My booklet on the history of the Pickelaube

sparkoparkes

sparkoparkes

New member
Dear Sirs,
I live in the U.K. and have always been passionately interested in pickelhauben since I was a schoolboy, back in the 'sixties. When I discovered Tony Schnurr's incredibly informative website, 'Kaiser's Bunker', that explained in astounding detail the pickelhaube's complete development and evolution from 1842 till 1915, I was so overwhelmingly impressed that I set-to and produced an illustrated booklet that explained in simple, layman's terms that same history and development in a format I believed could reach an even wider audience than those of us who study online.
Set out in A5 format, I put it all together using Microsoft Publisher, and the photographs I used were all taken from various internet sources - though, primarily and unsurprisingly, about 80 to 90% of them were from 'Kaiser's Bunker'.
When it came to the question of actually publishing my book, however, I knew I had to obtain Mr. Schnurr's permission to use so many of his photographs, so I began to search his website for a means of contacting him. This has proved to be impossible as, since the passing of his beloved Kaiser, he no longer receives emails. He has become, in fact, uncontactable. No matter where I look on his website or anywhere else, for that matter, I can find no contact details for him at all.
Then I saw that he sometimes contributes to THIS website, and I read about B.Loree's pilgrimage to visit him in Aug. 2011, in Fredericton NB, so I guess our esteemed Administrator here would still be able to contact him on my behalf, if I were to ask him nicely?
If you read this, B.Loree, I'd appreciate you contacting me by email on [email protected] and perhaps advising me how I might get in touch with Mr.Schnurr - perhaps if you could intercede on my behalf and ask him if he could contact me? I would love to send him a printed copy of my booklet for his appraisal, but I have no address to send it to!
Please can you help?
Steven J. Parkes.
 
Hello Steve--
First welcome to the forum.

Second as an author of two books on helmets, and author of thousands of articles (I'm a full time reporter), I respect your eagerness to write something on the subject. That is commendable especially as I know many collectors who "are working on a book" and alas it never comes to be. I also know of collectors who sadly have passed on with manuscripts only in a rough state. This is unfortunate to say the least.

However, as an author of two books on helmets, the author of hundreds of articles on helmets and again thousands of articles for many magazines, newspapers and websites I'm a little frustrated and confused that you waited until this point to admit to reach out to the collecting community and my friend Mr. Schnurr in general. I don't mean to be rude and I say this to you as well as any other reader on this forum, but I feel you've sort of taken a major shortcut. Research takes time, tracking down good quality photos takes effort and writing a book is much more than simply compelling published material that is widely available already to the world.

Please don't take this the wrong way at all, but I do think your next step should be to do some follow up research, consult with collectors beyond Mr. Schnurr and basically learn about the subject. I personally think what Tony Schnurr has created with his website is outstanding, but doing a book on this subject should be more than using said website as the only reference point. If it was that easy to translate the site into a book I think it is fair and safe to say that Tony would have done it!

On that note I think some members will be open to helping you. I know I'd love to know what you've written so far and what you plan to do with the book. I can offer some advice on printing as well.

But again, I think you should step back first. That's my two cents (pence) on the issue.

Cheers,
Peter Suciu
 
I have been in contact with Tony Schnurr at kaisers bunker many times, and he has always been more than helpful. He has saved me a ton of money by pointing out why I should not buy a pickelhaube. He has outed many parts helmets for me and saved my bacon.

I do not think he would be very impressed to find out that you are publishing a book using his photographs and information, which he has obviously put his heart and soul into, with a goal to help others like me. There is also the area of intellectual property. You can't just take what you want because its on the web and publish it. There are legal issues, and more importantly, integrity and moral issues in my opinion. [-(
 
As echoed above, welcome to the forum, you've come to the right place and I've no doubt Mr. Schnurr will be willing to talk to you about your endeavor. It's also fortunate that you've done this as a 'for me' type of publication, rather than actually having it self-published on the web or in hard copy, then as indicated, you'll have real copyright/legal issues.
I think what you're doing shows great interest on your part and as Mr. Suciu has indicated, it's time to take a step to do some independent research, put your work, copyrights, etc. in order. The others on this forum are the people who did indeed 'write the books' on WWI history and so forth, so please take their advice seriously. It's meant kindly.

Best of luck in this.

:D Ron
 
Oh dear! I seem to have upset you greatly over this, Mr.Suciu, and for that I do apologise.
You'd think that, at sixty-five years of age, I could not have been so naive as to try to steal someone else's pictures and information and pass them off as my own - which is evidently how it looks to you that I was attempting to do. Even though this was not my intention, I feel humbled and rather ashamed that I gave that impression.
I am not a professional writer. Most of my working life was spent as an artist in the printing industry. I have always admired those who write for a living, and, in another life, I may well have attempted to try my hand along that road, but it was never to be.
In my own, lttle world - my immediate family and my small circle of friends - I am the only one who has ever been remotely interested in German pickelhauben. All my peers look upon this as a sort of eccentricity. None of them know (nor care) about spikey helmets and they regard my fascination with them as a bit wierd and indicative of me 'living in the past.'
I am not a collector, either. I have never owned a single helmet. It has always been one of my vague, lifelong ambitions to own one, but apart from a silly, cheap, plastic 'toy' copy that cost me six pounds, it has always been beyond my means to spend the kind of money required to buy a genuine pickelhaube.
So, you see, in my world, all my enthusiasm for these objects is entirely stifled and self-contained, and all I've ever done is bore everyone around me whenever I've tried to talk about what I learned about their history from the esteemed Mr. Schnurr. This is probably why I decided to compile my 36-page booklet, with a 2-page spread devoted to each model from M1842 up to M1915. I wanted to share my newly-acquired knowledge with whoever would listen. It's quite lonely being an 'anorak' about a subject that no-one else is at all interesed in out of everyone you know.
I don't think I ever, really, seriously considered trying to get it published anyhow. Like you said, all the information in there is already freely available on the Kaiser's Bunker website, so no-one would buy it anyway. It was just an excercise in page composition and layout for me to occupy my time, and, as such, I'm still very proud of the way it turned out. It's essentially a very simple, layman's guide to the history and developmemt of the pickelhaube, intended to educate, in a very basic way, anyone who hasn't a clue about cruciform spike-bases or brass chinscales.
I've already put into the booklet all that the uneducated novice will need to know, so I have no need, nor inclination, to carry out further research as you stongly suggested. I can see now that I have been sadly mistaken in thinking there was a need for me to produce a booklet like this. I've not only wasted my own time in doing it, but I've also trodden on the toes of some genuine experts in the process - and for that I'm truly sorry.
Who do I think I am, trying to put this thing out when there are proper experts and enthusiasts already out there?
I've learned the error of my ways, now, though. Please give my apologies to Mr.Schnurr the next time you are in contact with him, would you? I won't be so stupid again.
Regards,
Steve Parkes.
 
Steve--
First, please call me Peter. We are all friends here on this forum after all.

I don't think you need to apologize and honestly it sounds like a noble effort. I think you had an excellent idea, but where my concern was based that was even if you produce something for a small group of friends it could have the appearance that you were responsible for the effort even if you cite that much of it came from Kaiser's Bunker. I was also concerned because such an effort could also diminish the hard work that Tony put into his site.

I've written books on sun helmets, so you don't need to tell me about being passionate about a subject very (but not quite no-one) cares about. You should be more than welcome to discuss your passion for helmets on this forum. So please feel to share your passion. I'm sure you'll find there is much to learn and enjoy about the subject.

Cheers,
Peter Suciu
 
I'd like to show you a few, sample pages from my book, so you can see what I'm about. I never intended to diminish any of Tony Schnurr's marvellous work - but, the way I see it, ALL creative writing about a real subject like this HAS to somehow involve 'copying' something that has gone before. If you restrict yourself to strict principles of that nature, no-one would ever write any new books about Pickelhauben because someone has already done so before!
As for my choice of photographs that I used to illustrate my book, I didn't ONLY use Tony Schnurr's - I searched around online as much as I could to find alternative pictures, making a very conscious effort to use as many alternative sources as I possibly could. As I said already, I haven't the means to buy my own and photograph them - I had to look for everything online; pictures of models that were up for auction on Ebay, for example, and even the odd picture that I found on this website!
Realistically - how else could I have done it?
As it happened, time and again I could find no alternatives to Tony Schnurr's photos that would do the job, although I often did show other pictures on the same page as his to illustrate and emphasise a particular feature. I've already cited his website, in my Afterword, as my predominant source of material, so, until I hear his opinion of my work, my hands are tied and I can't do anything else with it even if I wanted to.
I've attached a few views of some of the pages from the book - mainly those that don't show too much of his pictures, so you can see what I've done. Perhaps Mr. Schnurr will get in touch with me one day if someone he knows tells him about me?
 
sparkoparkes said:
I searched around online as much as I could to find alternative pictures, making a very conscious effort to use as many alternative sources as I possibly could. As I said already, I haven't the means to buy my own and photograph them - I had to look for everything online; pictures of models that were up for auction on Ebay, for example, and even the odd picture that I found on this website!
Realistically - how else could I have done it?
I've attached a few views of some of the pages from the book - mainly those that don't show too much of his pictures, so you can see what I've done. Perhaps Mr. Schnurr will get in touch with me one day if someone he knows tells him about me?
Click to expand...

Well, I was nice before... but honestly now you have me angry. You ask, "Realistically - how else could I have done it?" Well for starters maybe joining a forum such as this one in advance and asking for help!

In the photos you posted you have essentially used without my permission (STOLEN) two of my helmets! The Canadian and British helmets are mine. Those are my photos! There is no credit give whatsoever and I'm sorry but that is simply unacceptable! If you had asked I might have been more than happy to provide you with photos. As collectors vanity plays into this and we do like to share our collections via books.

The other concern I have is that you aren't presenting useful information. The example you have of a "Boer War Helmet" is wrong. That is a British Blue Cloth Home Service Helmet, and these were not used in the colonial wars! These were as the name suggests "HOME SERVICE." So your information is wrong and thus not very useful to anyone. You vaguely list "American," "Swedish," etc. This isn't the least bit helpful. I don't mean to be rude but this looks more like a children's book on the subject than anything of value to a collector. Collectors want to know the model numbers, information on where/when the helmet was used. What you've provided lacks anything in the way of useful information.

The text you provide is also simply wrong. This has been a debate of why so many nations utilized spiked helmets. This issue has been discussed on this forum and others. The British were using spikes in India about the same time the Russians adopted the spike. Your "information" doesn't provide any details as to the Russian origins. Moreover, the British Foreign Service Helmet (pith/sun helmet) was born out of India as well. This helmet likely influenced the British Home Service Helmet and likely had an influence on the American dress helmets.

Steven, to put it bluntly as I said before there are no shortcuts. I'm a serious collector and I probably have one of the largest libraries of helmet books. I have virtually EVERY helmet book ever written from German spiked helmets to American steel helmets to helmets of South America. I've written two books and I've contributed to other books. There are no shortcuts. A bad book is only going to be bad.

I seriously suggest you give up on this project. I don't mean to be rude, but you're not helping anyone with this project. My friend and colleague Stuart Bates and I spent years researching the subject of helmets. Our friend and colleague Chris Mills spent 12 years working on his book. I don't need to say more, but using Google to find some images isn't how you go about it.

This is beyond just using Tony's photos. You've stolen from others including me. I ask you to stop, please!
 
Fair enough.
It stops here.
Amateurish playing is all I've managed to achieve.
It's obvious I'm completely out of my depth, so It stops here.
Sorry for upsetting you and anyone else who's photos I 'nicked.'
Consider my project confined to the scrapheap.
Steve.
 
I don't necessarily think your project, or passion, has to be over, or die here. Peter made some excellent and valid points and if you want to continue, scrap what you have and start asking people here for assistance so you can do your own work, gather resources and compile another work. What you're doing is great and it's fun. There are just some serious intellectual property issues that need to be resolved. So, it's time to start over, from scratch.

:D Ron
 
I actually agree with Ron. I don't think you need to give up, you just need to do it correctly. Do the research and learn about the topic. That means reading a LOT.

I'd say a booklet for collectors could include a bibliography of must-read books, maybe you could even get some insight on the forum on what are the most necessary books. You could include websites to check out (like Kaiser's Bunker and Colonel Joe's), and I'd suggest you include a list of forums like this one, Victorian Wars Forum, Gentlemen's Military Interest Club, etc.

The key is that you have a good idea, but it is a lot of work. I'm sure there are members here that would be happy to help and would be interested in contributing photos, etc.
 
I just read through all the posts on this thread and as site administrator and a friend of Tony's I have to comment. I think you have had some good advice here Steve from published professionals. Although well intentioned, you have crossed some ethical lines here, you can not take pictures from a web site and assemble some sort of publication without asking permission first. The entire Bunker site is intended to provide a free on line education about the pickelhaube from one of the world's foremost experts and a man who owns a fantastic collection which he kindly shares with us. The pictures are not to be used in any form without the owners consent. Steve, you need to put this project away, learn from the mistake made, join us here on the forum and educate yourself. We will all be quite happy to help in this process.
A Post Script:
This type of action could convince collectors like Tony to remove pictures from their sites or in more drastic terms take down the site entirely. Who could blame him?? We have already had criminals steal helmet pictures and use them on Ebay to try and sell non existent pickelhauben, at least pieces that they do not own. It is also well known that unscrupulous "FAKERS/CRIMINALS" have used this site and Joe's to learn from their mistakes.
 
Good call Brian, you are a moderator on this sub forum, I doubt that Joe will do it, and I think getting the photos off before Tony sees them might be a good thing.
 
I have been in contact with Tony and he has asked me to hold off on any action regarding the picture pages that were posted. He has read the posts and I believe he intends to respond in a couple of days. I shall respect his wishes.
 
I'm feeling quite ashamed now, of all the fuss and hoo-hah I've unwittingly caused by my naive and very foolish actions.
In the beginning, it was just a bit of fun for me to create this 'mock' booklet, setting-out the history and development of the pickelhaube for my own amusement, more than any other reason, re-living the kind of work I used to do in print origination before ill health caused me to retire early.
I printed-off just one copy for myself and it lay on a shelf, in a jiffy-bag, for about a year, after I'd shown it to my immediate family.
I KNEW I didn't have permission to use any of the photos I'd put in it, but, as it was just a private, personal project, I felt that didn't matter.
From time to time I'd fetch it out and look at it and wonder whether it was worth while trying to contact Tony Schnurr to show him what I'd done and ask him about it, but he was uncontactable after the passing of his dog, so nothing ever happened.
Then I finally put a post on this forum website, primarily to ask anyone who knew Mr. Schnurr if he could contact me about my use of his photos in my (STILL UNPUBLISHED) booklet.
Then, it seemed as if all hell had broken loose.
I would like to reiterate here that - especially now I have seen and read your reactions to it - I HAVE NO INTENTION EVER TO ATTEMPT TO PUBLISH THIS WORK and it shall remain forever what it really is - a silly, ill-thought-out, amateurish piece of crap that should never have seen the light of day in the first place.
Would it be better for all concerned if this Topic were to be deleted from your website altogether? I don't know if that would be down to me, as the originator, or Brian Loree as the Administrator? Either way, I really don't care any more. This has made me quite paranoid about starting ANY creative project in the future, in case I unwittingly 'steal' someone else's material in the process! This is what comes of dipping my toe in another world of which I really know nothing.
Once again, my sincere apologies for having caused all this frantic upset.
 
sparkoparkes said:
Then I finally put a post on this forum website, primarily to ask anyone who knew Mr. Schnurr if he could contact me about my use of his photos in my (STILL UNPUBLISHED) booklet.
Then, it seemed as if all hell had broken loose.
Click to expand...

Steve, I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but you started this whole thing by saying, "I set-to and produced an illustrated booklet that explained in simple, layman's terms that same history and development in a format I believed could reach an even wider audience than those of us who study online."

Moreover, you have made it clear from the beginning that you wanted to ask Mr. Schnurr for permission, but as I pointed out you used two of my photos and in all your responses I never heard you say you were going to ask me! Tony isn't the only one you need to ask.

The final point I'll make (again) is that your information is wrong. The American, British and Russian helmets weren't copies of the Prussian helmets. The Russian ones essentially pre-dated the Prussian one in design at least, and as I've noted the British and American helmets may have a unique origin and evolution. I don't mean to be harsh but you really didn't do the necessary research either. This is far more than a case of just not asking permission for the photos. The information you are presenting is simply not accurate from what I've read. As I've said now many times you can't rush things like this or else you end with something that isn't very good.
 
Peter.
Yes. I got all that the first time. And yes - that was my unfortunate wording on my original post.
I was stupid.
It's not going anywhere.
Can we just draw a line under it now, please? It's a bit soul-destroying getting constantly reprimanded every day, when I just want to lick my wounds and move on in a different direction altogether.
I'll concentrate on my wooden noseflute making. I AM an expert in those!
Steve.
 
You are right Steve. Enough said.

Good luck with the woodworking, and please don't be a stranger on the forum. You do seem you're actually very interested in this subject. I apologize if I pushed it too far.
 
I'll jump in here now if I may, seeing as my name is plastered over this entire thread. Possibly the oddest part of this thread has been my being referred to as "Mr.".

Steve your original intent as I understand it, was to make a private booklet for yourself, friends, family, and that is fine. Everyone is free to gather and use information. That's what its there for. I know people who have down-loaded Kaiser's Bunker complete and take it to shows on a tablet or whatever as a tool, and I think that is great. It serves the purpose for which the site was intended; to help people. All of us save images and information for our own use, our hard-drives are stuffed with it.

Unfortunately the spiral to the bottom began when you indicated in your first posting your desire to publish it, and well, you saw the reaction to that very quickly.

Several of the fine people on this forum are accomplished authors, and Peter is also a well known journalist. Harvesting information and images done by others who did put in the time and research, and stating an intent to publish it, is bound to get a negative reaction. An author who has been published, knows well the considerable effort, dedication, and years or research this takes. In my case, every item on Kaiser's Bunker I own or have owned, so there is a significant investment.

It is unfortunate that your first foray into this forum was unpleasant. I have had many similar experiences, always because of my big mouth and abrupt writing style, and sometimes I think, an inflated ego. Once I get stomped down to where I should be, I carry on as best I can, having hopefully learned from the experience.

I do not see any maliciousness at all in what you have done, Producing a private booklet for your own use to share with friends and family your passion is admirable. Nor was it foolish or a waste of your time. You learned probably far more than you ever imagined about Pickelhauben, had fun doing it, and you have a nice booklet that turned out, so to me, that is time well spent.

I can only recommend you congratulate yourself for your effort and keep it at the level you originally intended. Then further your knowledge and interest by staying on this forum and learning. No-one knows everything, it is an impossibility. There is always more to learn. You will find this a welcome and friendly forum to continue this passion.

Tony

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