OAImages Blog

Charlie Moehlenbrock, a former member of Atta Kulla Kulla lodge currently in Kansas, recently wrote me about a few items that should probably be added to the chapter listings for this lodge. He also included the set of shoulder loops pictured here. They’re not material that would be included in a patch catalog but I thought them worthy for sharing here nonetheless.

Unfortunately Charlie isn’t the best photographer, so I must apologize for the less than great quality of these images.

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This neckerchief sold on eBay a few days ago. It’s an unlisted piece from Aheka 359. The closing price was an astounding $14,655.

Since the eBay link will become inactive over time, a partial screenshot is shown at the top of this post. Click on the image to see a larger version of it. Although it can currently be seen on eBay, I have obscured the buyer’s identity to preserve his privacy once this item is no longer on eBay.

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There are times I almost think
I am not sure of what I absolutely know.
Very often find confusion
In conclusion I concluded long ago
In my head are many facts
That, as a student, I have studied to procure,
In my head are many facts..
Of which I wish I was more certain I was sure! …
– “The King and I”

Recently on patch-l (link) there was a discussion about this patch.   Bill Mulrenin spotted it on eBay and wondered what it was.   A discussion ensued.I searched this site for the phrase “Scout Camper” and found two items: 138 X1 and 489 X1.   I dismissed the 489 without looking at because the colors were wrong, but did respond to the list that the 138 X1 had a very similar design.   Another list member pointed out the 489 X1 had the identical deisgn except for the background color.    We then postulated this mystery item could have come from either 138, 489, or another lodge in the TX/OK area.

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Hank Birdsong and Garrick Smith have been keeping me up to date on the situation regarding the fakes of Tsali’s 2002 NOAC flaps.   Both have forwarded to me an image of the S42 with its fake, which was acquired from an eBay seller in British Columbia, for comparison purposes.   Click on the image to see a much larger version of the picture.

The fake is the bottom patch in the image.   As they note it is a very good fake.   It would easily fool anyone not very familiar with the patch or aware that a fake exists.   Very few of these were made, so most collectors would never have seen the real thing except for in a picture .

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It is becoming increasingly commonplace to see items of questionable authenticity offered for sale on eBay.   There are several sellers who regularly sell such items and one would be wise to be skeptical of any of their offerings.   One such seller recently sold what appeared to be the 2002 NOAC flaps from Tsali 134.

As issued by the lodge, the two flaps for the 2002 NOAC (Blue Book S42 and S43) are difficult modern issues from this lodge.   It is reported that only 40 of the S42 were issued, and 60 of the S43.   They have readily sold for between $150 and $200 each in the past.   Many of us were skeptical at the recent offering of these rare pieces by a seller from British Columbia.  We know he has sold what I call “close fakes” of North Carolina OA flaps, notably the Tsoiotsi Tsogalii 70 ZS1, in the past.   Upon examination of his auctions, I feel confident in calling these latest offerings fakes.

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Janelle Jensen listed a Spartan Chapter piece from Skyuka lodge on eBay recently.   It is not yet in Blue Book.   As far as I know it’s a new issue.

The patch is in the shape of the state of South Carolina.  Both the double-headed thunderbird and a palmetto tree figure prominently into the design.

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A couple of months ago, I wrote about a patch from this lodge that I dubbed, with tongue firmly implanted in my cheek, the “One True Fake“.   In that post I told the tale of what I have listed on my site as the Tslagi 163 ZS1? and also made reference to a second private issue, believed to be unique   I will tentatively label this the ZS2? since, even though this was likely made before the “ZS1?”, it was the second of the fakes to see the light of day.

The patch labelled ZS2?, like the ZS1?, was created by a collector in my lodge.   He had put together a display of Tslagi issues and was lacking a YS1 but was able to find a company that would produce a computer designed flap with a similar design.   It was believed only one of these was made.   The patch I previously described as the ZS1? came about at the same time.   It now seems that more than one of the computer designed copy of the YS1 were created.

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Yet another fake of a 2003 conclave flap has recently surfaced on eBay. Greg Grimes tipped me off to its appearance on eBay early this morning. This time it is the S32 that has been faked.

The seller of this piece, patch-works, has a reputation for selling fakes. Barring other evidence, you can safely assume anything he sells is a outright fake or Chang-type fake. Continue Reading »

A Caldwell pin purported to be from Croatan lodge was recently sold on eBay by Brush Creek Trading Company. See eBay item number 190051914450 for the auction listing.

There was a single bidder on this lot who won the item for the $1,000 opening bid.

This is an update to this earlier post.

I have been told the buyer has backed out and these have not been sold. I will therefore be deleting these from my priceguide. I was suspicious of the sales to begin with, but had been initially assured the bids were real. It turns out the buyer was not sincere in his bids.

An earlier post mentioned a Gimogash patch that was up for sale on eBay.  

The item closed on 14 October with a top bid of $11,210.   Since the reserve was not met,  the lot was not sold.

Gimogash 214 is arguably the hardest lodge for name/number collectors. It was a small lodge located in a military that existed primarily during the WW2 years. It disappeared sometime around 1947. There are only two patches known to be from this lodge. Continue Reading »