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LP: Decipher the German WWI Postcard/Victorian Helmet Emblem
13 years ago
Good news everyone! I lucked out at an antique store over the weekend and managed to get some VCTC's (Very Cool Things for Cheap)!
But unfortunately I'm not entirely sure what they mean @_@ Who's up for a round of Decipher That Thing?
First up, we have what looks to be a German postcard from a Pionier Battalion sent on Aug. 30, 1917. Now normally I'm always up for translating Deutsch, but this one is layered in a second, nearly unbreakable code: cursive handwriting *shivers* I'm having a tough time even making out the words to translate them, but if anyone else wants to give it a shot, please go for it! It'd be fascinating to know what he had to say.
German WWI Postcard
Closeup of Text
*UPDATE* Seems the letter is to a girl, Minna, in Berlin, and the soldier, in an engineer unit, is saying he received a letter of hers and is wishing her well. Not much else of note here, though even so it provides us a brief glimpse into life on the front. I hope he and Minna were able to reunite after the war! Many thanks to a friend's cousin for translating this ^_^
Next: you'd think a very distinct emblem of a white Calla Lily on a red shield would be easy to find on teh interwebs. Turns out, not so much! It's on a pith helmet with Victoria Regina buttons attached, so it's bound to be late nineteenth century. Any British folks or 19th cent. buffs out there know what that insignia might belong to?
Victorian Pith Helmet
Emblem Closeup
*UPDATE* Fenchurch prompted me to expand my search, and all the pieces fell together - turns out it's not English at all XD It's a US M1881 sun helmet, and I was able to figure out from a mark in the liner that it was made between between 1888 and 1925 by 'The M.C. Lilley and Co.' of 27 to 45 West Gay Street (*snicker*) Columbus, Ohio, which is apparently now quite famous for its sword regalia. This particular helmet was made for the fraternal order Knights of Pythias - that's who the Calla Lily emblem belongs to - so that explains why it's in such good shape :3 Seems they have lodges in Canada too, which is the only explanation I can come up with for the VR (Victoria Regina) buttons on the side, haha! So there ya go, a very cool 1888-1900 American-by-way-of-Canada civilian dress helmet!
Many thanks to you guys for taking a glance :D Everyone who thinks old things are cool, raise your hand!
But unfortunately I'm not entirely sure what they mean @_@ Who's up for a round of Decipher That Thing?
First up, we have what looks to be a German postcard from a Pionier Battalion sent on Aug. 30, 1917. Now normally I'm always up for translating Deutsch, but this one is layered in a second, nearly unbreakable code: cursive handwriting *shivers* I'm having a tough time even making out the words to translate them, but if anyone else wants to give it a shot, please go for it! It'd be fascinating to know what he had to say.
German WWI Postcard
Closeup of Text
*UPDATE* Seems the letter is to a girl, Minna, in Berlin, and the soldier, in an engineer unit, is saying he received a letter of hers and is wishing her well. Not much else of note here, though even so it provides us a brief glimpse into life on the front. I hope he and Minna were able to reunite after the war! Many thanks to a friend's cousin for translating this ^_^
Next: you'd think a very distinct emblem of a white Calla Lily on a red shield would be easy to find on teh interwebs. Turns out, not so much! It's on a pith helmet with Victoria Regina buttons attached, so it's bound to be late nineteenth century. Any British folks or 19th cent. buffs out there know what that insignia might belong to?
Victorian Pith Helmet
Emblem Closeup
*UPDATE* Fenchurch prompted me to expand my search, and all the pieces fell together - turns out it's not English at all XD It's a US M1881 sun helmet, and I was able to figure out from a mark in the liner that it was made between between 1888 and 1925 by 'The M.C. Lilley and Co.' of 27 to 45 West Gay Street (*snicker*) Columbus, Ohio, which is apparently now quite famous for its sword regalia. This particular helmet was made for the fraternal order Knights of Pythias - that's who the Calla Lily emblem belongs to - so that explains why it's in such good shape :3 Seems they have lodges in Canada too, which is the only explanation I can come up with for the VR (Victoria Regina) buttons on the side, haha! So there ya go, a very cool 1888-1900 American-by-way-of-Canada civilian dress helmet!
Many thanks to you guys for taking a glance :D Everyone who thinks old things are cool, raise your hand!
Annoyingly, I can't find anything about that, though. Hrm.
Thanks for checking into it!!! :D
Sorry, I can't help with the deciphering. I'd suggest a more close up shot of the postcard, though.
If you're ever at the other end of the state in the Amherst/Nashua area, check out the antique stores there - they have some amazing stuff! ^^
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:D.....entschrift.svg
Looks a little like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%BCtterlin from a Crow's Claw too ;P
Some parts are readable with some fantasy.
like:
An
Fräulein Minna (Strete or Strese?)
bei Wollmann? (unreadable Streetname) Nr. 141
Berlin
Wilmersdorf
etc. XD
I'm not sure if it is possible to decrypt those scribbling, even with professional help. XD