FJ collectors, check out a great thread over on the helmet forum, with lots of great info and photos about a recent mainstream magazine article in Business Week on militaria collecting. (When the investment magazines started recommending baseball cards to investors about 10 years ago, prices went berserk.) Take a look at the slide show:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/09/collecting/index_01.htm?chan=search

They have priced a camo para helmet at $10K!

This prolly means wealthy stockbroker types with no interest in the hobby will buy up items and bring the prices way up. I know guys with no interest in paintings buying up paintings just for investments.
Not very fair for us, but hopefully they will buy up repros.

TW....now you know why we have "High Quality" repros

Good point! Unlike baseball cards or coins or stamps, you can really get ripped in this hobby without substantive knowledge. Also, with the two new WWII film projects coming out, as the article says, there could be another big spike in interest in WWII stuff as there was after Saving Private Ryan.

There was a similiar thread on WAF in late Aug regarding Flags Of Our Fathersand Japanese militaria prices. It will be interesting to see what happens.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174110

I actually was interviewed for the TV segment that ran on Business Week TV.

I don't think too many people will buy this as an investment. I'm a journalist and I write about a range of topics, including collectibles. The thing about militaria is where you buy it too. Most shows are small in VFW Halls or Boys/Girls clubs. Investors don't go to these places. There is lack of documentation on individual investments.

Besides the stock market is approaching 12,000 on the Dow Jones. Investors are watching that right now. I know I AM!

And here is a link to watch the video.
http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/video/bwweekend...09a.html?chan=search

Interesting also to note that the Para helmet shown in the link provided by Chris was one that was for sale from Bill Shea & I believe sold for $11500.00.
Nice collection too Peter !

Mike