ww1czechlegion
Well-known member
Here's a subject that sooner or later we all face with collecting.
How aggressive should a collector be in pursuing a lead? As the title states, it's hard to be patient sometimes when trying to buy something from a family.
Approximately 3-years ago I met the grandson of a WW1 U.S. veteran. This man's father still has his own father's WW1 uniform in a trunk in the basement of his house. Apparently there are two pickelhaubes in the trunk as well, along with all the typical equipage of the WW1 US soldier and his uniform. When I initially met the grandson, he specifically told me that neither he nor his sisters want any of the stuff. Apparently since their mom passed several years ago, they've been trying to no avail to get their dad to clean out things from his house.
The son of the WW1 veteran is 86 years old. I recently made a good decision to follow up with the grandson by making a phone call to him. It had been approximately 3-years since I met him, and about 2-years since I had spoken with him. He was very friendly and receptive when I called, and still remembered meeting me. We had a great conversation, and he told me he still has my 2-flyers with phone contact that I gave him when I met him. His dad still has the WW1 trunk in the basement. In a friendly manner he said he'd be sure to call me in the future after his dad someday passes away. Apparently the house is still full of stuff the 3-kids don't want, and they haven't had any luck getting their dad to clean out things in his home and downsize his possessions. So, things will probably stay this way until after he passes away somewhere down the line of time.
My question is this: Should I just leave things as they are? Or, might I carefully approach the son of the WW1 vet (the father of my contact who is the son of the WW1 veteran) by sending him a letter stating my collecting interest, since I know what town he lives in, and have his address? I've never met the son of the WW1 vet, and he doesn't know me. (Or would that risk offending the grandson of the vet who I have a good contact/relationship with if I were to contact his father?)
My fear is that the father will die and things will be sent to an auction house, as they would have several good options available near where the father lives.
Should I just remain patient, and let a sleeping dog alone, and not risk getting bitten so as to say? If I approach the father might I possibly make the son angry by my contacting his father about the grouping, letting his father know I would like to buy everything?
Best Regards,
Alan
How aggressive should a collector be in pursuing a lead? As the title states, it's hard to be patient sometimes when trying to buy something from a family.
Approximately 3-years ago I met the grandson of a WW1 U.S. veteran. This man's father still has his own father's WW1 uniform in a trunk in the basement of his house. Apparently there are two pickelhaubes in the trunk as well, along with all the typical equipage of the WW1 US soldier and his uniform. When I initially met the grandson, he specifically told me that neither he nor his sisters want any of the stuff. Apparently since their mom passed several years ago, they've been trying to no avail to get their dad to clean out things from his house.
The son of the WW1 veteran is 86 years old. I recently made a good decision to follow up with the grandson by making a phone call to him. It had been approximately 3-years since I met him, and about 2-years since I had spoken with him. He was very friendly and receptive when I called, and still remembered meeting me. We had a great conversation, and he told me he still has my 2-flyers with phone contact that I gave him when I met him. His dad still has the WW1 trunk in the basement. In a friendly manner he said he'd be sure to call me in the future after his dad someday passes away. Apparently the house is still full of stuff the 3-kids don't want, and they haven't had any luck getting their dad to clean out things in his home and downsize his possessions. So, things will probably stay this way until after he passes away somewhere down the line of time.
My question is this: Should I just leave things as they are? Or, might I carefully approach the son of the WW1 vet (the father of my contact who is the son of the WW1 veteran) by sending him a letter stating my collecting interest, since I know what town he lives in, and have his address? I've never met the son of the WW1 vet, and he doesn't know me. (Or would that risk offending the grandson of the vet who I have a good contact/relationship with if I were to contact his father?)
My fear is that the father will die and things will be sent to an auction house, as they would have several good options available near where the father lives.
Should I just remain patient, and let a sleeping dog alone, and not risk getting bitten so as to say? If I approach the father might I possibly make the son angry by my contacting his father about the grouping, letting his father know I would like to buy everything?
Best Regards,
Alan