12 replies to this topic

[4thGordons]

A new seller (or at least one with no feedback) appeared on eBay (US) this week selling broad arrow rubber stamps with dates (inc 1916) and various other equipment marking stamps.

These are touted as "an accurate reproduction of the classic WWI era British Broad Arrow rubber stamp.....can be used an unlimited number of times to mark clothing or equipment and would be ideal for someone doing restorations or reenacting"


Chris

[DavidB]

Chris,
          Seems to me that they could be used for other not quite so inocuous projects.

[4thGordons]

rgartillery, on 19 March 2012 - 04:15 AM, said:

Chris,
          Seems to me that they could be used for other not quite so inocuous projects.

Yes, that was rather my point. I suspect nice clearly marked web belts etc (and perhaps p1922 SD Jackets) may start appearing
Chris

[GRANVILLE]

I believe there are grounds for compiling a list of stamps and marks which are known or suspected to be bogus so that future enthusiast can be wary. If anyone has got such a mark or stamp on some kit, then it would be good if a picture of it could be posted here for others to comment on and once a concensus is reached it could then be filed for future reference?

Dave Upton

[Keith Roberts]

Could I ask that future posts are carefully worded please, as these early ones have been.

Listing stamps that are being marketed for replica use is not a concern, but please avoid any imputations regarding suppliers or the purchasers of such items . We don't want to get embroiled in legal issues. They would only lead to the thread being heavily edited, or deleted.

Thanks


Keith

[33rd div mgc]

Here's a few photos of my markings for hats, clothing & equipment

Any item I make will always have 'Khaki on Campaign' stamped on it somewhere. I try to have it in a place that can be found easy, and not on show when being used or worn.

The problem I've had in the past is dealers getting hold of kit I've made and making it look original. I will alway try at some point make a design flaw to give collectors the ' tell, tale' signs.

The funniest one I saw last year was an OR's Gor-Blimey cap which looked as if it's been fired at with a shot gun as half the neck curtain was missing and then used as a football before cleaning all the cars in the high street.
The big give away was the rubber inner oilskin lining, this couldn't be aged and look as new as the day I made it. When I contacted the seller and told him it was a repro ( and could prove it )....and not an original item......no reply

If anyone thinks they might have some bit of kit  and are not sure if it original or a repro, please send me an e-mail and I'll tell you straight away if it is one of my repros.

Dickie

Attached Files

•  OR\'s SD cap 03 pattern inside view.jpg   26.17K   0 downloads
•  IMG_0533.JPG   24.73K   0 downloads

[33rd div mgc]

Keith Roberts, on 19 March 2012 - 07:27 AM, said:

Could I ask that future posts are carefully worded please, as these early ones have been.

Listing stamps that are being marketed for replica use is not a concern, but please avoid any imputations regarding suppliers or the purchasers of such items . We don't want to get embroiled in legal issues. They would only lead to the thread being heavily edited, or deleted.

Thanks


Keith

Hi Keith

You must have just added your link as I was typing out mine, I hope it's ok.

Dickie

[Keith Roberts]

No problem at all - its when members post about particular suspect items that can be associated with specific dealers that we can have issues. or indeed about particular dealers.

Keith

[4thGordons]

Along those lines - I should point out I have no problem with this or any other seller of these stamps - they have a perfect right to produce and sell them it seems to me. How they are used afterwards is not under the seller's control.
I did however want to highlight their availablilty as an indication to others to pay attention to the markings if this is an area of interst to them.
Chris

[33rd div mgc]

4thGordons, on 19 March 2012 - 07:11 PM, said:

Along those lines - I should point out I have no problem with this or any other seller of these stamps - they have a perfect right to produce and sell them it seems to me. How they are used afterwards is not under the seller's control.
I did however want to highlight their availablilty as an indication to others to pay attention to the markings if this is an area of interst to them.
Chris

I agree with you totally on this, that's why I've put up my makers stamps for all to see.
I've had many a spat with people in the past over what I should or should not have stamped on to items I make.

Dickie

[GRANVILLE]

I agree this is a sensitive area for the forum, but I am also concerned that readers might imagine from my earlier posting that I had issues about markings found on genuine and advertised as such reproduction kit from the likes of Dickie, which is not what I had in mind at all. I was more concerned with those who are quite deliberately making WD/arrow stamps and subtly altering faint ME Co (for example) markings and applying mouth watering dates such as '1916'. To pretend it doesn't happen is naive and (in my view) to say that those doing such things commit no offences, its only when items change hands and someone else tries to pass them off is again somewhat naive?

I don't believe any attempt needs to be made to identify any person involved in such a practice, that should be for their own conscience to deal with, but on the other hand if someone had a picture of a stamp/date mark that was seriously thought to be suspect - especially if numbers of items were showing up with similar marks, then I would have thought it perfectly acceptable thing to bring such things to the attention of fellow enthusiasts?


Dave Upton

[auchonvillerssomme]

Dave you are right of course and there have been several threads starting with 'What do you think about this?' and then giving a link to ebay. I am not impressed (pun intended) by the statement that they add authenticity to reproduction items. Fine if you want to add this stuff to your dressing up box why do you need stamps on the bits you can't see? Wouldn't it be as good to have a FAKE stamped all over the inside?

[Keith Roberts]

We have to steer a fine line, but I think we are all so far in step.

I think an image showing a suspect item is unlikely to be an issue in itself, so long as there is no direct association with the producer or the seller/dealer. It is when posts could be interpreted as defamatory by an individual or company that we could be in trouble.  For example - a poster could refer to an item "being offered on ebay currently".  That I am afraid would not be acceptable.  Not all posters exercise discretion and a single set of legal costs could close the forum down quite easily.

Keith