Anyone Other Than Me Collect the Control Wheel Center Caps?

[dbrown]

I started collecting the center caps about ten years ago - I'd grab one every now and then at antique stores. I was wondering what other ones people may have. I now only see these once in a blue moon. My samples include

Ford B-24 Liberator
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker
Boeing B-29 Super Fort
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Martin P5M-2 Mariner
Northrop P-61 Black Widow
Douglas DC-4/DC-6 (Both the maroon and 'First Around World' logo)
Saab (not sure if plane or car)
Boeing B-52 Strat Fort
Fairchild C-119
Chase Aircraft
Beach Staggerwing

I had a chance to get a B-47 at a shop once for $45 - thought at the time that was too much. Been kicking myself ever since!



Derek

[Eureka181]

Nice collection! Could you post some pictures?

Eric

[tom d. friedman]

i had a ww 2 era douglas center cap, but sold it. they are quite lucrative to collect!!! a great investment if you have the right contacts to sell them. they are pretty hard to come by in any manner, even ebay!!!

[dbrown]

Thanks!

Derek

[Eureka181]

I have been asked by Derek to post a picture of his collection.


It looks good Derek!

Eric

[tom d. friedman]

i'm amazed at the collection & very jealous!!!! i had the 9th one from the left, the douglas one with the globe. great collection!!! best, tom

[dbrown]

Thanks Tom!

Any idea what that SAAB one is from? I know SAAB made airplanes but was not sure if this was from a car or plane. (although the twin engine plane might be a clue?)



Derek

[tom d. friedman]

no clue on the saab, but obviously aircraft related. you have the most extensive cap center collection i've seen. i sold my douglas one 4 years ago for a hundred bucks. i can only imagine what some of the others may go for. also have confidence in the fact that these center caps aren't being knocked off as phoneys, as it is totally impractical to even attempt in ripping off the collecting public in re-producing these items.

[Raven]

Any idea what that SAAB one is from? I know SAAB made airplanes but was not sure if this was from a car or plane. (although the twin engine plane might be a clue?)

'Fraid the 'twin' bit isn't a clue, as that's the old SAAB logo, which they used on everything.

Fascinating and unique collection. I wonder how many nations produced such items?

[B29Gunner]

also have confidence in the fact that these center caps aren't being knocked off as phoneys, as it is totally impractical to even attempt in ripping off the collecting public in re-producing these items.

Hate to destroy your confidence, but...they ARE reproducing these. Which of course isn't that big of a deal when they are sold as such, but when they find their way onto eBay and the like & are sold as originals...then it is a big deal! Even worse, the person who just paid $300 for an "original" cap probably wouldn't know the difference between an original & a fake in the first place.

[Originalboxcar]

Sweet collection Derek!

Thanks for the fyi "gunner". caveat emptor I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caveat_emptor


regards,

t~

[tom d. friedman]

wow b-29 gunner that's a surprise to me!!!!! i always considered center cap collectors to be a very small segment of aviation memorabilia collectors, hence they weren't worth the effort to knocking off phoneys of these too!!! that is quite disappointing & disturbing nothing is sacred, & it shakes my confidence that bogus copies of these are around now too. very bad news indeed. how do you tell a bogus 1 from the real thing??

[dbrown]

All of mine have parts numbers on the inside them - except the B-17 and the Mariner one. I always wondered if the B-17 one was original or not but since I got that one from a vet - I just assumed it was. I was told that the Martin caps had no numbers so go figure.

A few - like the P-61's, B-24's and the B-36 caps, I got from estate sales that included photos of the pilots with their planes as well as log books and other gear. I figure that is about as good a providence as one would find.

Most are scratched and worn, and some have faded, but as with most collections - you collect what you like. I suppose before I sell the lot shortly (what an Ebay 'special'!) to help fund my oldest daughter's education, I'll find someone that can tell me for sure that these are legit.



DB

[slinky]

Derek, that is the neatest collection I've ever seen....Too freakin' cool! On the Boeing one that is 7th, is that from a B-29? I have 2 of those new in the box with stock numbers and all. The numbers on the backside are 6-14657 in the plastic and ASSY. 6-17863 in white. The numbers on the box say:
1AFH 1560-144-6375
CAP ASSY
1 EACH
AF34(601)-1194
A-5/62
The AF and the 5/62 almost leads me to think B-52 as it is bigger and different than the 135 and still the old Boeing totem, but I just don't know.... It's the right size for the opening in the yoke I have from a B-52, but seems to mount differently and besides, the B-52 had it's own. The inside has an inner ring about halfway between the outer circumference and the center with 3 cutouts equal distance from each other in the ring. Sorry for the long disertation, but I have never found anyone that collected these till now! BTW, one of the Consolidated Vultee types with the Eagle went for over $200 I believe on e-bay about 6 months ago. You have quite an investment there! You should be proud!!!! Tailwinds, Steve.

Last edited by slinky on Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[tom d. friedman]

the scenario of the 21st century parent......always have to sell / sacrifice what you love to generate $$$$$$ to put your kid through college. it really sucks!!! i'm in the same situation!! good luck!!!