We military collectors are a funny breed. We love the uniformity of columns of troops, the fielding of battalions of identical trucks and the mass production of equipment capable to defeat an adversary. And yet, what we all strive for in our collecting efforts is to find that one “unique” item—an M1 helmet just a little different from all the others, the 6x6 truck that is unlike any other 6x6 or the Iron Cross made with a variation different from the other million or so Iron Crosses.
    I recently had a note from someone wondering if I could determine if their WWII jeep was one of the 200 or so “Holden” ambulance jeeps that were re-bodied in Melbourne, Australia during WWII. His reason for asking was because all of the items that would readily identify a jeep as one of these rarities were not on his jeep!  
    I was dumbstruck...how could anyone prove that a jeep was something it did not appear to be by not having the features that would make it such? What motivates a collector to discount the fact that he may simply have one of 640,000 some odd Jeeps built during WWII and try to make it into something “grander?”
    Therein, lies the answer. Collectors (and I am one!) are a special breed. Sure, the history behind the object is the prime motivator, but so is the “hunt” and the “kill.” It’s no fun to have something that everyone has. So, in my collection I have an Iron Cross on which the recipient’s engraved his name and unit. My US WWII mountain jacket came with a stack of photos and documents from the trooper who wore it. And my WWII khaki ammo bandolier has a period note in one pocket that says, “I wore this when I went ashore at Normandy.” Even though an Iron Cross, mountain jacket and an M1 bandoleer are all relatively common items, they are special to me because they have a “little bit more” than the next guy’s example of the same. They have stories.
    It is the “hunt”—be it looking for clues on a jeep body or digging deep in the pockets of a WWI tunic that discovers and preserves the stories unique to the soldiers who used the equipment we collect. The stories are what we can pass on to the next generation of collectors.
    And what about the “Holden hopeful?” Well, it was back to the jeep and look for more evidence...evidence that could be seen: weld marks, modifications or anything else that would help put the story back with the artifact. I hope he finds it! But no matter, he will discover the stories that his WWII jeep has to tell.

    Keep em rolling and finding the good stuff,

    John Adams-Graf
    Editor, Military Vehicles Magazine and Military Trader

    I do the vast majority of my collecting either via the Internet or at shows. It is rare anymore that I make “collector-to-collector” deals. But, every once in a while, a collector approaches me with a pretty cool AEF Tank Corps item or WWII 10th Mountain Division piece with the idea I would like to add it to my collection.

    After determining if I want the item, naturally the question is, “How much?” At shows this isn’t a problem—if the item is priced, I decide if I want to buy it. If it isn’t priced, I walk away (I don’t play that dealer game anymore!). With online purchases, it is never a problem. I either bid what I am willing to pay, or I buy it outright, depending on what sort of sale venue is offering the piece. However, I was reminded the other day, what collector-to-collector deals can be like...especially if the other guy is an “old-timer!”

    After being shown a nice Model 1917 with a Tank Corps insignia painted on the camouflaged surface, I asked, “How much?” The response was, “Whattya got to trade?”

    Pardon me?  What are you, six years old?

    I said, “I have a pocket full of cash. How much of it do you want to “trade” for the helmet?” But no, this person wanted me to either dig into my collection and pull out an item, or become his personal shopper, buying items in the hope that he would want to “trade” his helmet for them (and if he didn’t, I would simply be stuck with the item).

    Come on. “Trade?” That is a real “old-school” approach to collecting. It smacks of swapping marbles on the playground. Want to trade? Here is my trade offer: I give you cash, you give me the item. You use the cash to go buy whatever you want. Everyone is happy.

On a happier note...

    I didn’t get the helmet, but things seem to happen for a reason. This week, I was able—after many years—to purchase an original “Treat ‘em Rough” recruiting poster. WWI fans will recognize this as the iconic symbol of the AEF Tank Corps. Glad I had plenty of cash to “trade” for it!

    Right after that deal was consummated, I ran into an identified Tanker’s uniform complete with gas mask and leather jerkin. Again, the fellow who offered it, wanted to trade—for a small bushel basket full of Benjamin Franklin portraits (just those found on $100 bills). The “trade terms” were acceptable to both parties and the deal was made.

Looks like 2009 is going to be a good book year!
    I am fortunate to live close to a fairly prominent militaria dealer, so between his library and the books that are sent to me, I am blessed with seeing a lot of the newest releases. Two have really caught my eye this year.

   
    Many of you are familiar with Government Issue Collector’s Guide by Henri-Paul Enjames. Well, I was sitting out at Advance Guard Militaria when an advance copy of Volume 2 arrived in the mail. My GOSH! It is just as good as the first volume except that it contains about twice as many artifacts in the same high-quality photographs with accurate and informative captions. The copy was just the vanguard of the direct shipment that arrived later in the week. Advance Guard is offering them cheaper than anywhere else I have seen—$45 a copy.
   
    The other book that has me excited is Deutsche Soldaten: Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45, by Agustín Sáiz. This volume is going to do for German WWII militaria what GI Collector’s Guide did for US WWII. Done in a similar format, the book shows a myriad of gear, uniforms, weapons and personal items used by the typical German combat soldier. Published by Casemate, the book carries a $55 price tag, but again (in what I am seeing as a trend to buck the Amazon-dominance book pyramid), Advance Guard is blowing out there allotment at $35 copies. Advance Guard’s ad is on the inside back cover of the February issue of MT (at the press as you read this) or check them out at http://www.AdvanceGuardMilitaria.com
  
 (Some folks might get sore that I am hyping one dealer, but I am collector at heart—if I find a righteous good deal on books, I am going to let my buddies know about it! If you have a sale...and I mean a real sale—that is, as good or better prices than on Amazon, let me know. I really want to keep the small book dealers in business. They are our best source for the obscure titles that Amazon will never touch. Have a deal that collectors will love? Let me know! Better yet, do like Advance Guard did and take out a full-page ad in Military Trader.)

SPEAKING OF GOOD PLACES TO BUY...
    In my late-night online searches for interesting militaria deals, I stumbled into a pretty cool source right in my own “back yard!” Did you know that the Military Trader/Military Vehicles web site has “Dealer Storefronts”. I didn’t!

    Several dealers have put together an “online” mall of businesses. You really should go peruse the “aisles”. The Ruptured Duck, War-Toys, and Government Liquidation all have storefronts. Like any good antique shop, though, these storefronts aren’t the easiest to find. Look down the left center of the opening page under the “Classifieds” banner. You will see the storefronts there. Or, simply click this link to go directly to the “militaria district”

    Well, that’s about all ol’ JAG has to say this week. I am on “the move” again, but just down the street. Office was getting to full of uniforms!
    Remember, the Show of Shows is just a little over a month away. Start shaking the piggy bank!

Keep finding the good stuff,

    I do the vast majority of my collecting either via the Internet or at shows. It is rare anymore that I make “collector-to-collector” deals. But, every once in a while, a collector approaches me with a pretty cool AEF Tank Corps item or WWII 10th Mountain Division piece with the idea I would like to add it to my collection.

    After determining if I want the item, naturally the question is, “How much?” At shows this isn’t a problem—if the item is priced, I decide if I want to buy it. If it isn’t priced, I walk away (I don’t play that dealer game anymore!). With online purchases, it is never a problem. I either bid what I am willing to pay, or I buy it outright, depending on what sort of sale venue is offering the piece. However, I was reminded the other day, what collector-to-collector deals can be like...especially if the other guy is an “old-timer!”

    After being shown a nice Model 1917 with a Tank Corps insignia painted on the camouflaged surface, I asked, “How much?” The response was, “Whattya got to trade?”

    Pardon me?  What are you, six years old?

    I said, “I have a pocket full of cash. How much of it do you want to “trade” for the helmet?” But no, this person wanted me to either dig into my collection and pull out an item, or become his personal shopper, buying items in the hope that he would want to “trade” his helmet for them (and if he didn’t, I would simply be stuck with the item).

    Come on. “Trade?” That is a real “old-school” approach to collecting. It smacks of swapping marbles on the playground. Want to trade? Here is my trade offer: I give you cash, you give me the item. You use the cash to go buy whatever you want. Everyone is happy.

On a happier note...

    I didn’t get the helmet, but things seem to happen for a reason. This week, I was able—after many years—to purchase an original “Treat ‘em Rough” recruiting poster. WWI fans will recognize this as the iconic symbol of the AEF Tank Corps. Glad I had plenty of cash to “trade” for it!

    Right after that deal was consummated, I ran into an identified Tanker’s uniform complete with gas mask and leather jerkin. Again, the fellow who offered it, wanted to trade—for a small bushel basket full of Benjamin Franklin portraits (just those found on $100 bills). The “trade terms” were acceptable to both parties and the deal was made.

Looks like 2009 is going to be a good book year!
    I am fortunate to live close to a fairly prominent militaria dealer, so between his library and the books that are sent to me, I am blessed with seeing a lot of the newest releases. Two have really caught my eye this year.

   
    Many of you are familiar with Government Issue Collector’s Guide by Henri-Paul Enjames. Well, I was sitting out at Advance Guard Militaria when an advance copy of Volume 2 arrived in the mail. My GOSH! It is just as good as the first volume except that it contains about twice as many artifacts in the same high-quality photographs with accurate and informative captions. The copy was just the vanguard of the direct shipment that arrived later in the week. Advance Guard is offering them cheaper than anywhere else I have seen—$45 a copy.
   
[BE: INSERT deutsche Soldaten.jpg]
    The other book that has me excited is Deutsche Soldaten: Uniforms, Equipment & Personal Items of the German Soldier 1939-45, by Agustín Sáiz. This volume is going to do for German WWII militaria what GI Collector’s Guide did for US WWII. Done in a similar format, the book shows a myriad of gear, uniforms, weapons and personal items used by the typical German combat soldier. Published by Casemate, the book carries a $55 price tag, but again (in what I am seeing as a trend to buck the Amazon-dominance book pyramid), Advance Guard is blowing out there allotment at $35 copies. Advance Guard’s ad is on the inside back cover of the February issue of MT (at the press as you read this) or check them out at http://www.AdvanceGuardMilitaria.com
  
 (Some folks might get sore that I am hyping one dealer, but I am collector at heart—if I find a righteous good deal on books, I am going to let my buddies know about it! If you have a sale...and I mean a real sale—that is, as good or better prices than on Amazon, let me know. I really want to keep the small book dealers in business. They are our best source for the obscure titles that Amazon will never touch. Have a deal that collectors will love? Let me know! Better yet, do like Advance Guard did and take out a full-page ad in Military Trader.)

SPEAKING OF GOOD PLACES TO BUY...
    In my late-night online searches for interesting militaria deals, I stumbled into a pretty cool source right in my own “back yard!” Did you know that the Military Trader/Military Vehicles web site has “Dealer Storefronts”. I didn’t!

    Several dealers have put together an “online” mall of businesses. You really should go peruse the “aisles”. The Ruptured Duck, War-Toys, and Government Liquidation all have storefronts. Like any good antique shop, though, these storefronts aren’t the easiest to find. Look down the left center of the opening page under the “Classifieds” banner. You will see the storefronts there. Or, simply click this link to go directly to the “militaria district”

    Well, that’s about all ol’ JAG has to say this week. I am on “the move” again, but just down the street. Office was getting to full of uniforms!
    Remember, the Show of Shows is just a little over a month away. Start shaking the piggy bank!

Keep finding the good stuff,

Happy new year!
    What will be the hot military items in 2009? I am no Nostradamus, but I will put my neck out and make a few predictions:

1.    In military vehicles, lots of WWII jeeps will be hitting the market. Two factors will cause this: The failing economy will force many to part with superfluous toys. Those that bought their Jeeps at the right of the OD rush of the late 1990s will be in for a shock...prices have settled back down and a fully restored GPW or MB sells for $10-$15K instead of the $15-$18K of the last few years. The other factor is the “aging of the hobby”. Many of us are getting up in years and maintaining a GPW or MB is not as enjoyable as it once was. M151s are easier for old guys to drive, so many are considering trading in the OD for the Semi-Gloss.

2.    Early slat grilles and GPs will continue to hold value but not as many will go to non-U.S. buyers as in the past couple of years.
 
3.    Prices of large, softskin MVs will be dropping a bit. Due to high fuel costs, demand for large MVs has seriously declined. Simple economics here: Supply is the same, but demand goes down equals lower prices to make the sales.

4.    Civil War market will continue to remain flat. Until dealers realize that the one-time crazy days of early ebay are gone and that common relics like cartridge boxes, belt plates and canteens aren’t selling for what they once did, the Civil War market will continue to stagnate. Like all markets, quality identified items will hold their value and actually climb. The common stuff, though, is going to fall in price if people actually want to move the items.

5.    Common German WWII items will have a boost in value. This will be a direct result of the new book, Deutsche Soldaten by Augustin Saiz. It will do for German WWII collecting what GI Issue did for U.S. WWII collecting.

6.    The Stolen Valor Act will rear its head again. The legislation was never altered from its original anti-collecting stance. It is just waiting for a zealot to employ it against collectors.

7.    Vintage Class III weapons like Thompsons, MP-40s and MG-08s will experience a value spike. Factors behind this include an ever-decreasing supply and a less-than-friendly-to-firearms administration. Hang on to your Chauchat, boys...it’s gonna be worth more by the end of the year.

8.    Collecting ordnance will gain a wider audience. As the likelihood of owning an 81mm mortar or a 75mm field gun becomes less for the average collector, they are going to turn to collecting the projectiles. The variety is wide, the cost is low—the perfect ingredients for collecting enthusiasm.

9.    Military collectors will buy more books than usual. This isn’t so much a prediction, but rather, a trend that I have seen during previous economic downturns. A bad economy usually means that folks are spending less on their collection but turn to magazines and books to satisfy their desires. It should be a good year for publishers. It will also be a good year for readers, because writers and advanced collectors will be settling down to complete long-overdue research projects attention to serious writing.

10.    And finally, my most “out there” prediction for 2009? A new web site will emerge for military collectors to buy and sell. As ebay moves away from being collector friendly, a new medium for buying and selling military relics will emerge and gain the strength and confidence of the hobby. I don’t know what that site is, but I am certain several will attempt to fill the role and by the end of 2009, one will have emerged as the obvious new choice for serious collectors.

    That is all I see in the crystal OD ball right now. I would be curious to read what other soothsayers might predict to be hot military collectibles in 2009. Use our “comments” section below to make your own predictions for 2009 or to share your views on the ones I have made.

    Quite often, I read on forums or in direct communications, someone’s displeasure with museum and “museum-types”. The complaints usually are the same: Not enough stuff (or real stuff or correct stuff) on exhibit, “they don’t know what they are talking about” and “They charge too much for photographs.” I have to admit, most of the time I don’t care for what I see in a museum either. My complaints aren’t without background—I actually received my Masters Degree in museum studies (the official name was “Historical Administration) and worked for fifteen years in the profession.
   
    So, it is with delight when I actually stumble into a museum that really “wows” me—and it has consistently since I first visited it in 1981. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM) in Madison, Wisconsin, is clearly administered and curated by people who understand their audience.

    The first time I visited what was known in 1981 as the “GAR Museum”, it was housed in the State Capitol. Then, it was primarily a Civil War museum. They had flags, weapons and several original weapons on display. One could pull books from the shelves, access the photo collection and page through original manuscripts.

   
    Nearly thirty years later, the WVM is housed in its own building across the street from the capitol. A permanent exhibit chronicles Wisconsin soldiers from the War of 1812 up until today. Literally thousands of artifacts are on display. Collectors will not be turned off by wordy labels written by curators who forget that the artifacts is what brings in the visitors...not the labels! In addition, the staff strives to update and correct any mistakes or misrepresentations that a visitor may discover.
   
    Rotating galleries explore specific military subjects in depth. The staff has aggressively collected items and stories of Wisconsin soldiers. Both the soldier’s gear and words work their way into these exhibits.
   
    In this age of rating everything from the books I read to the people I meet on Facebook, I am going to establish a five-star JAG-scale for museums. WVM receives the following JAG-Rating:
  
    Interesting to a military collector/enthusiast        *****
    Coolness of artifacts on exhibit                          ****
    Child/family friendly                                        **
    Book store/gift shop                                        *****
    Parking                                                         *
   
    That last one won’t come as any surprise to WVM...parking has always been a problem in Madison!
   
    Finally, in closing, I would be remiss to not mention Dr. Richard Zeitlin, who was director of WVM as long as I can remember. He passed away last week. His efforts to establish a museum to honor all of Wisconsin’s veterans will remain his legacy.


Share your “museums for military enthusiasts” recommendations in the “Comments” section below. Feel free to use the 5-Star JAG Rating!

Greetings,
    Most of my thinking time seems to occur while I am driving to or from shows. On my way back to sunny Missouri after a drizzly military vehicle rally in Spooner, Wisconsin, I was thinking about buying things at shows.

    I ponder a lot of different things on such drives, but a single phenomenon that seems to be equally rampant at both military vehicle shows and military relic shows monopolized my thoughts: Dealers who don’t price their items. “What can possibly be their motive?” I asked myself. Hours past as I ran various scenarios to justify this behavior.

    At long last, I couldn’t come up with anything other than, “A dealer who doesn’t price their items at a show hope to take advantage of a buyer.” Surely, the dealer knows what he paid for the item. Surely, he knows what sort of profit he wants to make. And yet, many dealers don’t mark the prices. Why?

    Honestly, I can’t think of any reason other than they hope to put the screws to customers after they evaluate the potential victims ability to shell out cash. There might be less sinister motives, but I couldn’t come up with them.

    So, I am asking the readers, “Why do dealers make the effort to set up their wares at shows but neglect to put price tags on them?” Share your thoughts with us in the “COMMENTS” section.

Greetings,
    The “proudest day” of everyone’s lives is so varied. For some, it was the birth of a child, a marriage or being sworn into public service. It has been enjoyable to learn what folks in our hobby consider to be their proudest day.

    For me, Veteran’s Day always reminds me of my proudest day—now 40 years ago.

    I was in Kindergarten when my teacher announced that any of the students who wished to march in the Veteran’s Day parade, should arrive early at the school the morning of the parade. Each would receive a small flag to carry. The chance to be in a parade? And carry a flag? You know I wanted to be there!

    After the end of our morning class session (kids went to half-days back then), I ran up to our family-owned store, four blocks from school. Out of breath, I told my Dad I was going to be in a parade! After I calmed down and shared a 10-once bottle of Mountain Dew with Dad (we didn’t know about the hazards of juicing up a Kindergartener with caffeine back then!), he explained to me that he would be in the same parade—he was the American Legion post commander.

    That evening, after telling all my older brothers and sister that I was going to be in a parade with Dad, I witnessed a ritual that appealed to my young militant heart. Dad went to his closet, unzipped a large clothing bag, and took out his dark blue Legion uniform, cap and Sam Browne belt. He laid them on the dining room table and used a lint brush to clean everything. Then he polished his shoots and placed them at the foot of the table. I understood. This was what one did to prepare for marching in a parade.

    So, not to be out of step, I laid out my (very cool) USMC camouflage pajamas, my plastic helmet with plastic foliage, my green plastic M1 rifle (which actually chambered a dummy round) and my Dad’s WWII pistol belt which I was able to wear by passing through the shoulder straps of Dad’s M1936 Musette Bag. The latter was stuffed with my blanket and Johnny Bear—he went everywhere with me.

    My brothers teased me. They said I couldn’t wear that stuff in the parade. Crying my dismay to my Mom, she supported me by telling the others, “Of course John can wear those things if he wants to.” Deep down, I suspect she was hoping I wouldn’t.

    The morning of Veteran’s Day, my Dad and I got up early. We both put on our uniforms. I had visions of leading my class in a glorious tribute to our soldiers. But, when we arrived at the appointed place for the kids to gather, no one was there—not even Mrs. Russert, my teacher. Dad recognized the gravity of the situation, but his post members were already gathering in their appointed pre-parade location. He told to sit on the curb to wait for him because he had to “talk to the men.” It was easy to distract me—after all, one of post members was passing out clips of blanks to each of the M1903-carrying Post members.

    When Dad came back, he broke the news to me: He didn’t think Mrs. Russert was going to come. There would be no flag for me to carry. There would be no classmates to lead. My head fell to my chest and I was fighting tears—I didn’t want to cry in front of the soldiers. Then Dad said, “I talked to the boys, and they said you could march with the Post.”
    I couldn’t believe it—I was going to march with the soldiers! So, as Dad called the men into line, commanded, “Order, arms. Shoulder, Arms. Right Face.” I followed along. I knew all this drill—Dad had taught it me long before, and I had practiced it many times.

    But, the moment—the moment that made this the proudest day of my life, was when my Dad ordered, “Forward March”. He, the Post members and I stepped off together. My Dad and I were on the right of the ranks, marching side-by-side. Dad was calling cadence, and I was right beside him, marching with my plastic M1 at Right Shoulder Shift.

    Happy Veteran’s Day everyone.
    John Adams-Graf
    Editor, Military Vehicles Magazine and Military Trader

Greetings,
    I am still unpacking from a two-week long exodus that took me to the Battlefield Show in St. Paul and then out to Monroeville, Pa., for the 24th Annual MAX. These two shows came right on the heals of the Annual Fall Party sponsored by the Military Vehicle Preservation Group of Spooner, Wis.

    All of this travel has come at a time when the United States — as well as many other nations — are in economic upheaval. Though I have never thought of myself as having my finger on the pulse of anything, much less the state of the economy, many collectors stopped me to ask my opinion on the “health of the hobby.”

    Well, I can only report what I have seen. Military vehicle sales have seemed to slow down. Big trucks are abundant, but the buyers are not equal to the number. Smaller vehicles seem to be in demand — no big surprise there! 

    However, supply of armor has not met demand and prices continue to rise. I have heard some outlandish prices paid for a Sherman, a USM1917 and even a Panther. Outlandish by 1990s standards but the “norm” for the 21st century.

    On the militaria front, the ripples of the economy might be even more acute. Supply of common stuff is surpassing demand and dealers haven’t realized that to make sales, they will have to drop prices. Competition is good for the hobby! I bought a number of M1917 helmets recently in the $30-$40 range from dealers. These guys understand global economics.
   
    Quality, rare stuff continues to grow in value, though. This should not come as a surprise. In times of economic hardship, the rich still have money to spend on their passions.

    The surprise of the MAX show? Militaria from the non-traditionally collected nations (Bulgaria, Turkey, Czechoslovakia and Poland) was selling well! Other items I saw moving at a profitable clip included inert ordnance and demilitarized MGs (was party to a the sale of an MG08/15 and a second 08 on a sled mount).

    I heard many Third Reich dealers saying sales were off this year … one saying as much as 20 percent less than a year ago. On the other hand, I was disgusted to hear one dealer boast how he wasn’t going to be “screwed by the Europeans again this year,” so had increased all of his prices by 20 percent. At the end of the show, I heard the same guy complaining how poor sales had been. Well, duh. No sympathy from me!

    I spent a good deal of time at the MAX with my friends from Belgium, Spain and Holland. They all commented that the “buying frenzy” in which they participated at last year’s show simply didn’t re-emerge. Though they still found some bargains, they felt that the “European invasion” of the American militaria market had passed. The “gold rush” was over for them.

    So, my concluding thoughts on the health of the hobby? I left for the shows with more than five grand in my pocket . . . I returned with $500. As far as I can tell, the state of the hobby is alive, fervent and healthy!