GIl Sanow Posted August 31, 2007 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2007 Yesterday I was contacted by a former British soldier who was involved in destroying, under orders, a pile of sample US clothing items made in Britain under British contract during WW2. The managed to salvage an officer's overseas cap with the appropriate tags identifying it as what we in the US would call a "QM sealed sample". He would now wish to part with it, needless to say at a profit. What should I offer him? He did send pix, and the cap seems to be in new condition, though the piping seems to be dark. Your thoughts, please! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted August 31, 2007 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2007 I'd offer him $50 for it. It MIGHT be worth $75 at retail - but I think any more than that would be pushing it. Now if it were a visor hat, the value would be exponentially higher - it's just that (as you know) o'seas (garrison, etc.) hats aren't really that valuable overall. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 2, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted September 2, 2007 I'd offer him $50 for it. It MIGHT be worth $75 at retail - but I think any more than that would be pushing it. Now if it were a visor hat, the value would be exponentially higher - it's just that (as you know) o'seas (garrison, etc.) hats aren't really that valuable overall. Dave I would sure like some more opinions on this! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 3, 2007 Share #4 Posted September 3, 2007 I would sure like some more opinions on this! What Gil, you don't trust my estimations????? I'm trying out for Antiques Roadshow!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nkomo Posted September 3, 2007 Share #5 Posted September 3, 2007 In my experiences, experimental/sample pieces are quite an enigma. Some examples go for exceptionally less than you'd expect, while others go for substantially more than you thought it would. Sample says everything. It was a sample and the rest of these pieces were destroyed. I would figure that this may be a one of a kind piece or at least an extremely rare item. Since this is the case, there is nothing similar to judge pricing against. Personally, if I wanted/needed it for my collection, then I'd offer him $100 or whatever I felt comfortable with for the cap. It's only money and I'm sure you could sell something to recoup it. That is just my two cents worth. Arch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 3, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted September 3, 2007 What Gil, you don't trust my estimations????? I'm trying out for Antiques Roadshow!!! No Dave, just trying for some sort of consensus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason G Posted September 3, 2007 Share #7 Posted September 3, 2007 No Dave, just trying for some sort of consensus. LOL. While I"m no 'super expert', I'd lean more toward the 50 dollar range. Now, if it includes photos or orders of the destruction, etc etc, then I'd go higher...but not much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted September 3, 2007 Share #8 Posted September 3, 2007 While it is a neat item, is it a pattern that was actually made? Or something that was never put into production. I suppose it depends upon how much you like British made items. I like them a lot, but I would not go too high on this (although it may be the only example of a sealed pattern from there). I'd lean to the $50 offer at first, to feel him out <hope he is not listening> and maybe go up to a hundred if I really liked it or fit a niche in my collection. He may see $$$ signs though, and if he is in England then the dollar is low against the pount so that will hurt you. I suppose he can always put it on ebay, but I am sure there will be someone someplace with a billion dollars to run it up. I would, however, like to see a photo of the tag just for kicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 3, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted September 3, 2007 OK, here's the pic showing the cap and label. That's mthe sealed tag to the lower left -- wax seal is red on the OD cloth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 3, 2007 Share #10 Posted September 3, 2007 Gil: That's very cool. The sale point on the hat is that red wax seal. I've seen stuff with tags, but never one with a wax seal (regardless of what's on it!) Were I to list this on ePay, I'd expect about $75 for it. Unfortunately, these hats are very tough to move and don't really have a following like visor hats, so despite the coolness factor of the tag, the value is depreciated because of the lack of desire on the market for these hats. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 8, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted September 8, 2007 Do we have any more thoughts before I make this guy an offer? Thanx. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted September 8, 2007 Share #12 Posted September 8, 2007 Do we have any more thoughts before I make this guy an offer? Thanx. G For something like this, all we can do is pull numbers out of the air. I would simply tell him that there is zero basis for determining the worth of something like this and then offer him $40 and make it clear you are open to negotiation. How high you go simply depends on how badly you want it for your collection. If I were buying something like this for resale I'd pay no more than $20. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason G Posted September 9, 2007 Share #13 Posted September 9, 2007 I guess the final question would be are you buying it for re-sale or to put into your collection? I'd pay slightly more if I was adding it to the collection than if I were trying a resale, I agree with the Admin...20 bucks tops.....otherwise offer 40-50 and see what happens.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Apathy Posted September 9, 2007 Share #14 Posted September 9, 2007 Post #11 Group: Members Posts: 366 Joined: 7-January 07 Member No.: 344 Reduced: 95% of original size [ 536 x 660 ] - Click to view full image Sorry the photograph has not been copied across for some reason. Hi Gil, in reference to your British made pattern room garrison cap, here is a previous post I put on the forum a few months back, these two items mentioned below also came from the pattern rooms when they were closed down. Certainly with the unique labelling you know theres not another like it in the world, so does it make the garrison cap worth the same as a regular cap or maybe even double as theres not another one. Another thought is some people like factory fresh unissued items and others want items that were there, done that, so the value is different to both of these collectors and neither places great value on each others items Hi Johan, and fellow members who have posted in this British made section. A few years back this present British Government closed down the British army pattern rooms. This is where the the first or premier example of every item ever used by the army in the last couple of hundred years was held. I was very fortunate to get two items from there #1 being the first example of the British made musette for U.S. forces dated 1943, #2 being the new standard non polish ( Stay-Bright ) wings for the SAS, pattern dated Feb 1964, and marked ' property of the War Office' . The cord holding the wings has a wax and a lead seal on the rear of the card, there is also a small bag to hold the wings. Due to the fakers ( thats with an ' A' or you could use a ' U' if desired ) I am not showing the sheet for the musette bag, I don't want to start a cottage industry out there with re-production. Johan I will show you this musette and the sheet next time we meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 9, 2007 Author Share #15 Posted September 9, 2007 Post #11 Group: Members Posts: 366 Joined: 7-January 07 Member No.: 344 Reduced: 95% of original size [ 536 x 660 ] - Click to view full image Sorry the photograph has not been copied across for some reason. Hi Gil, in reference to your British made pattern room garrison cap, here is a previous post I put on the forum a few months back, these two items mentioned below also came from the pattern rooms when they were closed down. Certainly with the unique labelling you know theres not another like it in the world, so does it make the garrison cap worth the same as a regular cap or maybe even double as theres not another one. Another thought is some people like factory fresh unissued items and others want items that were there, done that, so the value is different to both of these collectors and neither places great value on each others items Hi Johan, and fellow members who have posted in this British made section. A few years back this present British Government closed down the British army pattern rooms. This is where the the first or premier example of every item ever used by the army in the last couple of hundred years was held. I was very fortunate to get two items from there #1 being the first example of the British made musette for U.S. forces dated 1943, #2 being the new standard non polish ( Stay-Bright ) wings for the SAS, pattern dated Feb 1964, and marked ' property of the War Office' . The cord holding the wings has a wax and a lead seal on the rear of the card, there is also a small bag to hold the wings. Due to the fakers ( thats with an ' A' or you could use a ' U' if desired ) I am not showing the sheet for the musette bag, I don't want to start a cottage industry out there with re-production. Johan I will show you this musette and the sheet next time we meet. Thanx, guys. I can't disagree with any of your comments. Truth is, I am not all that interested in it. If there is anyone else out there who is, I will be happy to share the sellers e-mail address so you can make a deal of your own. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted September 11, 2007 Share #16 Posted September 11, 2007 So in theory- the pattern room should have held a "British Made" assualt jacket......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgawne Posted September 11, 2007 Share #17 Posted September 11, 2007 I sadly have an interest in British Made stuff for the Yanks, so I would be interested in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted September 11, 2007 Share #18 Posted September 11, 2007 Did you ever think of asking the owner what he wanted for it? $50-$100 maybe an insult to him not that I think it's worth much more..... the wrong approach can kill a deal. Do we have any more thoughts before I make this guy an offer? Thanx. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 11, 2007 Author Share #19 Posted September 11, 2007 Did you ever think of asking the owner what he wanted for it? $50-$100 maybe an insult to him not that I think it's worth much more..... the wrong approach can kill a deal. He paid nothing -- salvaged it from a pile of pattern pieced destined for disposal by fire. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted September 11, 2007 Share #20 Posted September 11, 2007 I got that part.... what does he want for it? Did you even ask? He paid nothing -- salvaged it from a pile of pattern pieced destined for disposal by fire. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 12, 2007 Author Share #21 Posted September 12, 2007 I got that part.... what does he want for it? Did you even ask? No, he was clearly seeking an offer, and I tend to decline dealing in those situations. If it's for sale, put a price on it, and then we can negotiate. When I sell, I will put a price on it. Don't ask what I will take -- I will tell you it is already priced, but if you want to make a counter offer, then we can talk. Yeah, I am old and grouchy! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APO472 Posted September 12, 2007 Share #22 Posted September 12, 2007 No, he was clearly seeking an offer, and I tend to decline dealing in those situations. If it's for sale, put a price on it, and then we can negotiate. When I sell, I will put a price on it. Don't ask what I will take -- I will tell you it is already priced, but if you want to make a counter offer, then we can talk. Yeah, I am old and grouchy! G Not Old and Grouchy, but wisdom has been kind and has explained that there is no sense in being "buyer and seller both"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted September 12, 2007 Share #23 Posted September 12, 2007 I agree.... an old antique dealer told me once when conforted with a similar situation. "Offer them a dollar"..... that usually gets them talking. No, he was clearly seeking an offer, and I tend to decline dealing in those situations. If it's for sale, put a price on it, and then we can negotiate. When I sell, I will put a price on it. Don't ask what I will take -- I will tell you it is already priced, but if you want to make a counter offer, then we can talk. Yeah, I am old and grouchy! G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIl Sanow Posted September 12, 2007 Author Share #24 Posted September 12, 2007 Now we understand each other. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101combatvet Posted September 12, 2007 Share #25 Posted September 12, 2007 We? Your original question was "What should I offer him?" No, misunderstanding on my part. Now we understand each other. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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