Maybe to Promote the Hobby

[Home Guard]

We see on a regular basis where we've bought a fake/restrike badge that we do not want in our collection. Once we learn this, then what do we do with them???

Something I've been doing is passing them on to military interested friends, and to young people in hopes of creating an interest in the hobby. I am also a wargamer, and I see there what seems to be the same with collecting militaria - if it doesn't need batteries and has buttons to push the younger generation seems to have little interest in it.

At our recent local show there were very few young people (probably count them on one hand) and what concerns me about it is that I hate to see it become a dying hobby.

So maybe if we pass on the fakes, and identify them as fakes, to a young person we may have just recruited a new collector. I also impress upon them when I give them the badge(s), that to always make it known that it's a fake should they ever trade it or sell it, because they don't want to get a bad reputation in the hobby.

Just food for thought,

Terry

[Sonofacqms]

Terry,

I do think price has much to do with younger people not taking up the hobby of badge collecting, when I first started there were shops selling badges that were government surplus.

Today with more books and films on the subject of the two great conflicts of the twentieth century prices have risen well above the prices I paid as a youngster for a cap badge.

Also I think my families history and that of my in-laws has added to my collecting interests, today how many youngsters have family members who served in half a dozen Regiments.

My thoughts . . !

Rob

[cbuehler]

The aging of militaria collectors has been a topic for quite some time now. As Terry touched upon, few of the younger generation have any interest, not just our hobby, but antiques and art as well.
It may sound good to pass on fakes to others as a possible stimulus, but I think it likely not to have the intended results. There are far too many out there, and in the event an interest is stirred, prices for good badges are liable to lead to discouragement. I have all but given up on sourcing badges from the UK anymore. Prices and postage combined with the present inflation have done me in.
For myself, I discard fakes and restrikes, except for a few that I retain as a reference to avoid.

CB

[dumdum]

Hi

A great idea Terry! I went through a box of odd buttons and broken badges (ALL genuine!) and gave them to the son of a friend with a keen interest in old objects.

He was thrilled!

On the age bit, I'm over 60 and I can't think of anyone under 40 who "collects", unless you count PC games....

Well, I suppose that is a type of collecting, just not my bag.