the story.
Stories are forgotten and lost over time and sometimes we are only left with the items and for me the item must stand alone on its own merit.
I hope it all turns out for you, I'm very interested in seeing where this will go.
Mistakes were made lol. But I'm not 100% certain of that yet. Even if the helmets were an add on by the seller and not from the family, I still got a sweet deal.I always try to buy an item not the story.
Stories are forgotten and lost over time and sometimes we are only left with the items and for me the item must stand alone on its own merit.
I hope it all turns out for you, I'm very interested in seeing where this will go.
The person above is right on all fronts.
I'm agreeing with you so far but even if I got taken for a ride on the helmets I still made out like a bandit. Plus I still think they are legit but just Frankenstein perhaps? Some parts are legit you can just tell. Like it says KBAG stamped in the small sized one that can't even fit on a man's head.... but the officer one fit me perfectly so if nothing else I can wear it around town and look cool. If this thing is fake, then I'll wear tf out of it. It's nice looking/feeling.
my max bid was $3700 and I won it for $2100.... Yeah, u could say I wanted it more than most anyone on earth. The reason was because I did poor research and actually thought they were long lost items belonging to Herman Kellner II the last leader of the Detmold army but what it turned out to be is just as good if not better. So, my gut telling me it was important was correct. Things like the belt buckle not being findable except for one in Aukland Museum belonging to Wynyard... if I can't find something it must be rare and to this day, I can't appraise that buckle. never seen one with a price tag. I thought the "II" on the shoulder boards meant Herman Kellner II and that was his saber lol. I still have a grand story to tell but before I say anything negative about anyone (which I will still try to avoid) let's just confirm these are bogus helmets. Maybe Russel, the last living family member, added them or maybe Hermann did. I was told that the officer one is a replacement for ceremonial purposes and not his one from Langensalza. I was also able to buy some missing medals from Russel instead of the consignment company because he withheld them due to his family having to pay the German army for them. Still missing is the order of oak in gold but I did not know it existed when I talked to Russ so if I can get him on the phone again, I'll ask about it. I did background checks on them to find his number and he told me to go to the consignment people for future needs. Luxemburg could just be stricter about that policy or maybe it was too expensive to afford. I managed to get the rest of them though minus the ribbons. All the ribbons are torn to shit from being sewn to the uniform and subsequently removed. I might buy replacement ribbons. At first calling him was awkward but he was so moved by my knowledge of his family that he suddenly felt like passing them down to me, but I paid him a grand anyways. I plan on showing people the provenance so I don't want to speak badly of the consignment company that may or may not have hustled me on the helmets. I have an invoice and receipt for the $6k I spent with them directly and If people reach out to them, I don't want them to lie about something to make me look bad. Unfortunately, when I mentioned my feelings about the helmet we got into a fight, and I got so mad that I gave them negative feedback for the 2nd order. But I think we can work it out because I still want to buy stuff, and they were asking for it by insulting me in the heat of the moment. I assume they are irritated by how valuable this stuff is and that they made such a mistake. One medal is worth more than $2300 alone (named legion of honor in gold) and one sword is over $2700 alone (Colonel Goetze' original saber!) ....it's crazy. We both went overboard because of pent up frustration but we really are kind of friends I mean we bonded.Nice set of swords! Congratulations on winning them! You wanted them a little more than I did.
