Warning: Reproductions!

[DougD]

OK, I have always wondered (though i have been suspicious) about the uniforms of a certain E dealer. I will not come out and say who, but you all know who it is (did i mention last year I had a great trip to London where I got to ride a DOUBLEDECKER bus, and even got to visit alot of AUCTIONS). Anyway, I'll refer to the original E sellers as "them" or "they" to be fair : )

Anyway, the pics they use on E raise alot of red flags, but I have never been able to actually handle any uniforms from "them". I have always thought they mixed real and fake items; I was wrong and will explain below.

Recently though I have been contacted by 2 collectors who have asked me to sell uniforms they have bought from "them". In the first instance the collector did not send me the uniforms for inspection, but this time I was able to handle them. I will not show full shots of the uniforms, but will only use detail shots.

I am not sure if these collectors are selling because they have found "issues" with these uniforms or simply need money. I will not make a judgment on that. However, what it does mean is the following: uniforms from "them" are now showing up from buyers; i.e. they are becoming second generation sales. Someone who would be scared off from buying a high end uniform on E (as anyone should) might buy from another collector, not knowing where the uniform is from. It also means that there are other outlets for these uniforms. I would love to see what shows up at the SOS, but I will have to rely on my partner Dave to check things out.

Now, to the uniforms.....they are FAKE. No mixing (other than postwar pants), just bad items....these would not really fool an established collector, but I could see them fooling a novice.

What to look for: The uniforms all seem to share the following:

1. "they" fake easy to fake uniforms; no M1945 generals, but rather field pullovers, M1940, 43, etc. Higher ranks, but uniforms that do not require a huge amount of embroidered detail, etc.

2. They are "sets"; sets are very tough to find, and for officers and EMs almost never found. Yet, "they" always have sets.

3. Incorrect ,material on both caps and tunics / pullovers. Same for the caps, as soon as you feel one you can tell.

4. STAMPS STAMPS STAMPS! I have sold a huge number of uniforms and the number of real, surviving WAR TIME stamps I could count on my finders and toes; "they" have stamps on EVERY item; they are clear, detailed, bright and easy to read. Again, all to make the novice feel like he got a good wartime uniform.

5. Overaged parts; like buttons that are caked with dirt on tunics with NO wear; caps with cap buttons that have have "wear and rust" on hats with NO wear. They are still new at this and they seem to either not age something (they almost glow!) or overage them.

I'll try to explain more with photos (am home today due to the ice storm, so i have the time for this). My camera is not great though.

I would really like to hear from others and would love to see more examples of uniforms bought from "them" if they are willing to share.

DougD
Moderator