Looking through old photos today, I ran across some shots of Vet aquired goodies that I got back in the 80s. ( I used to run home after "scoring" and take pictures of the items that I had just bought)

This is a grouping of stuff that I bought from the widow of Frank Cambell. He worked with my mom at the post office. Frank was in the 504th parachute regiment of the 82nd airborne division. He was a big fan of the movie, "A bridge too far". Mom used to tell me how he told her that he was actually in the group that assaulted the Waal river as depicted in the scenes with Robert Redford in the movie.

Sadly, I never did get around to meeting Frank Cambell. He died in 1985. Shortly after that, I met with his wife and bought these goodies.

An M42 Luftwaffe helmet, an SA dagger with hanger, a matching 98k rifle that Frank had recently decided to convert into a hunting rifle, a couple of belt buckles and a party banner. The wife told me that he picked up the banner in Nijmegan.

I gave her $135 for the lot. Funny how I never thought to ask if she still had any of his own uniforms.

This group of stuff came from Lucien Maes in the spring of 1985. He was with the 4th armored division. He told me how he got the pistol. They were entering Bastogne after breaking the siege of the 101st. Maes stopped a man who was walking down the street wearing a civilian overcoat. He forced him to remove the overcoat and found that it was a German "officer". He took the pistol from him and turned him in.

There is also a kriegsflag and a dagger and some misc. stuff. I remember that I gave Lucien $320 for the lot.

This lot of goodies came from Christopher Milliken in the winter of 1985-86. He was a medic with the 101st airborne division. He was a replacement who joined the Division as they were refitting in France after Holland.

There is a Transport officers uniform that he said he found on a wagon. A large party banner, a cased gold wound badge, a silver wound badge and an assortment of medals that he had pinned to the jacket, an M35 Heer SD helmet, an M16 camouflage helmet (He couldn't remember where he got the helmets) and a Japanese officers sword that he got from his brother.

Milliken showed me his closet and he still had two sets of M42 jump uniforms. I remember not being particularly interested in them because I was after the German stuff. I gave him $300 for the lot.

I made this photo Just after I returned from the first big militaria/gun show that I ever got a table at. This was in 1982 or 83. All this stuff came from that one show.

The SS M42 helmet cost $190. ( I only recently discovered from looking at these old pics that it was a fake)

Thinking back on what I paid for this stuff, it's surprising how one can remember numbers...

The Tropical camo helmet cost $35
The Luftwaffe M40 helmet was a bargain at $30
The M16 camoflage helmet cost $40
The SA dagger cost $70
The spike helmet cost $60
The big Kreigs flag cost $35
I think that the Japanese bayonet cost $20. I don't remember what I paid for the other stuff.

I remember those days. I did a similar thing... problem is I can't find too many of my photos... I'll see what I can look up though!

(Sorry I interupted your thread)

Ken, great thread! I love the vet pieces, these finds are certainly drying up as time moves on. I love how you are able to retain the weapons, here in the UK you can't legally own a hangun.
In the 80's the government had an armistice, 1000's of WWII weapons were handed in and melted down Tim.

Ken great stuff I would like to see more of this from other members

Nathan

Here are a few shots of some of things I discovered as a teenager up here in Canada. These images are from about 1971...sorry for the poor quality but they are scanned from old photos.

Cheers,

More Heer tunics and a Luft tunic. The flags are both KM. The one in the background was a huge battleship flag.

Here is a buddy of mine posing with one of the Heer outfits wearing a SD Heer helmet and holding a rare MP38 machine-pistol.

A Luftwaffe pilot's uniform with a bullion sewn-on Pilot's badge.

The same uniform shown on a mannequin which I picked up a little later. Yes, I know...the belt is a Heer officers.

My buddy shown again...this time wearing a Panzer NCO Waffenrock and cap.

This time as an Artillery officer.

I seem to remember this helmet to be my first SS helmet. At the time I really wasn't aware of the maker and all the details we fret over these days. However, it is obviously a Quist and probably a size 66.

Party decal side...

nice finds, ok better then nice,

too bad i'm too late and on the other side of the big pond

Marc

Nice, love looking at these older photo's.

Hi Darryl,

Were the tunics all Vet purchases?

Helmets,pistols,awards,flags etc seemed to be the norm from what I have seen from Canadian Vets as they were small items.

I have and have seen some tunic bring-backs via Canadian Vets though..


Glenn

This is a really good thread Ken. I love the..."vintage"...photos AND some of the quotes on the pricing. Those must have been thee days.

Yes....those definately were the days. I bought this one from an anti-aircraft unit veteran in 1986 for $35.00

Ken,

Nice helmet. Yes, around $35 was the going rate back then. I remember the time when I bought a virtually mint early DD Luftwaffe helmet for $60. Everyone thought I was nuts.

Glenn,

Yes, these tunics/coats/caps, etc, were all vet pickups from the local Winnipeg area. A friend of mine had a coin and stamp shop but advertised militaria. Stuff would come in on an almost weekly basis. Those were the days indeed!

Cheers,