Canadian Military Educational Centre

[jeff davis]

Dennis has a great collection well worth the look.
I was Honoured to have it at a show I helped put on here on the West Coast.
Jeff

[derk derin]

Clive,
As a collector of Canadian military equipment I would like to see specific items researched and documented like gas masks as well as other worthy items to cover.For a collector to have a reference book on what he collects is worth it's weight in gold when an item can be properly identified.I have in my Civil Defence collection a Mk VII gas mask bag that has Civil Defence Canada stencilled on the front.I also have a service respirator with A.R.P. stencilled on the cannister and would like to know more details of these items.


Dennis sounds like a good candidate to write that book.
Regards,Derk.

[servicepub (RIP)]

As a collector of Canadian military equipment I would like to see specific items researched and documented like gas masks as well as other worthy items to cover.For a collector to have a reference book on what he collects is worth it's weight in gold when an item can be properly identified.

Incoming rant
Well, I thought that was what I was doing? I have published over 50 titles in the past 15 years. All of this has been done with no public money, no government grant, no bank loans, nada. Often, the sales haven't recouped the production costs but I felt that the it was important to document the topic as a significant item in Canada's material culture. At times I have seen my work copied without so much as a simple acknowledgement and I very seldom get any recognition for the books that I have either written or published. The same goes for my authors, all of whom are collectors or amateur historians also. In fact, I often get armchair quarterbacks who deny or denigrate facts that I have discovered, preferring instead to repeatedly quote the 'veteran's' story or the gun-show wisdom of collectors who have never done a day's worth of original research in their lives.
Occasionally I get a letter or e-mail from a reader who thanks me for the titles that Service Publications has released. Although I don't do this for the recognition I would be a liar to say that I don't get some encouragement from these rare accolades.
I am fortunate that I have a decent job that allows me to spend my dollars subsidizing my 'hobby-business' (surely the ultimate oxymoron) and a grown-up family that frees up the 6 hours required every evening to run the business.
Rant over

Derk, I have made the offer and I hope that Dennis follows up. I agree that a book on gas-protective equipment would be a valuable resource for collectors. To other niche collectors. If you have the knowledge I have the editors. As it stands I have 6-8 Weapons of War booklets either promised or in the pipeline. I also have 2 'specialty' titles and 8 hard cover books in the works - many of which are already in my PC or close to completion.
Clive

[derk derin]

Good morning Clive,
I am sorry if I offended you as that was not my intention.I have many of your publications on my bookshelf bought and paid for and use them often for reference when more information is needed.As a collector,I rely on books to learn more about the items I am interested in collecting and a book on gas masks used by the Canadian army I think would be an item worth researching and documenting for collectors like me.My request for more research books to be done was intended to cover equipment that has yet to be researched and published.I think you do an excellent job of documenting and publishing Canadian military history and equipment and I appreciate your hard work and time you put into the hobby and the people that also spend hours of their own time to write a book to benefit people like me.Please keep up the good work and I am sure,although not said enough,other collectors appreciate your work and efforts as well as the other researchers and their efforts.I hope Dennis writes the book on gas masks as he seems the person for the job!
Regards,Derk.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Hi Derk,
My apologies. The rant wasn't aimed at you. Your post and some recent events coincided and I used the opportunity to get a few things off my chest.
Cheers,
Clive

[Dennis Gelean (RIP)]

Yes, we need a gas mask/accessories reference book. I wish I was younger and in better health (lost a eye plus cancer). Canadian gas masks alone would be a very small book. Cdn. accessories would be the gas mask eye glasses, the
test kits,gas rattles (I have 3 different ones) use a cartoon poster for info, eye ointment etc. I would help if required. The German air raid siren I saw at the old CWM is in fact British (made by British boat works) the ID is inside
the cover ( need a gear for mine). I get a lot of static on my gas warfare displays. Disaster In Bari,Italy, 3000 died when the Germans bombed a USA cargo
ship in the harbor transporting gas bombs which exploded.
Off the topic again

[derk derin]

Clive,
I think we all understand when things build up inside.It's important to relieve that pressure.I think your message got through to who it was intended and for the rest of us that appreciate your hard work will continue to support you in any way we can.I wish I was good at researching but have always relied on other peoples publications to do my research.That is why I appreciate when topics are researched and documented so people like myself have a reference book to go to for information.
Dennis,
It's too bad you are not up to the task of writing the book.Somebody I hope takes up this task and with all the collectors on the forum that have gas equipment artifacts in their collection can supply pictures and any info they may have on it.I have many pieces in my collection but do not know the whole story behind the Manufacture,training,soldiers being issued and proper wearing and use other than the label on the items themselves.