Show your Americana / Non-Sports Memorabilia

[Big Six]

My wife and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary in July. Almost 13 years ago, an old friend from my days in D.C. came to see me before the wedding and handed me an envelope containing the letter below. When you think that he's amongst the most loved/hated figures in Irish history and for a time slept in a different location every night, I think it's a pretty neat piece. And for anyone who thinks he's just a terrorist, it would be much appreciated if we could avoid going down that path. Thanks...

[mcgwirecom]

I like to pick up original photos of old Harleys...

[ramram]

Recently added an amazing grouping to my diary collection. It is from a U.S. soldier who was wounded at Bataan at the start of WWII and then was captured and held prisoner by the Japanese until liberted in 1945. He managed to survive dispite being starved, having many diseases, and having his leg amputated while imprisoned. The diaries have over 250,000 words of content. They cover escapes, shooting of prisoners, deaths, war rumors, hell ships, rats climbing on them, cooking up dogs and cats, air raids as the Americans closed in, and finally liberation. The interesting thing is that POW's were not supposed to keep diaries. This guy wrote on what he had available which often was the back of cigarette packages (opened up and flattened out). I found an incredible photo of him online which shows the creative way that he hid his diaries (see below).

Rob M.

Photo at liberation.jpg

Item 4.jpg

[GrayGhost]

FASCINATING STUFF..those diaries

[GrayGhost]

Not worth a ton, but SUPER COOL. What is more American than the Green back? Especially a cool Red Seal note

[martindl]

Originally Posted by Big Six

My wife and I will celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary in July. Almost 13 years ago, an old friend from my days in D.C. came to see me before the wedding and handed me an envelope containing the letter below. When you think that he's amongst the most loved/hated figures in Irish history and for a time slept in a different location every night, I think it's a pretty neat piece. And for anyone who thinks he's just a terrorist, it would be much appreciated if we could avoid going down that path. Thanks...

Gerry Adams right? Tough to tell as the pic doesn't expand much.

You asked that we not pass judgment on his past, so I won't, even though his 'work' had a personal impact on me.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by martindl

Gerry Adams right? Tough to tell as the pic doesn't expand much.

You asked that we not pass judgment on his past, so I won't, even though his 'work' had a personal impact on me.

You are correct...I know that he is both worshiped and reviled over there and his impact has been felt by many...though the same could be said for actions taken by those on the other side. I fear the personal impact on you was likely negative and I can only express my regrets for what you likely experienced. For such a beautiful country, it has dealt with many horrible events over the decades and I'm happy that things seem to be in much better order than they were even 15 years ago when I lived over there...

[RichardSimon]

I don't remember if I posted these when this thread started. In case I did not here they are.
1-The first one is from a JFK Assassination symposium, which I attended, in 1992 in Dallas.
It contains many of the witnesses to the assassination of JFK and it also contains the signature of Marina Oswald.
2-Jack Ruby check.
3-One of a kind RFK signed photo.
4-Thomas Jefferson/James Madison signed land grant.

[David Atkatz]

Perhaps you could look through the thread?

[RichardSimon]

A page from the 1920 census listing my grandparents, 2 aunts and 1 uncle.

[RichardSimon]

Here is one great looking Teddy Roosevelt campaign pin, unfortunately I lost out on it in a Hake Auction.

[martindl]

Originally Posted by Big Six

You are correct...I know that he is both worshiped and reviled over there and his impact has been felt by many...though the same could be said for actions taken by those on the other side. I fear the personal impact on you was likely negative and I can only express my regrets for what you likely experienced. For such a beautiful country, it has dealt with many horrible events over the decades and I'm happy that things seem to be in much better order than they were even 15 years ago when I lived over there...

I'm over here, though was in the UK until I moved here at 22 in 1981. The Birmingham and Coventry bombings in the early 70's caused great hurt. My lifetime goal is to hold no animosity, though it's hard, really hard.

I've no dog in the fight, I get both sides. I grew up and lived in Coventry and spent most of my youth in the Irish quarter, so to speak. I had staunch provo friends and staunch loyalists friends both, and as much as they all tried to make it a big deal, the troubles never made much sense to me personally. I always respected both points of view because if you'd never been in those peoples' shoes, how can you judge?

It's deeper than that really; I lost people that I loved, though the anger left me years ago. As you say, thank God things are so much better now.

[canjond]

I feel like this thread needs a come-back, so I'll see if I can get the ball rolling again...

Every once in a while, you come across an item that just calls to you, and this is one such item. Honestly, this has got to be one of the most interesting things I've ever seen for sale, and I'm happy to own it. This is the original Titan II GLV launch panel from mission control that was used to launch the Gemini missions. The panel was owned by Colin Harrison, who recently passed away. Colin was a man who we all have a lot to thank for the technological advances we made during the golden age of exploration.

Colin finished a degree as mechanical engineer with major studies in thermodynamics and electronics at the University of Virginia. He joined
the American Bosh Arma in Long Island in New York doing electro-mechanical design for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) guidance systems. Colin later worked for Aerojet General in Sacramento, CA, designing and supervising assembly and test firing rocket engines for the Titan ICBM’s. He joined the Martin Marietta Company in Denver, CO after working the engine integration office there for Aerojet. Colin then became test stand manager, chief of test, project manager for the integration of the Titan ICBM into the Strategic Air
Command inventory.

In 1961 he was transferred to the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, to be the company project manager for the Gemini Program. At program completion Colin returned to Denver to be the Director of Manned Systems Design. Next, he became Project Manager for the Apollo Telescope Mount which was the center for the electronic brains for the Skylab Space Mission. After launch and completion of mission control activities he was assigned to the Space Shuttle Program where he was project engineer responsible for building the first External Tank and taking it through propulsion tests. In 1980 he became responsible for the external tank at Vandenberg Air Force base where the plan was for the Air Force to fly their shuttle missions. He eventually became operations director for the shuttle launch pad. At the termination of the Air Force shuttle program he became Director of International Spaceports in Denver, Colorado, a position he held at his retirement.

I'm now in the process of trying to track down a few original photos of the piece, so I can have "dummy" lights reinstalled that will work when plugged in, so the panel can cycle through a red/green indicator pattern. If anyone knows a good custom electrical person, please let me know!

[David Atkatz]

Sorry to disappoint, Jon, but that control panel is not from any Titan II missile system. Note the upper right-hand quadrant--Propellant System." There are lights for "fuel," and for "LOX" (liquid oxygen). The Titan II burned a hypergolic (self-igniting) combination, nitrogen tetroxide for its oxidizer and Aerozine 50 (a 50/50 mix of hydrazine and UDMH) for its fuel.
Still a very cool piece.

[canjond]

Thanks for the info David. Any idea what it could be from then? It was labeled Titan 2 on the back of the frame, so I think the family assumed as such, and frankly I wouldn't have known otherwise!

Edited to add, I guess it could be an Atlas or maybe more likely, a Titan 1 launch panel. Titan 1 would also make sense since it was a Martin project.