Comments for Military Trader

Comment on A ‘whale’ of an amphibian: The LARC-LX by bermudapro1

bermudapro1 — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:19:11 +0000

Good morning.

A third LARC sits by the Agawam River in Wareham, MA. on Main Street just SE of the Narrows Crossing, Route 6 on the way to Cape Cod. It’s painted Naval Grey and Black with The US ARMY portion of its name painted over while LARC 25 is highlighted in white. If you’d like few pictures, let me know how to get them to you.

Regards,
Rich

Comment on Becoming an appraiser by Tom @ Snake River

Tom @ Snake River — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:36:01 +0000

I appreciate the article, in that you mention that you need “hands on” experience at an auction house, ect.
I once had the bank send an appraiser out to appraise my farm machinery. I knew the guy quite well, and I said to the banker ” I don’t see this guy at any local farm auctions, whats the deal”.
The banker replied, ” he does this as a 2nd job, he just does it over the internet”
It was at that point I blew a gasket, here is a guy with my financial life in his hands, and he’s a part timer that does not even attend any local auctions to know the “local market values”.
Thanks for the job your doing,. Tom @ Snake River 4×4

Comment on What makes a militaria show ‘good’? by John Adams-Graf

John Adams-Graf — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:14:18 +0000

Thanks Chip…Great comments and from a perspective that is very closely related to our field.

Thanks so much, too, for visiting our site. I hope you come back from time to time. You know as well as me, “you sometimes find those badges in the corners of military collectors’ riker mounts!”
John

Comment on HMV Buyer’s Guide: Dodge M880 1-1/4-ton Truck by John Adams-Graf

John Adams-Graf — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:11:12 +0000

Note: Government contract trucks did NOT have power steering.

The 318 engine on 1976 and 1977 CIVILIAN versions had emission controls, but these did not appear on the government contract trucks.

Comment on What makes a militaria show ‘good’? by rrbadges

rrbadges — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:32:57 +0000

Hi John: I read your blog and think you hit on an important topic. First off, I’d like to say I’m not a “military” collector. I’m a police badge collector and railroad collector. So what am I doing on a military collector show blog? Simple, I attend these shows to find things that I collect. I have picked up some great and rare items from military dealers at this shows. I’d like to point out a couple of things. I have run successful police insignia collectors shows since 1977. But as you mentioned, Ebay has also turned our hobby on its ear. Collectors now would rather sell and buy on-line. But with Ebay fees getting more expensive, collectors are looking to go back to shows. The problem is no one is stepping up to fill the void. Most police collectors (fire and railkroad collectors too) have some interest in military collectibles. Why not invite them to attend a show? The old “Great western Gun” show in California is where a lot of police collectors got started in their hobby. All this being said, the most important thing i can offer is “advertise”. Use every venue you! Use your local town newspaper. There is a military collector who at least once a year takes out a full page ad in the local newspaper inviting everyone to run up to their attic or check their basements for dads or grandpas old military stuff. German, Japanese, Viet Nam war trophies collecting dust. He invites them to visit him at a local hotel that weekend to turn that old “junk” into cash. I suspect at some point that it gets recycled back to your hobby in high priced auctions or sales lists. Why is he so successful? He adveritses! The general public and average non collector brings the stuff in. Why not have the public bring the stuff into a show you run instead?? Dropping off fliers about the show, at the VFW, American Legion and Local Police and Fire Departments will also bring in interested new collectors. Get the word out. How did I find out about a show on Jan 14th in New Jersey? I spent a few minutes searching on line till I found this website. The average “walk in” is not going to do that. You need to advertise. Good luck! Chip Greiner

Comment on HMV Buyer’s Guide: Dodge M880 1-1/4-ton Truck by Useful Information - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Useful Information - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:03:01 +0000

[...] to my fellow m880 owners and/or enthusists it was found on my search for MP Layout of M880 Platform HMV Buyer’s Guide: Dodge M880 1-1/4-ton Truck | Military Trader __________________ Chuck 'Wyo-m880' 1976 Dodge m880 'Parts truck' 1977 Dodge m880 'Project [...]

Comment on M211: The “Cadillac Deuce” by Article: M211 The "Cadillac Deuce" - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:09:51 +0000

[...] it's a real nice read. Makes me love my GMC that much more…….. as well as the Th400 in it. M211: The “Cadillac Deuce” | Military Trader "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and [...]

Comment on The ‘New’ Collecting Landscape by Ray

Ray — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:35:34 +0000

To anyone interested.

There is over a dozen Military Trucks and more wasting away near London, Ohio. They’re on Route 42 south of US70 and just before you cross Route 40. They have been siting for at least 15 years but are still in good shape except for what you expect from being exposed to the weather.

If interested and want help finding them just email me.

Ray

Comment on The Devil is in the Details by John A-G

John A-G — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:20:15 +0000

VERY good point, Jeff! You are so right…I have card files full of information that another researcher would consider "busy data," but I can see your point–it is crucial stuff–to ME!

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Point very well taken.
John A-G

Comment on The Devil is in the Details by Jeffrey B. Floyd

Jeffrey B. Floyd — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:35:16 +0000

The quote that’s been stuck to my computer for years is attributed to H.G. Welles: "There is no passion, no love or hate, as powerful as the desire to change someone else’s draft." That has prevented some serious confrontations over the years.

But, to your point on "busy data", let me add another perspective. What’s "busy data" to some is critical information to another. I have a customer who called me each time I sent out a catalog and asked very specific questions about a category of medals. The information he wanted was easy enough to provide, but it wasn’t critical to me as a cataloger (i.e., it would have no effect on my buying decisions). It took three or four of these calls (and a check of his buying record) for the light bulb to go on, and thereafter I included the data in each of the appropriate lot descriptions. He was clearly basing his buying decision on that information, so it was to my benefit to include it. It may be "busy data" to 99.9% of the catalog readers, but it’s "buying data" to that 0.1%.