replica Tschapka and other helmets

[pointystuff]

http://www.totls.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=41" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Tschapka has several incorrect features, but it's closer than most of the ones that show up on the 'Bay.

 

[weirdpyramid]

Although none of these replicas are completely perfect or deceiving enough, they do worry me a bit. It seems that with the popularity of collecting original items seems to grow and the price growing with it, that it opens the door of course to more and more and better and better fakes. I hope not but I can't resist the thought, will the flood of fakes on the market deter new collectors? and if it did deter them I would expect prices to fall to the point of making our investments and collections drop in value also.

Its not the best example but as a kid I collected comics, with a very large and valuable collection. Then in the late 90's the comic value market crashed to almost worthless. A comic that was estimated at $100 was maybe worth $10 or less, thats how bad it got. That was in large part to the comic super publishers Marvel, DC, Dark Horse reprinting its old back catalogues into "volume" formats. All the sudden you could have the entire Batman series from the 60s for $24.95 with simulated vintage color inks and newspaper. Then BOOM your original single comics were worth next to nothing.

I heard someone once say that all the "good" fakes were in the III Reich collectors market but I am sure it wasn't always that way.

Sorry to be such a downer, especially on a Monday morning. :coffee2:

 

[09fritz2547]

I think it is always wise to focus on what a helmet or anything else that is not necessary for daily comfort is worth to you, regardless what the market price is. This doesn't mean you have to throw money in the dustbin, but that you have to put your own goals and thus avoid disappointments. People buying pickelhaubes only as a form of investment create and support this increasing stream of fakes, not the serious collector with a long term view.

A good example of the inflationary and absurd situation that Chris described is the so-called tulip bulb crisis in 17th century Holland. Around the 1630's, there was a very increasing demand for tulip bulbs, cultivated in Holland, from the French court, and prices went up steadily, until 1 tulip bulb became as much worth as a respectable house or 20 times the year salary of a craftsman. Of course, everyone was trying to cultivate these tulip bulbs, often of very inferior quality, and the offer became bigger than the steady demand. Prices went down and merchants were selling their bulbs at any price. Finally, the market collapsed and numerous merchants went bankrupt. As a result, around 1640 the price of the tulip bulbs returned to the normal supply and demand situation.

Johan

 

[weirdpyramid]

People buying pickelhaubes only as a form of investment create and support this increasing stream of fakes, not the serious collector with a long term view.

I totally agree with that! I pay sometimes what some collectors might regard as "too much" or maybe for only a "investment" for a helmet. I do so because I want it in my collection, more than opposed to someone who doesnt want it in there collection as for more of a quick turn around. I keep my helmets and headgear 90% of the time. My only argument is that the "fakers" dont discriminate between buyers of the need for "purely" original items and the ones purchased for purely profit. I think we all for the most part buy first for what we WANT and not for what makes a PROFIT in the long run.

I think though we all agree what is 'RARE" is more desirable and what is more common is not so desirable or not worthy of more than the asking price.

As you see everyday on Ebay.com, Ebay.de, Ebay.fr and etc is that why fake the common stuff when you can fake the rare stuff. Every week almost on Ebay.de there is a "original" Husar Lieb 1 or 2 Schirmmütze missing its totenkopf or with a fake one or just the TK. Although i would love a original, I have been completely turned off from even searching anymore because of the overload of fakes.

 

[poniatowski]

Personally, I collect the helmets and do not care about their value beyond insurance. I would LOVE to see the price of originals plummet and see people who collect to invest dump their pieces into the market... But I do not see that happening. What I see are more novices being ripped off until they gain knowledge. It's the same in almost any collecting hobby, so I guess I'm not really too worried.

Ron

 

[joerookery]

What I see are more novices being ripped off until they gain knowledge.

The other angle of this are old collectors who do not know what to do with their collection. They seem to want a huge premium in general and have difficulty moving stuff. The end of that story often ends up with widows being preyed upon by dealers. Somehow this seems to be an underground railroad of health status for collectors and it is frequent to hear about dealers actually flying to the site of the bereavement to make a deal quickly. Many families and widows seem to just want to move the inventory. Often this is at a fraction of the value.