THE THINGS SOME PEOPLE DO (Criminal in more way that one)

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I came across an ebay auction for a nice, vet identified, WWI grouping that a woman had acquired from an estate. The M1917 helmet was in remarkable condition - still having its original liner and complete leather chin strap and buckle. It's extremely rare to find complete M1917 helmets, as the leather chin straps and leather supported liner almost always succumb to age and crumble to pieces.

There were divisional markings painted on the helmet and gas mask bag as US Doughboys sometimes proudly did, but even in the small photos they looked bogus so I looked at the enlarged pictures and saw faded shadows just around the edges....
I scratched my head for a minute before realizing she had crudely colored over authentic WWI vintage markings with a permanent marker pen to make them darker!

These rare pieces of history survived The Great War and were carefully preserved for almost 100 years, remaining together only to be virtually destroyed by someone attempting to 'enhance' them to make an extra buck

US WWI 351ST 88TH INFANTRY DOUGHBOY HELMET GROUP | eBay

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[browningautorifle]

In which case she has probably maxed out on the price she will get now. I dunno Harlan, I think that maybe these people aren't that knowledgeable and don't do it on purpose. They just don't know any better. "I'll just darken this up, there now it looks better". I would hope that anyone trying to hokey something up would try harder...unless they have no skill whatsoever. It's a shame like you say. Another piece of history erased. Gone like the men.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Jim, you could be correct that she doesn't think it's any different than washing a shirt before putting it up for sale - and maybe she's completely ignorant that altering an antique to help it sell is wrong. I'm sure I question motives too much, but I think most people (should) know that drawing over original markings on an antique to make them look better when they put it up for sale is at least bending the truth a little.

There is indeed 'ignorance' on many levels though! Here's another one who did the same exact thing and he left the smoking gun right there beside it! -

the things people do

Regardless, it's a real shame what happens to historical items too often (intentional or not) when personal profit is in the equation -
Many people don't have the regard for history as most of us do here. You could tell from reading her description of the item being 'old and dusty etc' she didn't have much respect or interest in antiques.

PS - I said 'SHE' judging from the black painted fingernails and could have been completely off base there again with my assumptions!

[browningautorifle]

I remember that one! Yes, it's just too bad you couldn't stumble over these things at the yard sale one minute before these other people get there.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the auction for that WWI grouping, Jim! Probably got it for just a few dollars too.

Some people have all the luck! (then color on it with a Sharpie!)

[Anzac15]

Just saw this. This is the kind of thing that chaps my ***. I can hear it now...'Like, you know, like I've got this old, like WAR STUFF in my house and it's really, like, bringing me down man. Let's, like, sell it and stuff...' Geez.

[Roy]

I remember a militaria dealer who told me of going to a ladys house to buy some NZ wars buttons, he got to the house and smelt burning wool. "the jacket had moth" she said.