I am sure you get this quite a lot?

[Paul Smith01]

Hello to all of you knowledgeable people on here, I am sorry to bother you but have been left with quite a quandry...
My father was an avid cap badge collector (to the point that all days out in my childhood were spent in antique shops!)

He has gone to his militaria show in the sky and has left a collection of some 7000+ cap badges, buttons, shoulder titles, cloth badges and other sundrie bits and pieces (a couple of canes etc) to be dealt with, his wish was for them to be disposed of as a way of "a nice little nest egg". I dod not know too much about badges but know that the majority are brass or metal and are "original".

I served in the military for a while but never quite got the bug that ruled Dad's world.

Is there anybody with a modicum of knowledge who lives near to me that would be willing to meet up and give me a clue as to how they may be dealt with and some rough values to guide me (I will recompense you for your time!). I have considered auction and e-bay but the premiums are quite restrictive to my mind. I would love to have the passion that Dad had for the badges, but I am afraid it is just not for me. I know this is a valuable collection and would really appreciate any serious offer of assistance in dealing with what is quite a mammoth task.

With thanks, Paul.

[matti467]

Hello paul,
Knowing if we are near by would be aided if we had an idea of your location. I am sorry to hear about your dad and please don't fall for one of those 'I'll take'm off yer hands for a hundred quid' merchants.
Matti

[Peter Brydon]

I hope someone may be able to help, the only thing I would say is that if you have a lot of genuine and reasonably scarce items,contact a specialist militaria auctioneer, you will get the best price for your items even taking commission etc into account.

P.B.

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Paul Smith01

Hello to all of you knowledgeable people on here, I am sorry to bother you but have been left with quite a quandry...
My father was an avid cap badge collector (to the point that all days out in my childhood were spent in antique shops!)

He has gone to his militaria show in the sky and has left a collection of some 7000+ cap badges, buttons, shoulder titles, cloth badges and other sundrie bits and pieces (a couple of canes etc) to be dealt with, his wish was for them to be disposed of as a way of "a nice little nest egg". I dod not know too much about badges but know that the majority are brass or metal and are "original".

I served in the military for a while but never quite got the bug that ruled Dad's world.

Is there anybody with a modicum of knowledge who lives near to me that would be willing to meet up and give me a clue as to how they may be dealt with and some rough values to guide me (I will recompense you for your time!). I have considered auction and e-bay but the premiums are quite restrictive to my mind. I would love to have the passion that Dad had for the badges, but I am afraid it is just not for me. I know this is a valuable collection and would really appreciate any serious offer of assistance in dealing with what is quite a mammoth task.

With thanks, Paul.

I contacted an auction house and arranged for an appointment at their convenience and for a small fee (I took my badges as well of course) just to get a 'guesstimate'. The only one out of 300+odd that they did recognise within a few hours as a fake was a South Irish Horse. Assuming that your Dad was fairly switched on, I would go along with the suggestion already made and sell through an auction house. This assumes that you have absolutely no interest in extending the collection or keeping it. Good luck.

[wardog]

You will find military/militaria auctioneers by searching on line. They will be able to give you an opinion on the collection. You must understand though that there is a chance that you father may have some restrikes or fakes in the collection, and this happens to all of us, so don't be shocked if that is the case. A specialist militaria or badge auction house will break up the collection into lots to get the best price for you. Regards, Paul.

[2747andy]

If you sell by Auction House be under NO ILLUSION that they will sell the collection by whatever means that will reach the most and quickest profit for THEM and not you! They will also charge anyone bidding on the badges an ARM and a LEG as well!

My message to anyone selling a large collection, is do some homework, find out what you have, what it is worth and then sell it yourself on Ebay... The Auction Houses in my opinion act in their interest and NOT yours... They work on a "Dick Turpin" basis and thrive on NOK, who do not know the true value when selling off a loved ones collection!

BEWARE - Auction Houses are NOT the best way to dispose of a large collection!!

Many elderly collectors have for a long time relied on established dealers and have regularly spent a lot of money on Trash! Those who have benefitted from the contributions of the members of this Forum will know this full well!!

If you want a FAST BUCK go to an Auction House and line their pockets too! If you want to realise the true value - DO some HOMEWORK and sell yourself, if you have the time and inclination!

Andy

[Traist]

I agree with Andy. The top end items will fetch good prices on an auction. The rest will either lie in storage at your expense or be sold in lots at a few £'s per lot. If everything gets put out for auction, there will be too much and this will lower the prices on most items too. If you sell it slowly yourself, you will get the true value. Regards Andrew

[Tinto]

Good Luck Paul.
Paul's dilemma brings home the important point that all of us collectors should compile a catalogue of our badges including approx. values at this point in time. Then heirs to the collection have something to go on.
Cheers, Tinto

[Pylon1357]

Originally Posted by Tinto

Good Luck Paul.
Paul's dilemma brings home the important point that all of us collectors should compile a catalogue of our badges including approx. values at this point in time. Then heirs to the collection have something to go on.
Cheers, Tinto

Tinto , you observation and suggestion is bang on what I did before my first trip overseas. The initial process for me was very very time consuming to say the least, however now it is fairly quick to effortless to keep it up to date.

My wife is a fantastic woman in that when she realized how much the collection was valued, she no longer sees it a cluttered waste of money.

[Bill A]

Uhh, Cliff, Your fantastic wife mentioned something about a kitchen remodel and upgrade???

[Paul Smith01]

Hi again,
I think the posts and messages seem to make sense and I sincerely thank you for taking the time to assist. I live and work in Croydon and wonder if any of you are close enough to come and have a quick peek to give an idea of the worth. I can also travel, but this would need to be at weekends?
Dad started collecting when he was 8 and was still at it when he passed away at 65 so I would think that the main collection would be mainly genuine?
I am certainly leaning away from the idea of using an auction agent, but am still wondering how best to deal with the collection. Your continued would be appreciated,

With thanks,
Paul.

[paj1]

Hi paul it may help if you could post a few pictures of some of your badges
and then you may have some ideal if the badges are genuine and some ideal
of value . front and back pictures would be good
regards paj1

[Paul Smith01]

HELP??

Several people have mentioned phrases which you all seem to bandy about, I am just wondering if there is an easy way to spot whether badges are genuine or not? I take it a reproduction is a badge which has been remade as an original? I am sure that Dad would have known which is which and would not have purchased any knowingly, but other than posting piccies for you all to see, is there a simple method.

A further question, what does anodized mean? Please let me apologise for my total lack of knowledge, but I hope to gain some understanding during this process and actually enjoy gaining that knowledge.

If photos would help, then I will ask my partner to help me in that as my skills with computers do not extend that far!

I look forward to your resposes.

Very best wishes,

Paul.

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Paul Smith01

HELP??

Several people have mentioned phrases which you all seem to bandy about, I am just wondering if there is an easy way to spot whether badges are genuine or not? I take it a reproduction is a badge which has been remade as an original? I am sure that Dad would have known which is which and would not have purchased any knowingly, but other than posting piccies for you all to see, is there a simple method.

A further question, what does anodized mean? Please let me apologise for my total lack of knowledge, but I hope to gain some understanding during this process and actually enjoy gaining that knowledge.

If photos would help, then I will ask my partner to help me in that as my skills with computers do not extend that far!

I look forward to your resposes.

Very best wishes,

Paul.

Strictly speaking - as a 'biker' who has had aluminium parts 'anodised' in the past - it describes a way of hardening aluminium parts. In fact, they shrink slightly, but they are more impervious to surface knocks etc.
In badges - I am sure others know more about this than I do - the badge is made of some form of cheap alloy - not just aluminium - and has a hardened (supposedly........) layer/coating applied to the surface.
However, as in getting my 'bike bits done', a dye can be added. Aircraft fixings are treated this way and its not uncommon for hydraulic hose connectors to be a different colour to fuel lines. I use blue for hydraulic and red for fuel.
It might be worth your while looking it up on the internet, where a much more technical explanation wil be forthcoming.

[Peter Brydon]

Having watched "Cash in the Attic" this morning and seeing what a sword and a group of medals and badges sold for at Chiswick Auctions ( are the BBC shareholders in that company ? ) Whatever you do dont contact the BBC if you have any militaria you want to sell.

P.B.