Selling your family history

[MadDuck]

Could you just sell off your families history?

Short answer is NO!

I have a box full of family photos especially relating to war time. I often asked my mum to write on who they are and what relation they were to us. Sadly she didnt do this before she passed away so now I have a box full of photos of family members in uniform with medals and I have no idea who they are. How sad is that? So what do I do with them?

[pete376403]

When my dad died, there was an NZ flag on the coffin as he was ex-serviceman (WWII). Without really thinking about what I was doing, I placed his medals on the flag. With the benefit of hindsight, I now realise they were either 1/ sold by the funeral director or 2/ put in a bin. It seemed (to me) a nice gesture and mark of respect, but with the benefit of hindsight I should have just kept them. I still have the miniature set and will pass them to my kids if I can explain to them the significance of them.
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”

[FJRider]

Or buried WITH him. Nothing wrong with that.

[Laava]

How sad is that? So what do I do with them?

Hard one isn't it? If you can't even pass them on to family, it seems like a real shame huh? Thanks for the birthday wishes by the way.

[GOONR]

Could you just sell off your families history?

No fucking way.

Unfortunately I have nothing from my grandparents, not even photo's, that is something that really gets to me. On the wife's side, her grandmother is still going strong and has her late husbands medals. I very much doubt that they would be off loaded but I would be gutted if they left the family. That man put his life on the line for his country, that shit just shouldn't be palmed off to the highest bidder.

[MadDuck]

it seems like a real shame huh? .

Yeah it is. A Lost generation. I am the last in line.

[pete376403]

Or buried WITH him. Nothing wrong with that.

One would hope... but undertakers profit from death, can't see them being that altrusic.

[Forest]

I actually do'nt talk to my cousin over her selling my grandfathers medals, in fact, if it was'nt a she, I'd have thumped her one. Hell i'd have bought them off the stupid bitch to keep them in the family if i'd known she was going to sell them. I think she spent the money on clothes.

Medals mean nothing.

Talk to any soldier - they will tell you the same.

The only family history that matters in the long run are the positive actions that family members do for each other. Everything else is just a meaningless trinket.

[Forest]

But can't for the life of me see why it would be worth 100K plus

It isn't worth 100k plus.

I guarantee that there isn't a single genuine bid on that auction.

[peasea]

And here is was thinking of selling a Firestone ashtray thats been in our family for nearly 50 years....

You have a Firestone ashtray? Excellent, post a pic.

Here's my V8 ashtray, which reads;
"The sun never sets on the British Empire"

"With the compliments of Geo. Smith and Sons Ltd, Ford Dealers, Huntly"

My nephew found it in an inorganic collection when he was a nipper and sold it to me for about five bucks. My brother thought I'd been ripped off by his erstwhile son but I still say it was a bargain.

An ashtray thread, just what I'd been waiting for!

[Dave Lobster]

Medals mean nothing.

Talk to any soldier - they will tell you the same.

True.. Mine don't mean all that much to me. They hang in the garage.. My grandfather didn't even apply for any of his (campaign ones, not gallantry ones).
They're just souvenirs to me. No more or less valuable than the photos/records I got at the time. I don't wear them on ANZAC day. I know where I've been and what I've done. No need to discuss it with the REMFs that wear a chest full for completing five minutes of basic training.

[Mully]

One would hope... but undertakers profit from death, can't see them being that altrusic.

I'm not sure they'd be allowed to just sell them. Did you ask them what happened to them?

True.. Mine don't mean all that much to me.

But then they might mean something to your kids/grandkids/great grandkids.

[Maha]

You have a Firestone ashtray? Excellent, post a pic.

Here's my V8 ashtray, which reads;
"The sun never sets on the British Empire"

"With the compliments of Geo. Smith and Sons Ltd, Ford Dealers, Huntly"

My nephew found it in an inorganic collection when he was a nipper and sold it to me for about five bucks. My brother thought I'd been ripped off by his erstwhile son but I still say it was a bargain.

An ashtray thread, just what I'd been waiting for!

As a non smoker, I still could not sell this ashtray.

[peasea]

As a non smoker, I still could not sell this ashtray.

I don't smoke either, grubby habit.
Did Bridgestone do a similar thing?

[Maha]

I don't smoke either, grubby habit.
Did Bridgestone do a similar thing?

Yeah, have a look on trademe, theres alot on there.
The one I have got, my father picked it up in about 1960-61.
He worked a second job at a Servo in Palmerston North at nights.