Why Do I Collect this Stuff ?

Being born in 1955 I grew up surrounded by veterans. Starting school in 1961 my school crossing guard was a WW1 veteran. In those days a crossing guard was invariably an elderly vet who wore a navy-blue military uniform with visor cap. I recall his tunic having some ribbons on it but they meant nothing to me at the time. A few years ago, I reviewed his Service Record and found out he served in the Canadian Artillery in The Great War.

My next-door neighbours were vets. One was a former Royal Navy vet who served on HMS Cochrane at Jutland. In the 2nd War he was a Gunnery instructor in the Royal Canadian Navy. I still have his service record from the Royal Navy.

Our other neighbour enlisted in the British Army in the early 30’s and served in Palestine before the war. He retired as a Captain in the British Army and served in North Africa with the 8th Army. I still have his Service Dress and his medals. The Africa Star ribbon has a silver “8” sewn on it.

My father who was getting his military induction haircut on VE Day told us that the barber left him sitting in the chair when the word was received and went to join the celebrations.

One of Dad’s friends was a reenactor who had a German 37mm antitank gun in his barn which he had re-barrelled in .303 caliber so he could shoot groundhogs with it. He also had a cannon which he used to lob beer cans filled with cement out into the fields although he never managed to hit a groundhog with it. He and one of his pals used to take me to Militaria Shows held in the armouries of the Royal Montreal Regiment.

I got the pickelhaube bug right after my father came home one day from visiting one of his antique dealer friends and had two pickelhaubes in hand. I was probably about 14 or 15 at the time. One was a Prussian OR’s Ersatz tin helmet painted entirely in Feldgrau and the other was an M95 Baden OR’s helmet all intact.

In my youth we were all surrounded by veterans. A lot of my friends parents served and I loved hearing their stories.

I suppose that all these influences fostered my love of history and had a great hand in shaping who I am, what I believe in and the values I have today. I collect a wide range of militaria from Japanese swords, Canadian Medals and uniforms of both wars, and anything Imperial German.

I think there are several aspects to the question posed by B.Loree,

I believe we need to set aside the "historica"l aspect, which many members emphasize and which isn't inherently bad. The real issue, it seems to me, is the addiction to compulsive shopping and the relationship to possession.

According to Dr. Ronald Fraser, Director of the Inpatient Detoxification Service at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and of the Borderline Personality Disorder Clinic, Long-Term Care, a compulsive shopper is addicted to thoughts about shopping and the euphoric feeling that accompanies them.

"Addictive behaviors, such as compulsive shopping, are not about acquiring an item or object, but about obtaining a feeling of well-being. It's a comfort-seeking technique," says Dr. Fraser, who points out the possibility of genetic links. For example, a person may have an alcoholic parent and decide never to drink alcohol because they have seen the devastating effects of this addiction, but instead express their addictive tendencies by comforting themselves through compulsive shopping.

When Shopping Becomes an Addiction
Many people love to shop and take advantage of a bargain, but does that make them compulsive shoppers? What distinguishes ordinary shopping from problematic behavior is impulse control.

“To diagnose compulsive shopping syndrome, a functional disturbance must be observed. The person spends so much time looking for discounts that they neglect their daily activities,” says Dr. Fraser. “For example, they don’t pick up their children from school or shower for fear of missing out on a sale.” The compulsive shopper confronts their distress through the act of buying. Once the purchase is made, “they experience a rush of the ‘feel-good hormone,’ dopamine, which floods the brain and gives them a sense of well-being,” he adds. “But this pleasure is very short-lived. It’s not a long-term solution for managing stress. The person experiences a few moments of pleasure but feels compelled to shop again once that pleasure is gone.” She gets caught in a cycle that becomes compulsive. It’s no longer a need or a desire; it’s a behavior.” What can someone do who is diagnosed with compulsive buying disorder or who fears that a family member or friend has it? Dr. Fraser explains that “the key is moderation and a healthy relationship with shopping, which isn’t always easy.” Treatment for compulsive buying disorder includes cognitive behavioral therapy, which provides the skills needed to manage the compulsion and cope with distress. Addiction medication can also be helpful because it reduces the urge to engage in compulsive behavior. There are also support groups, such as Debtors Anonymous, which is based on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. One solution is to remove credit and debit cards and limit access to cash, but Dr. Fraser points out that many people refuse. "They don't like external control because they find it humiliating, but it's sometimes necessary, since the behavior is compulsive and difficult to control."

Providing Patients with the Right Tools
Even though treatments exist to help compulsive shoppers control their addiction, few seek help because the effects are delayed, whereas someone with a substance abuse problem will immediately experience the effects of an overdose that lands them in the emergency room. However, relationship conflicts can arise when an adult makes purchases they cannot afford, impacting the family budget. Furthermore, there is not much research on this syndrome.

“Ultimately, a successful treatment for compulsive buying syndrome must equip the individual with a set of self-control skills,” concludes Dr. Fraser. “The addiction doesn’t stem from a lack of willpower, but from a lack of skills. They need to be given the necessary skills to manage their distress without making purchases.” “

According to Eckhart Tolle,

The ego tends to equate having with being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego thrives on comparison. The way others see you becomes the way you see yourself. If everyone lived in a castle or were rich, your castle or your fortune would no longer serve to reinforce your sense of self.

To distinguish yourself, you could move into a simple hut, renounce your riches, and rediscover another identity by considering yourself, and being seen as, more spiritual than others. The way others see you becomes the mirror that tells you who you are and what you look like. The ego’s sense of your personal worth is, in most cases, linked to the value you have in the eyes of others.” Because you need others to give meaning to your Self, and if you live in a culture that largely associates personal worth with wealth and possessions, and also if you do not know how to demystify this collective illusion, you will be condemned to the pursuit of objects for the rest of your days in the vain hope of finding your personal worth and achieving the realization of your essence.

It's very interesting and enlightening to read how we have started, and keep, collecting.
I started out collecting all things military as a child, which became a bit more focused over the years, before I discovered that my grandmother's brothers had all been in the German army during WW I (luckily they all survived). My grandmother had photos of her brothers, but also photos and death cards of friends / acquaintances / neighbours / classmates in her album, and that album guided my collecting choices. Over time however the search for information on the soldiers my grandmother knew during WW I has taken precedence over collecting militaria, and my greatest joy now comes from discovering more about their stories. For example I found and visited the valley in France where one of my great-uncles had his picture taken in 1915 (it still looked the same), and found and visited the cemetery in Troskunai, Lithuania, where one of her friends(?) was buried in 1915 (this cemetery is missing from the official German list, as is this soldier).
I still buy the odd militaria item, but mainly postcards that contain information on uniforms, unit activities and locations, etc. Takes less space too...

We are merely fleeting moments in the lives of objects.....

Eichenblatt said:

We are merely fleeting moments in the lives of objects.....

Click to expand...

Indeed we are. I see us collectors like curators, caring for them, so they will be everlasting collecting objects when we are long gone.

JPT said:

I believe we need to set aside the "historica"l aspect, which many members emphasize and which isn't inherently bad. The real issue, it seems to me, is the addiction to compulsive shopping and the relationship to possession.


When Shopping Becomes an Addiction
Many people love to shop and take advantage of a bargain, but does that make them compulsive shoppers? What distinguishes ordinary shopping from problematic behavior is impulse control.


According to Eckhart Tolle,

The ego tends to equate having with being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego thrives on comparison. The way others see you becomes the way you see yourself. If everyone lived in a castle or were rich, your castle or your fortune would no longer serve to reinforce your sense of self.

Click to expand...

Call me a simple man. But while your analysis is interesting, I disagree that this applies to many of us.

Yes, I have a very large collection as some of you have seen, but I'm not complusive. Most of what I buy is curated over 50 years.

Why? I like to study things and learn. And purchasing them, allows me to study them, which stimulates my passion for learning and makes me a more educated person. It just so happens that what stimulates me is history, specifically miliatry history. My view is that my collection as no different than a museums. Something that I and others who see it are constantly learning from.

So...well....hmmmm....maybe if learning is a compulsive disorder...then I may agree with the above! LoL

MAP said:

Call me a simple man. But while your analysis is interesting, I disagree that this applies to many of us.

Yes, I have a very large collection as some of you have seen, but I'm not complusive. Most of what I buy is curated over 50 years.

Why? I like to study things and learn. And purchasing them, allows me to study them, which stimulates my passion for learning and makes me a more educated person. It just so happens that what stimulates me is history, specifically miliatry history. My view my collection as no different than a museum. Something that I and others who see it are constantly learning from.

So...well....hmmmm....maybe if learning is a compulsive disorder...then I may agree with the above! LoL

Click to expand...

I agree, especially on the learning of other people about these helmets, medals and such, also about WW1 history. I am also a motorcycle rider, and a member of a forum dedicated to them. Sometimes when a fellow member comes to visit me for spare parts, which I have a lot of, they are amazed by these helmets and such, when I tell them more about WW1, they get really interested in history, which, in many cases, is overlooked nowaday's. People know a lot about WW2, but WW1 is almost never educated in school. At least, here in The Netherlands it isn't.. Today, for instance, a member came to pick up some parts for his Kawasaki, which I had in my spare-parts shed. He was amazed seeing my collection, in my livingroom, and asked a lot about them. He never even knew these helmets existed. Now he does.

MAP said:

Call me a simple man. But while your analysis is interesting, I disagree that this applies to many of us.

Yes, I have a very large collection as some of you have seen, but I'm not complusive...

Click to expand...

I completely agree. It's dangerous to conflate "passion" with "addiction." Tons of people have hobbies or interested they are passionate about, and are still able to function normally and have well-rounded lives. I'd argue that pursuing such a passion, and being a lifelong learner as a result, helps keep our minds sharp and enhances the joy in our lives.

That said, I've known a (very) few collectors I'd consider having addictive personalities, with broken marriages and relationships but houses packed floor to ceiling with "stuff." But at least from what I've seen, that's a very, very small minority. Just my $0.02! What a great thread.

On the original topic: I have been interested in military history as long as I can remember. As a kid, it was models and miniature figure painting, along with reading and researching. For whatever reason, the First World War has always fascinated me. The ruthless industrial scale of the thing, and the end of so many empires and kingdoms - it's just a remarkable turning point in human history.

I've always also been drawn to art and to material culture - tangible artifacts and physical connections to times past. I'm probably not the only one here who considers the Imperial German Army to have been the apex of military fashion, with a long tradition and a powerful aesthetic. The stuff is just visually appealing to me.

My educational background is weird, having gone to art school as an undergrad, and later grad school for history. I taught college-level history for some years, but now history is a passion rather than a profession - and the Imperial German era is a great combination of historical drama and exceptional visual style. Collecting this stuff, for me, scratches all of those itches. There's always something new to learn, and see, and handle - it's a marvelous hobby. Thanks Brian, for this excellent thread!

Jeff R said:

That said, I've known a (very) few collectors I'd consider having addictive personalities, with broken marriages and relationships but houses packed floor to ceiling with "stuff." But at least from what I've seen, that's a very, very small minority. Just my $0.02! What a great thread.

Click to expand...

This is also part of the Hobby, and I think it's healthy to talk about all aspects of the Hobby, the good the bad and the ugly. Especially for young impressionable collectors.

I do know "collectors" who are obsessed with the hunt, they literally click a button to buy something and within seconds are already looking for the next fix. I think for some the hunt is a big part of the Hobby.

I really do enjoy meeting other collectors and hearing about or seeing their collections. I'm a private collector and I don't post many pictures or tell everyone about my latest purchase, so I wonder what Dr Fraser thinks of collectors like me.

Thank GOD not all collectors are like me forums would be pretty boring without pictures. On that note anyone else really missing Steve, I really loved that guy he was such a great man who was always sharing his collection and knowledge and all without even a hint of ego.

" The lives of passionate, intense, and excessive individuals resemble a tightrope stretched only between the best and the worst. "

by Romain Guilleaumes

John Josef said:

This is also part of the Hobby, and I think it's healthy to talk about all aspects of the Hobby, the good the bad and the ugly. Especially for young impressionable collectors.

I do know "collectors" who are obsessed with the hunt, they literally click a button to buy something and within seconds are already looking for the next fix. I think for some the hunt is a big part of the Hobby.

I really do enjoy meeting other collectors and hearing about or seeing their collections. I'm a private collector and I don't post many pictures or tell everyone about my latest purchase, so I wonder what Dr Fraser thinks of collectors like me.

Thank GOD not all collectors are like me forums would be pretty boring without pictures. On that note anyone else really missing Steve, I really loved that guy he was such a great man who was always sharing his collection and knowledge and all without even a hint of ego.

Click to expand...

You are certainly not really the only one, who's really missing Steve, so do I. When I joined up here, he told me so much, I learned a lot from him, also way after my first joining up. And I'm, like you, certainly not the ony one.

coert65 said:

You are certainly not really the only one, who's really missing Steve, so do I. When I joined up here, he told me so much, I learned a lot from him, also way after my first joining up. And I'm, like you, certainly not the ony one.

Click to expand...

This, 200%. It remains an everyday thing for me, and I imagine it will remain so. A true gentleman and an endless fountain of stories and knowledge, which he always shared generously. He was one of a kind.

JPT said:

I think there are several aspects to the question posed by B.Loree,

I believe we need to set aside the "historica"l aspect, which many members emphasize and which isn't inherently bad. The real issue, it seems to me, is the addiction to compulsive shopping and the relationship to possession.

According to Eckhart Tolle,

The ego tends to equate having with being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego thrives on comparison. The way others see you becomes the way you see yourself. If everyone lived in a castle or were rich, your castle or your fortune would no longer serve to reinforce your sense of self.

Click to expand...

The last time I checked we're all humans with our normal human behaviours. To a certain degree everyone likes buying or having stuff. A nice car, a room filled with clothes of which half you barely wear, a home with a garden and room for a pony, a wife, a motorcycle or an attic filled with historical helmets.
Nothing wrong with that as long as it hurts no one.

We can't all be Buddha or Diogenes the cynic. But I'm curious who will be the first member to run around the woods naked, wearing nothing but a Pickelhaube, looking for berries and hunting small mammals with the tall spike formerly belonging to an imperial German officer.
A helmet no doubt made privately with the greatest care and the utmost luxury to reflect the status they wanted to reflect to the outside world. Nothing changed in that regard.

Great idea for a thread by the way. It's interesting to read all the personal back stories which made us interested in this time period and collect the items that survived till this day.

John Josef said:

This is also part of the Hobby, and I think it's healthy to talk about all aspects of the Hobby, the good the bad and the ugly. Especially for young impressionable collectors.

I do know "collectors" who are obsessed with the hunt, they literally click a button to buy something and within seconds are already looking for the next fix. I think for some the hunt is a big part of the Hobby.

I really do enjoy meeting other collectors and hearing about or seeing their collections. I'm a private collector and I don't post many pictures or tell everyone about my latest purchase, so I wonder what Dr Fraser thinks of collectors like me.

Thank GOD not all collectors are like me forums would be pretty boring without pictures. On that note anyone else really missing Steve, I really loved that guy he was such a great man who was always sharing his collection and knowledge and all without even a hint of ego.

Click to expand...

I certainly miss Steve. In fact, I was thinking about him just yesterday as I was looking over some of my Kaiser Prizes. He obviously had a collection that most of us could never eclipse but never gave a hint of operating on a higher level. He was always asking questions and seeking to understand every aspect of the topic at hand.

We corresponded at length on Kaiser prizes and Britain's toy soldiers. I never met Steve, but I sure wish I'd had the opportunity.

JPT.....why don't you tell us how you got into collecting this "stuff"? You seem to enjoy throwing these "philosophical/psychological" quotes at us but we have yet to hear "your story". Obviously, there are humans who develop personality disorders due to a predisposition or experiences (Nature vs Nurture) and there may be some of those among us here who are dealing with this. However, if they do no harm then frankly, who cares??
Regarding Steve, I met him/conversed with him on several occasions at the SOS. I also bought some wappen from him several years ago. We emailed back and forth a couple of times each year and initially I posted his photos here until he was able to do it himself. He would show up at our SOS tables with some amazing helmets and share them with us. We saw his physical decline as he aged and knew that it was only a matter of time until he would not be able to come to the show. However, he kept buying helmets, posting them here and sharing his world class collection with the forum. I encouraged him to do so.....we work hard for a major portion of our lives, we make some cash, so why not enjoy it?? The old cliche..."you can't take it with you" applies when you reach a certain age so why not spend your money on things/experiences that give you enjoyment and stimulate the mind?? I have total respect for Steve doing this. I am in my 70's now and this is my attitude..."keep on truckin"! Be active both in mind and body, appreciate what you have, family and friends and live life!

b.loree said:

JPT.....why don't you tell us how you got into collecting this "stuff"? You seem to enjoy throwing these "philosophical/psychological" quotes at us but we have yet to hear "your story". Obviously, there are humans who develop personality disorders due to a predisposition or experiences (Nature vs Nurture) and there may be some of those among us here who are dealing with this. However, if they do no harm then frankly, who cares??
Regarding Steve, I met him/conversed with him on several occasions at the SOS. I also bought some wappen from him several years ago. We emailed back and forth a couple of times each year and initially I posted his photos here until he was able to do it himself. He would show up at our SOS tables with some amazing helmets and share them with us. We saw his physical decline as he aged and knew that it was only a matter of time until he would not be able to come to the show. However, he kept buying helmets, posting them here and sharing his world class collection with the forum. I encouraged him to do so.....we work hard for a major portion of our lives, we make some cash, so why not enjoy it?? The old cliche..."you can't take it with you" applies when you reach a certain age so why not spend your money on things/experiences that give you enjoyment and stimulate the mind?? I have total respect for Steve doing this. I am in my 70's now and this is my attitude..."keep on truckin"! Be active both in mind and body, appreciate what you have, family and friends and live life!

Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more with you Brian!

coert65 said:

I couldn't agree more with you Brian!

Click to expand...

Same here. I personally don't enjoy being typecast by philosophical theories. Seems like a broad whitewash covering increadibly important individual situations, experiences and such.

Again, call me a simple man. LoL

I blame this illustration. I've always liked helmets (tanks, aircraft, ships, etc, but not much of a car enthusiast). Quite honestly, I can't say where it comes from. Maybe my dad's interest in history and documentaries, maybe my uncles who were veterans, maybe the M3A3 Stuart I played on as a kid. Who knows (I think it's genetic). I wanted to be a soldier from an early age and later found out what a mixed blessing being one was. I hated being away from family, but enjoyed my job (tanking, artillery), but I also dislike wars because of their total waste. Seriously, I really can't say, but the unique form and variety of the Pickelhaube is fascinating to me. Also, to think they belonged or were issued to people very similar to us is another aspect of it... the history.
I always went for top quality uniforms, tried to purchase (and personalize) my own helmets and took pride in all of the effort I put into my work and dress attire, so there's that too.
In short, I started being a military artifact collector at age six. The main reason is that it's interesting and FUN.

There is no doubt..."clothes do make the man" !