Starting a WWI collection!

Bitz Dr1 · 28 August 2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

Im starting a collection of WWI postcards,photos,letters,ect.So far I got a

Werner Voss sanke (#506),a period copy of

Arthur Rahn seated in his DR1,An

Ernst Udet 1939 autographed newspaper clipping of him talking with Rickenbacker,and recently a 1916 posctard of a French trench.

I know that these are not really WWI, but i do have some of the old Blue Max postcards, depicting the DVII and Dr1, if you are interested. Let me know, and I can send you a few- They were printed in the early 1970's, but they are still real history!

Willi Von Klugerman · 15 October 2009, 04:09 PM

Just recently I was generously given four battlefield relics from Vimy Ridge and Arass.One of the pieces is a half of a bullet cartridge (I think its a 303) and the tip of the bullet.But the piece that got my attention is a piece of jagged metal (about 3 X 2 1/2 in.).It has five rivets across it (half an inch apart) and was apparently a subject of an explosion and seemed to have had a bronze or tanish finish (though its mostly weathered and has white "rust").
Could it have been from a tank? It couldn't have been an arty shell as the ones I see in pics didn't have much rivets.

Bitz Dr1 · 16 October 2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willi Von Klugerman

Just recently I was generously given four battlefield relics from Vimy Ridge and Arass.One of the pieces is a half of a bullet cartridge (I think its a 303) and the tip of the bullet.But the piece that got my attention is a piece of jagged metal (about 3 X 2 1/2 in.).It has five rivets across it (half an inch apart) and was apparently a subject of an explosion and seemed to have had a bronze or tanish finish (though its mostly weathered and has white "rust").
Could it have been from a tank? It couldn't have been an arty shell as the ones I see in pics didn't have much rivets.

Perhaps it may be part of a cannon, or shield for protecting troop movements above ground? Can you post a photo here?

Willi Von Klugerman · 16 October 2009, 06:42 PM

Im afraid that I can't post pics yet as I need the batteries for the digital camera (those things take up alot of juice very quickly).I can't be sure what nation the 303 bullet came from as there were MANY nations that used it!

EDIT: You know,it may be from an arty gun.Is their any records of any artillery gun that were destroyed at either Vimy Ridge and Arras,what types of guns used.From the rivets it looked like it came from a
British 9.2 in. Howitzer,could be wrong.

wulffo · 23 October 2009, 01:50 AM

Hello Willi,
the bronze piece came with a bunch of aircraft stuff and seems to have suffered mechanical and heat damage, the aluminum piece was supposedly aircraft (bought that on ebay a while back but have been unable to identify it) the bullets were found at Ypres in a field.... and I might have some nose cones for you, if I find them (not the timer ones) from Vimy ridge....

Cheers Ol

Willi Von Klugerman · 23 October 2009, 03:19 PM

Nose cones,you mean ones from an Albatros or a shell?

I looked at that bronz piece and noticed that it had heat "bubbles".

wulffo · 27 October 2009, 04:31 AM

shell nose cones... an albatros nose conei would like to have myself ;o)

Willi Von Klugerman · 18 December 2009, 04:26 PM

I recently have obtained a Bitz MVR Fokker DR1 fabric from "The Blue Max.Its really cool!!Its a good chunk,about 6 1/2 in. x 4 3/4 in.It has parts of the cross with a 1 3/4 in white border,problably from the top wing.I can watch the film proudly knowing I got a piece of it with me

Bitz Dr1 · 18 December 2009, 09:34 PM

Hats off to you lad. You are exactly right on the cross coming from the top wing. It is from the top left cross, if one was facing forward.
I am glad you enjoy it. Soon, the Dr1 wings will be built, and it will be closer to flying again. I have a lot of work to do before that happens though.

Happy collecting.

Croix de Guerre · 19 December 2009, 08:50 AM

Good luck to you! Collect what you like; buy the best that you can afford; a broken or damaged piece now will still be a broken or damaged piece years from now. Have fun and stay at it. Read, read, read. Network. See and handle as much real artifacts as you can. At your age you will most likely live long enough to pick up some good stuff as the older generation of collectors starts to "go West".

The photo is my son in front of his inheritance.