u/QXLR519

Sorry not much to go on. This picture was found with some photos of a family member who was a teacher in London at the end of the 19th century but moved to Gloucestershire. I believe she died around 1920. There were also some postcards from a holiday in South Wales so it's just a guess it could be from there. The other pictures are of the children she taught and I believe taken in London so it could be from nearer there

Can anyone help with more information on this watch?

Google lens says it's a RAF 6B/159 specification watch, but I'm never 100% convinced by Google's results. From what I could find the Air Ministry specification 6B/159 was for high precision watches and various manufacturers made watches, like Omega and Longines. It seems that Revue Thommen also made watches but I can't find any other examples that match

The watch belongs to an elderly friend and it is likely to be something he inherited (though he doesn't remember any relatives that served in the RAF during the war). I'm trying to help get an idea of the value for him

I have previously posted a few pictures of items belonging to a family friend who we have been helping have a sort out. We have discovered a fascinating collection relating to his relative who served in the British army before, during and after the First World War

He enlisted 3rd May 1910 at Scraesdon Fort, Antony, Cornwall with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry where he served for 3 years. He enlisted again on 23rd November 1915 at Longmoor Camp with the Royal Engineers serving with the 8th Railway Company. He was then sent to France in February 1916 until November 1920 and then onto Germany until May 1928. The final years of his service were at Longmoor Camp where he served as a Company Sergeant Major Instructor before being discharged as medically unfit in August 1930 due to diabetes

In the years between serving in the Somerset Light Infantry and the Royal Engineers he spent some time in the merchant navy as a fireman & trimmer and also seems to have qualified as a railway plate layer. Strangely we have no details of his time with the railway

In June 1916 en route from Armentières to the Somme with his sergeant and 4 other sappers he was injured by a shell blast and was hit by a piece of shrapnel to his left eye. His squad was able to make it to a field medical station where they were treated by Australian troops. Unfortunately this injury never officially recorded. In his final years after leaving the army he petitioned to get an enhanced pension but was ultimately unsuccessful

After the end of the war he became part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Cologne and Wiesbaden. As part of the Royal Engineers Railway Operating Division he was involved in the rebuilding of the railway in the British section

His final years in the Royal Engineers were spent back at Longmoor before being discharged in 1930

It is an amazing collection of pictures, documents, personal items and wartime artifacts including trench art from some of the major battles where the Royal Engineers were involved: Ypres, Mons, Lens. There are a variety of items collected from the locations he was stationed: coins from various countries including emergency currency from Germany, postcards, Germany pocket inkwell, drinking song book and bottle of brandy from the restaurant at the main station (Hauptbahnhof) in Wiesbaden. There are a number of items from his service kit: snail whistle, binoculars (British and German), Longines trench wristwatch, trench chainsaw, badges, dog tags, to name a few

Another fascinating insight into the interwar period are the notes and training documents from his time at Longmoor Camp. These include training on dealing with gas attacks, demolition and attacks from aircraft

One fun item is a page entitled "Extracts from the Sappers' Encyclopaedia". Here is a copy of it

CANTEEN. —

A religious institution where "C.B." probationers prepare for the presentation.

CLOCK. —

AN instrument which enables thirsty sappers to calculate how many "tops" they can "stafe" before closing time.

CORPORAL. —

Superior breed of biped, supposed to have brains. Very little is really known about it, but it is generally perniciously active in the presence of officers.

C.O. —

A remarkable creature of ferocious habits, usually unapproachable before 10 a.m. Has been known to worry the S.M., and occasionally snaps at the Adjutant.

INSTRUCTOR (DRILL) —

A red-necked object with bristly face fungus, gery back and chest, and brown extremity. Araucous voice, and a fluent command of classical "Billingsgate".

LIGHTS OUT. —

A disease of the eyes, brought about by too close contact with the "frozen mitt".

MONEY. —

A very scarce root, said to be the root of all evil, but much sought after by all ranks.

MAT (On the) —

An ancient cermony between a sapper and O.C., which usually proceeds the presentation of the "C.B." order.

MARKSMAN —

A man who squares the marker.

MIRACLE. —

A sapper passing the canteen.

PROMOTION —

A contagious disease which casts a glamour over the stricker; it is invariably contracted by those much in contact with officers.

SAPPER —

Regarded as a somewhat peculiar species of biped. Has a marked affinity for liquid, although could not be termed amphibious. Usually wears a clean shirt on Mondays, which changes to black and tan during the week.

SLINGING THE LEAD. —

An exercise indulged in by sappers previous to going "on the mat".

SERJEANT —

Similar to the others of this species, but has more markings below right shoulder. Does not possess a tail, but adept at telling one. Has a strange aversion to sappers, but very docile in the presence of officers.

I recently picked up this lovely glass bowl. Google says this is a mid century and made in Finland by Riihimäen Lasi Oy (also known as Riihimäki Glassworks). Does anyone know who might be the designer?

Continuing to find some real treasures helping my elderly friend clear up. Latest find is this lovely bit of trench art. Converted howitzer shell made into a keepsake box. Some nice engraving on the side of the shell and it would seem to indicate it came from Lens. He had a relative in the Royal Engineers so that would line up but I need to research into this further

The top was stuck solid but I could hear there was something inside, I did have a little rattle. Got it home and gently applied a rubber mallet around the edge and it eased off nicely. Not what I was expecting to find inside! Mainly German 7.92x57mm Mauser rounds (dated 1914 & 1915) but also a clip of British 303 dummy rounds. Good thing I didn't shake it around too much!

While helping an elderly friend clear some items I came across his childhood stamp collection. I know nothing about stamps but find these books fascinating

The first contains stamps from the late 1800s and early 1900s (from what I can gather using Google), plus a few newer ones from the UK. The second is later, from the 1920s to 1960s I think

The albums are not complete, particularly the earlier one, but it's really amazing what is there. It's surprising how many of those countries no longer exist or have changed names, like Eastern Rumelia

The second album is like a miniature history of the world during that era. The major event of those times captured in little pictures, like the change in the German stamps from Hindenburg to Hitler. I love the artwork on some of the communist stamps, the Czechoslovakia and Hungarian ones in particular and the Mongolian stamp from 1961 commentating Yuri Gargarin's first space flight

I know my friend would probably let me have them but I'd like to offer him a fair price for the albums as he's had them a very long time. A quick Google of a few of the stamps seems to indicate that individually they're not worth much but honestly I couldn't tell a valuable stamp apart from a worthless one. How would I go about getting a value for these albums?

A few of WW1 artifacts from my own family collection and from a friend's family (same family as the pictures I had previously posted)

My great grandfathers miniature medals. I believe he was in the West Somerset Yeomanry and continued to serve as a territorial after the war. Medal on the far left is his MBE that he was awarded after the war

British propaganda medal commemorating the sinking of the RMS Lucitania

Memorial plaque or "Death Penny" issued to the family of a fallen serviceman. Gilbert John Long served aboard the HMS Black Price that was lost with all hands in the Battle of Jutland. This was found in the first house my parents bought

German artillery shell fuse. This served it's time for many years as a door stop in my grandfather's fish house

From my friends family

Wars savings bond book. The swastikas were used as a symbol of good luck

Day pass for Bournemouth on 15th January 1917

Service whistle. One of their relatives was a sergeant in the Somerset Light Infantry

Handmade silk handkerchiefs. These possibly date from just before the war judging from the flags

I recently came across this decorating guide from Walpamur Paints. The artwork and colours are amazing. It's really interesting to see the colours used at the time and the recommendations of what works together

Here is a sample of some of the pages. I have run them through some software to clean them up. I can post the whole guide if anyone is interested

I've been helping an old family friend sort through some old trunks of family heirlooms. There are loads of family photos including many military pictures from just before and just after WWI. They had family that served with the local regiments (Price Albert's Somerset Light Infantry and Somerset Yeomanry) but they also had relatives that served with the Royal Engineers and Coldstream Guards. There are also some fascinating artifacts like war saving bonds, badges and even a trench whistle

I have run a few of the pictures through AI to get a clearer image but have included copies of the originals

My growing collection of chicken egg cups. All original DDR ones (not the modern reproductions)

Our new toy: 1976 Mercedes 280E

Originally from South Africa but imported I to the UK about 8 years ago

South African Mercedes had to have 60% of the components by weight produced in country. So along with other components (like the glass) the engine was manufactured in South Africa, the first country outside of Germany to produce Mercedes engines. Also features other alterations to better suit it to the local environment, like uprated cooling system, heavier duty suspension and bovine leather interior rather than MB Tex

For a large car it's surprisingly light and easy to drive. Couple with the powerful 2.8lL twin cam M110 engine with Bosch D-Jetronic fuel injection it makes for a very enjoyable experience. It's not a fast car, despite having 180bhp, but that's not the point of a car like this

With the exception of my Mini we have an all German fleet (2x MK1 Golf, VW Passat, VW Polo, 2x VW Lupo, VW T5, Trabant)