pfrost Posted July 5, 2010 Share #201 Posted July 5, 2010 I concur with Russ, It used to be easier to use ebay and weed out the con artists. Now, it is much harder, but with careful work and good documentation, it is still possible. One really important thing to do is to keep careful documentation of all interactions with the seller. If I have ANY concerns about an item, I always ask for their return policy. Because this is always via email, it is already in writing--and I keep it filed on my computer if I win the auction. It makes returning something so much easier if I have been conned. once, I bought a wing from a guy because I thought it may have been a rare theater-made variation (or it could have been a bad casting of a wing). I was very polite and said something like "because it is hard to know from just scans or pictures, do you offer a return policy that I can return the wing if I think it is a casting or if I don't like it for any reason? If I do return it, I will be happy to pay any ebay or shipping fees, of course. Or do you have some sort of restrictions on returns?" Since they said I could return it with out any restrictions, I bid accordingly. When I got it, I was convinced it was a fake. When I tried to return it then started to hem and haw and didn't want to take it back, so I simply resent them their original email that said I could return it for any reason. It makes it a lot easier when they have said in their own words that they will take it back for any reason! They weren't happy, but they took it back. If they don't agree to a written return policy, I simply won't be as aggressive in my bidding unless I am prepared to lose the money. The beauty of ebay is that something is ALWAYS being offered. Just be patient. It seems to me that this guy got lucky on some auctions early on and decided to cash in with a bunch of other crud. p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 5, 2010 Share #202 Posted July 5, 2010 One can only hope that we can help folks out with our forum... I think it is a SAD COMMENTARY as well but not on the collector community but people in general.... is not GREED one of the seven deadly sins? Russ thanks for posting these it was on my list of to do's! - I will attempt to move this thread to the FAKES pinned thread so as to keep this at the top. As far as fakes go these are of low quality except for the wing in post #12 which I guess falls into the hybrid fake catagory i.e. using an older wing and altering it to make it somehting else. I think the construction style of these wings will look familiar to some folks here... Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 5, 2010 Share #203 Posted July 5, 2010 Here's five wings currently listed on ebay by the same seller. Opinions?Ebay #160449835332. I forgot to add... if buyer gets it for $99 then it is a good deal compared to the catalog price for this wing from the maker which is $300... as long as he knows it is a reproduction. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted July 6, 2010 Share #204 Posted July 6, 2010 what about these...currently listed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted July 6, 2010 Share #205 Posted July 6, 2010 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted July 7, 2010 Share #206 Posted July 7, 2010 what about these...currently listed Brig, it sure looks like the balloon pilot wing is made up of some of the same components seen in the pilot wing examples currently listed on ebay. Just more junk in my opinion. Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 8, 2010 Share #207 Posted July 8, 2010 More WASP wing fun - part of this photo will look familar. I am not expert but the shield design looks like it was made by the same hand... The wing pattern is likely familar with some of you and was produced in WW2. The addition of the shield looks to be recent if you look at the reverse shot. (next post) I am no expert so I am looking for opinions BTW I see a W1, W4, W5 - why no W3 yet?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 8, 2010 Share #208 Posted July 8, 2010 Here is the reverse shot - :think: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pconrad02 Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share #209 Posted July 8, 2010 John, The top one is good, I talked to the seller, and this wing was looked at by an expert. The last picture ( reverse) looks like one of Joe W's, aged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted July 13, 2010 Share #210 Posted July 13, 2010 I agree, the last WASP wing look's bad. I actually just spotted it on ebay and was going to post it and saw you guys beat me too it. Up to 10 bids, looks like folks are fighting over it days in advance, never got that mentality. Best, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted July 16, 2010 Share #211 Posted July 16, 2010 I thought this was interesting. A series of videos on youtube on how to sand cast items. And the method of centrifugal casting: and and part 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted July 27, 2010 Share #212 Posted July 27, 2010 MORE EBAY FUN! Please take a look at this (fill in the blank)! Now take a look at the sellers feedback and take note of the buyers I am sure some of you will find this interesting or at the very least ironic. Additionally look at all the other wings for sale... feel free to upload and post them. Ebay Seller pacificstandard09 from Orange Ca. Ebay item link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted August 19, 2010 Share #213 Posted August 19, 2010 I have a pair of Meyers Liaison Pilot wings I bought about 15 years ago. They are the reproductions. Below is a photo showing the back hallmarks. It is my understanding that the repops were marked with "Sterling" and the NSMeyer shield but original Meyer wings also had the stamping "NSMeyer" on them, for a total of three hallmarks. Sound right? Tom So these are restikes? What exactly does restrike mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted August 20, 2010 Share #214 Posted August 20, 2010 More WASP wing fun - part of this photo will look familar. I am not expert but the shield design looks like it was made by the same hand... The wing pattern is likely familar with some of you and was produced in WW2. The addition of the shield looks to be recent if you look at the reverse shot. (next post) I am no expert so I am looking for opinions BTW I see a W1, W4, W5 - why no W3 yet?!?! Another pair ebay# 300457401366 Look bad to me, others know more... Opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted August 27, 2010 Share #215 Posted August 27, 2010 Sadly, these just sold for $1200. Chimme in, I think these were bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted September 24, 2010 Share #216 Posted September 24, 2010 I wanted add yet another WASP wing to the mix. I have to say I am getting tired of all the WASP Class wings since I posted about it sometime ago and got some flak from one seller who mis-unterstood me. (I hope he does not have bad feelings over it) Anyway here are some more photos from a current auction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted September 24, 2010 Share #217 Posted September 24, 2010 Reverse and detail shot. I will let the photos do the talking... but please feel free to include your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 22, 2010 Share #218 Posted October 22, 2010 Another of these stinkers went off for $480 this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted October 22, 2010 Share #219 Posted October 22, 2010 Very Sad! BTW that BP ad is a great thing to have - IIRC Cliff posted that some time ago - thanks again Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted December 22, 2010 Share #220 Posted December 22, 2010 Here is a new fake to watch out for, a hybrid. First pattern flight surgeon wing, Meyer die struck, with an AE hallmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted December 22, 2010 Share #221 Posted December 22, 2010 Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted December 22, 2010 Share #222 Posted December 22, 2010 Thanks for posting this! Someone tried to get creative with the hallmark... not sure why they would reproduce that variation as it is harder to do. I think whomever is making the fake Amcraft has done a better job with the FS wing and then there is the Chinese snowflake pilots wing that is good. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffP Posted February 2, 2011 Share #223 Posted February 2, 2011 Question: Which one of these three Dan Dunham designed WW1 wing badges is the phony or do you think all three are okay? One clue: 220733947770 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cooper Posted February 3, 2011 Share #224 Posted February 3, 2011 Thanks for posting this Cliff I just saw that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted March 8, 2011 Share #225 Posted March 8, 2011 This flight of fancy flew out of Indiana yesterday for about $205. Looks like a marriage of a 9M Meyer Aircrew and an old EAL button of some kind. Actually, I'm kind of amused over the steady illustrations of P.T. Barnum's axiom, although like most of us, I weep for the constant loss of innocence such stuff represents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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