I've been thinking some more on this subject so those of you who can be bothered to read this thread please indulge me a little longer:
MV restoring/collecting is just one small branch of an apparent human desire to collect/restore articles of historical interest and intrinsic value. So lets see if there are any parallel out there in similar interests to our own, take a moment to consider the following.
Do collectors of classic/vintage/veteran cars indulge in debate with regard to the wearing of period costume that compliment the given period of their cars?. This is becoming more prevalent on the show circuit here in the UK, …..Anything from Teddy Boys and their Dolls in drain pipes and tight sweaters to Edwardian Ladies and Gentlemen in dresses with bustles and loud stripped blazers all complete with all the wicker picnic hamper, canteen of cutlery, champers and smoked Salmon for lunch.
Do collectors of classic/vintage/veteran commercial vehicles get themselves in a lather over wearing a pair of riggers boots and a checked shirt or a black waist coat with watch chain, flat cap and brightly coloured neck scarf.
Do steam men agonise over whether it is politically correct to be seen in overalls or jeans and tee shirt while driving their beloved charges?. Go to the Great Dorset steam Fair and you will see a forest of greasy bowler hats, agricultural smocks, and floppy straw hats in the beer tents.
So why do we have this thread running here today?. And before on the previous forum, when as I recall it got a bit out of hand and some people started to feel threatened and started finger pointing.
Why does this subject cause such a response?.
I will freely admit to having worn uniform on occasion for large displays to complement whatever truck I owned at the time. It was always clean, accurate and did not have rank badges or awards on it, I have never carried firearms or bayonets nor worn it down the shops or out to the pub at night.
I chose to ware it to compliment my truck and present a completed picture when on display in the arena. While in uniform I always tried to behave responsibly and to present myself in a disciplined manner.
I do not regard myself as a re-enactor any more than I am sure the collectors/restorers in my examples above do.
Here's a real life story by way of example; At this years Beltring we were out at a local pub one night for dinner, we took a couple of the trucks as they are our only means of transport while at the show.
Sitting outside were a couple of blokes with their wives also having a drink.
As we passed them to go into the bar they complimented us on the trucks and I got talking to them.
It transpired that they were part of a very good German Living history display at the show.
They were very interested to know why CMP look the way they do and how long it took to restore them.
Pleasant intelligent blokes having a good chat over a beer on a warm summers night.
It struck me afterwards that had they been sitting there in German uniform I would have felt uneasy being seen talking to them and we probably would not have stopped at the pub in the first place.
The question gentlemen is this;........... is that my problem or theirs ?????????????.
Pete
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