What do you collect?

[Christoph Awender]

Hey Stabs, I bet your favorite is either WWII or fantay?

I also collect models and wargaming figures. Just think of how stuffed my war room is, combination gaming table/ storage/ mannequin display /cases / library.

Also, I am lucky. One of the worlds Largest Military Antiquites stores is quite literally down the street from me, and, as I have been going in there for years, I get good deals on his already low prices.

TS Allen

So you are now 13 as you claim and go to "One of the worlds Largest Military Antiquites stores" already for years?? Is it within scrabbling distance or did you have to take your tricycle?

[Taylor Collector]

Well, it might not definately be one of the worlds largest, but of course that's what everyone one who goes there claims. I cant think of the size of the place at the moment, but definately a few thousand square feet. Of course, that has a range from small to huge. Anyway, I am sure someone here has heard of Homer Helters WWII Military Relics and can fill them in. He does alot of mail orders. Of course, he doesnt have a website so many people dont here about him.

And yes, it is within scrambling distance, well, kind of. The right down the srett thing is correct, but the street is very long. Remember, I didnt say "right down the block." Since I am in advanced class, in my elementary school I was sent to a school across town and his store was on my route home. I would stop there every Friday (for exactly two hours). Then, after reenacting meetings and such, my dad would bring me there for a few hours. Of course, now that I am in middle school (which is right nearby my house, and far away from him) which has disrupted my schedule and means I only ever really get there on saturdays. Of course when I do get there, I am in there for hours. And I am often calling Mr. Helter to put things on hold, tell him that he needs to hold that another week or to because I wont be getting in, etc. Until he hired a new employee (Cody, who is a really great guy, does charity work and stuff, and a really hard worket) and fired ALL of his old employees (that should drive home the 'hard worker' point) I was the only person who knew most of his inventory.

So, can anyone corroborate the Homer Helter's stuff? I have posted long list's of items he has had going through there, or keeps in his 'famous stuff' case or found for our local Holocaust Museum and donated, but you can find it on another forum.

[Spandau]

Ave Taylor,

I have to ask; How the devil can you afford this? I've been working since I could walk and I still can't afford anything! College sucks all money away and then some. At 13 I would look at pictures of medals the same way I would look at pictures of battleships, as something unattainable.

Vale,

-Spandau

[Christoph Awender]

Ave Taylor,

I have to ask; How the devil can you afford this? I've been working since I could walk and I still can't afford anything! College sucks all money away and then some. At 13 I would look at pictures of medals the same way I would look at pictures of battleships, as something unattainable.

Vale,

-Spandau

You really buy the story of a 13 year old talking with vets at reenactments, visiting militaria shops for years already, having a militaria collection, having already done several long marches with full gear etc.. ?? His story is as true as I am a 400 year old dwarf living in a cave.

\Christoph

[Nibelung]

His story is as true as I am a 400 year old dwarf living in a cave.

Good one Christoph! :D ...perhaps he's a child prodigy, who knows - he did go to advanced class after all.

best,
Miha / Nibelung

[Taylor Collector]

Well, time to dispell all of this:

I have the militaria collection for three reasons. The first is I do a lot of work for my dad and he pays me well. The second is that I have been going into the shop for long enough that I get good deals on his all ready pretty good prices. Finally, I still have Christmas, and my dad is an awesome gift giver.

I might upload photos of my collection at one point, since you dont beleive it exists. It isnt the biggest or the best collection, but I am happy with it.

TS Allen

[Nibelung]

Chill man...I posses one Wehrmacht spoon and one fork, no joke - and that's about it.

Nibelung

[Taylor Collector]

Oh yes, I have only talked to, hmm, about 2 dozen veterans at reenactments who I dont know, already, and I think 2 of those were Wermacht and One Luftwaffa. Of course, I have talked to many American Veterans and Canadian Veterans and British Veterans other times, and of course I had a relative in the Polish Army who died after the war, whose story my Grandfather recorded (he was also a history lover) and I am still trying to find.

As a reenactor, I end up talking to veterans because I am often talking to a Russian Reenactor or a German Reenactor who I see often and they seem to either know these people or get there attention.

TS Allen

[Spandau]

You really buy the story of a 13 year old talking with vets at reenactments, visiting militaria shops for years already, having a militaria collection, having already done several long marches with full gear etc.. ?? His story is as true as I am a 400 year old dwarf living in a cave.

\Christoph

Ave Christoph,

I neither believe him nor disbelieve him. I don't know about you, but I had done some pretty crazy things by the time I was 13. And when I was 13, I had all the enthusiasm Taylor has, I just didn't have the resources or oppurtunities.

Don't make so many assumptions, don't to be so quick to deal out judgements. If you habitually make judgements about people, you are less aware of who they are. Focus more on awareness than on analysis. Let analysis work itself out. Here I go again, spouting Martial Arts philosophies. Sorry about that, I have probably been training too much.

Anyway, could Taylor be full of scheisse? Perhaps.
Could Taylor be telling the truth? Perhaps.
At least for the sake of civility I will give him the benefit of the doubt.


Vale,

-Spandau

[Taylor Collector]

Exactly right. Especially on forums like this, you almost always have to take a proverbial "leap of faith" to beleive what people say. Honestly, if I wasnt looking at my collection right now, I might think I was full of it.

And your also correct on that last note. I am very lucky to have the resources and oppurtunity to pursue my hobby.

TS Allen

[Christoph Awender]

I will always hear on my "inner voice" and not on what would be appropriate or political correct in a situation. Someone who claims to have and does all the things he claims to do with 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 years of age is either lying about his age or about the other things.
I never believe that there is a 11 year old boy in a german Wehrmacht uniform participating in big reenacting events and talk to many veterans there.
Taylorcollector at which events have you been and to which reenactment units did you attach with? I am sure they will remember a little reenacting boy if we ask them.

Come one people he is pulling your leg. There is a difference between giving someone the benefit of a doubt and believing things that are so far fetched like he is trying to make us believe.
When writing this I ask myself why I care at all. Maybe I just don ´t like to be fooled like this.

\Christoph

[Taylor Collector]

Well, we are way off topic, so I will make one last clarifying post.

I never said that I was a German Reenactor. I am a Fifer with a Revolutionary War Unit, the 60th of Foot. In Florida, we only really do living history (which everyone down here erroniously calls "reenactments" although that is sort of a local thing, most up north apparently call Living History events Living History) and thus I am always at the same reenactments as the WWII guys. Also, I am 13. Like I said, on a forum like this it is a leap of faith. Honestly, I could assume you are 19 and obsessed with this, but wont say that. Hell, I bet you wouldnt completely beleive me even if I sent photo's of me at reenactments and my collection.

TS Allen

[von_noobie]

Dont know why so many of use dont beleive him, He may be lying but delt it, you cant say s*** unless you have proof and Christoph my freind you dont have proof, but any way when you get the chance Taylor could you post a few pics of your collection, it will settle all this out.

[Howard]

Perhaps Christoph is right about TC (wasn't he a feline cartoon character back when I was a kid?).

It's certainly find it hard to believe that a 13 year regularly calls a major store and asks the owner to hold stuff for him until he can get round there (and presumably buy it). And he knows the stock better than the staff. The thread on reincarnation in Soldatenheim is slightly more worrying with the dreams (or memories?) of being a Freikorps member, then a tank commander on the Russian Front getting shot by partisans.

But perhaps this is proof that he's just a 13 year old kid? Interested in WWII and with a vivid imagination? His posts are full of typos and grammatical mistakes and the longer ones indicate that he's not used to putting his thoughts in order and expressing them clearly. Another indication of being a teenager as far as I can recall IMHO he's just having some fun here and showing off a bit.

Most of his posts are in this sub-forum or Soldatenheim, so don't really affect the more "serious' side of the site, if I can use this expression.

Of course if he is a lot older and pretending to be 13, then we're approaching the suburbs of Therapyville but I don't really see any hard evidence for this.

We should just let him get on with his own thing as long as it's not disturbing anyone else.

[von_noobie]

i agree with Howard