Exposing Fake Militaria
Donation protected
If you are a serious collector of Militaria, Awards, Badges and Medals, then you have, and probably still are, investing lots of money into a hobby that is plagued with reproductions. You are dealing daily with con-artists posing as experts in their field, reading deliberate misinformation published in “Collectors Reference Guides” and “Collectors Magazines” and helping to fill the pockets of those who trade in, and shill for, reproductions – “Stolen Valor!”
The multitude of online Militaria Fora that are dealer sponsored and dealer-controlled, drip-feed their members with what they want them to believe and automatically ban anyone who tries to expose their scams. They are almost all, corrupted.
“Stolen Valor” doesn’t only apply to those that dress up in Military outfits they have no right to wear, it applies also to fake Militaria. A multimillion-dollar industry that is thriving, controlled and run by people who have little to no genuine interest in the artifacts they claim to be experts on.
My hobby, is the microscopic examination of these items, either exposing them as fake or authenticating them. Helping collectors avoid fakes, teaching them what they need to look for in detail.
A few years ago, I turned my examinations into videos , added a bit of dark humor, a bit of swearing and honest talk, and set about showing collectors how they can avoid fakes. Not like the multitude of “A Collectors Guide to Recognizing Fakes” books, rather in-depth, simple forensic research, done by someone who has hands-on experience working in the Medal industry, as well as experience in creating fakes.
My background as a published Militaria author, my Medal industry experience, coupled with my deep interest in preserving genuine historical relics and helping collectors with the same interests, together with my disdain for reproductions as well as those who peddle them as genuine - as well as a few expensive microscopes - help me achieve my goal.
The Objective of raising funds here:
Microscopic examinations, and creating videos is time-consuming and not free, so I decided to start this GOFUNDME page for the few genuine, honest collectors out there who appreciate my work and would like to see me continue making videos. I would like to leave my “microscopic headquarters” and visit the Militaria shows myself. Camera in hand, camera hidden, expose the fakes as I see them, go through every table and every dealer, interview the good, the bad and the ugly! Far too long have the big wigs ruled the hobby.
Of course, this hobby is not for everyone, especially when it comes to collecting artifacts from the German Third Reich period. But they too were humans, with families, goals, and dreams, and the awards they received meant as much to them as any other award would mean to any other soldier who receives it. Historical artifacts must be preserved, and not perverted with fakes and fantasy items.
Independent Historical Microscopic Research
My YouTube Channel
The multitude of online Militaria Fora that are dealer sponsored and dealer-controlled, drip-feed their members with what they want them to believe and automatically ban anyone who tries to expose their scams. They are almost all, corrupted.
“Stolen Valor” doesn’t only apply to those that dress up in Military outfits they have no right to wear, it applies also to fake Militaria. A multimillion-dollar industry that is thriving, controlled and run by people who have little to no genuine interest in the artifacts they claim to be experts on.
My hobby, is the microscopic examination of these items, either exposing them as fake or authenticating them. Helping collectors avoid fakes, teaching them what they need to look for in detail.
A few years ago, I turned my examinations into videos , added a bit of dark humor, a bit of swearing and honest talk, and set about showing collectors how they can avoid fakes. Not like the multitude of “A Collectors Guide to Recognizing Fakes” books, rather in-depth, simple forensic research, done by someone who has hands-on experience working in the Medal industry, as well as experience in creating fakes.
My background as a published Militaria author, my Medal industry experience, coupled with my deep interest in preserving genuine historical relics and helping collectors with the same interests, together with my disdain for reproductions as well as those who peddle them as genuine - as well as a few expensive microscopes - help me achieve my goal.
The Objective of raising funds here:
Microscopic examinations, and creating videos is time-consuming and not free, so I decided to start this GOFUNDME page for the few genuine, honest collectors out there who appreciate my work and would like to see me continue making videos. I would like to leave my “microscopic headquarters” and visit the Militaria shows myself. Camera in hand, camera hidden, expose the fakes as I see them, go through every table and every dealer, interview the good, the bad and the ugly! Far too long have the big wigs ruled the hobby.
Of course, this hobby is not for everyone, especially when it comes to collecting artifacts from the German Third Reich period. But they too were humans, with families, goals, and dreams, and the awards they received meant as much to them as any other award would mean to any other soldier who receives it. Historical artifacts must be preserved, and not perverted with fakes and fantasy items.
Independent Historical Microscopic Research
My YouTube Channel
Organizer
Jo Rivett
Organizer
Wolfenschiessen, NW, Switzerland
