| 2002
| ScrapBook
Subjects
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
They Don't Come Any Better Than These!
Link:
[ How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall? ]
 300
Link:
A Legimate Production Error
Link:
A SixPack Of Custom Struck Wreath Cents
Link:
ScrapBook Cursors Come Under Fire
Link:
[ Phineas Taylor Barnum ]
Link:
From Buffalo Nickels...
Link:
Have You Seen This Die Crack Before?
Link:
GMM Overstrikes On US Silver Coinage
Link:
[ Mail From PaulBunyan.Net ]
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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| 6/22
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A Lindy Stone photograph.
GMM Annual Medal 1993/1994 Obverses MULE - Serial #000
GMM Annual Medal 1993/1994 Reverses MULE - Serial #000
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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They Don't Come Any Better Than These!
This set of GMM Annual Medal Mules have absolutely EVERYTHING going for them!
They are; HEAVY 1.5oz silver, LANDIS at his very best on
large canvas pieces, RARE with only 10 sets struck, TRUE ERRORS
since they were unintentionally struck with the 1993 and 1994 obverse
dies paired and the 1993 and 1994 reverse dies paired, UNUSUAL since
most mule strikes do not pair obverse dies and reverse dies, DREAM
EDGES since Ron always pays special attention to the edges on his medals,
PROVENANCE "to die for" (no pun intended) that is quite simply
beyond compare since these originally came from the GMM Archive (something
that has never happened previous to this that I am aware of)... I could go on
but my fingers are getting tired and I expect your attention may be wandering
by now.
Let's just say that I can state without equivocation that these are my
absolute favorite creation to come out of the Landis dream shop. There
are other creations that I like almost as much but this set still holds
the front position in this ongoing horse race.
Of the ten sets struck I purchased one set from Ron HIMSELF and was
fortunate to purchase the Hardcastle set off eBay a while back. Even
with two sets in my midden heap I was definitely hard pressed to hold
myself back from bidding on the set you see here. If it weren't for my
SunRoom project I'd have been in there swinging!
If you would like to read additional material about these SUPER mules
check out the SBsubject created in October 2001:
Link:That's A Mule Of A Different Color.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
A Clifford Kraft photograph.
Bob
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
A Clifford Kraft photograph.
Sow&Cub
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How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?
Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
A Clifford Kraft photograph.
Hungry Horse
Montana
Trade Dollar
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
A Clifford Kraft photograph.
Jasper
Alberta
Trade Dollar
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"Practice, man, practice!" ...or... perhaps it should be "Patience,
man, patience!". Bill Jameson is not the only person to take
inspiration from existing coins, medals, and tokens. Cliff Kraft, ABC,
recently carved a SUPER worn out horse based on the Trade Dollar shown here
on the left. Now he has spent HOURS/DAYS creating a Sow&Cub
carving based on the Trade Dollar shown here on the right. If I had put this
much work into a carving I wouldn't feel the few bucks I might get from an
eBay sale would be adequate compensation. On the other hand, you can't keep
everything you carve and the next one will certainly be better than the last
one without doubt. Just wait and see!
I am really anxious to see Cliff's next CRITTER
CARVING. Do they have pelicans in Minnesota? I know I love
Fatima, my camel carving, by our Native Fishing Guide and Aurora Borealis
Carver.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
A step by step progression along the road to completion!
I'd have been happy to add the First stage specimen to
my collection ...but the final carving (shown above) is absolutely
superlative!
Clifford Kraft photographs.
Click for
First,
Second,
Third,
Fourth or
Fifth
stage enlargement on CD-ROM
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My name is Jasper and this carving is of my Mom and
me. I am very big for a Grizzly of my age, but Mom is the bigger bear. My
Mom is very smart and is teaching me everything I will need to know when I
go out on my own, which I am looking forward to. I asked Mom what happened
to the buffalo, who's place we took, and all she would say is "When you get
older." She did tell me about how the Park Service tells the hikers who go
into bear country to wear bells, blow whistles, and carry pepper spray. She
went on to explain the difference in bear dungs. The Black Bear's contains
seeds, grasses, and small animal fur, while the Grizzlies' contains bells,
whistles, and smells of pepper spray. Boy I can't wait to get older! -
Jasper, AKA Clifford Kraft...Sat, 22 Jun 2002 21:00:06
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| 6/20
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A Clifford Bolling photograph.
1787 New Jersey cent struck
with medal/book die alignment.
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Click for
Enlargement
on CD-ROM
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A Legimate Production Error
After showing all y'all Lindy's superlative Custom Struck Wreath Cent
Errors I thought it would be a good thing to show that TheGuys do
make legimate production errors occasionally. This sort of error is not
as spectacular as the special order specimens but I like them better in
general... especially when they are documented errors like this New Jersey
cent. Eighty-eight specimens means there are enough out there for most
serious GMM collectors to add a specimen to their collection if they
stay alert. Error or not... this particular GMM creation is a BEAUTIFUL
specimen. Definitely one of my favorite pieces from the graver of Ron Landis!
Speaking of legitimate production errors... I have received a report of there
being this same error, medal/book die alignment, for the 1995 Con$ept Dollar
issue. So there is another one to keep alert for when you are drooling over
a group of GMM creations at your next coin convention.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 6/19
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A Lindy Stone photograph.
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
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A Lindy Stone photograph.
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
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A Lindy Stone photograph.
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
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A Lindy Stone photograph.
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
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A SixPack Of Custom Struck Wreath Cents
Lindy arrived on the scene early enough that he was able to order Custom
Struck GMM Wreath Cents! He is offering a few on eBay as I write this. He
WOULD put them up for sale when I'm committed to a new SunRoom.
That just leaves them for all you other collectors of GMM creations.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 6/10
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Example
ScrapBook Cursors
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ScrapBook Cursors Come Under Fire
Homepage Cursor
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GMM ScrapBook fan Mike Wallace wrote me today that he had received an
EMail message expressing the opinion that the information content of the
ScrapBook website is diminished or distorted because of the graphics
image trailing the cursor.
I originally implemented the trailing cursor because I had nice small
GMM related graphics files that I wanted to share with the viewer without
having to generate a SBsubject for it. Bits and pieces of things too nice
to discard and not appropriate for a full SBsubject. Of course, the items
used have become varied and diverse as time has passed until I found the
date/time mechanism which I REALLY like. I would express my opinion that
it is both unobtrusive and useful.
I am not so in love with the trailing cursor feature that I would fight
to keep it ...and... the work to remove them is quite trivial. On the
other hand I'm not eager to make website changes based on single feedbacks.
I learned during my long career in database management that changing things
everytime there is an opinion expressed leads to changing things right back
when other users complain that something they liked/needed has disappeared.
Mike Wallace expressed the opinion; I kind of like
them, but they do at times get in the way of what I'm trying to read and
I have to keep moving my mouse to see what I'm reading. I could go either
way. Personally I normally have my cursor on the right hand
border and the trailing graphic is off screen.
Mike feels that ScrapBook fans might be reluctant to tell the FatMan that
they didn't like something so he has volunteered to accept EMail messages
expressing your opinions at:
EMail:Mike Wallace.
He will then tell me what the consensus is and I will react accordingly.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
P.T. (Phineas Taylor)
Barnum (1810-1891)
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
Bridgeport Commemorative
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Phineas Taylor Barnum
Bill (Jameson) Zach was inspired by a picture of the 1936 Fifty Cent
Bridgeport, Connecticut Commemorative (shown here to the right.) So
he drew on his massive native talent and created the two nickel carvings
shown above. I think both carvings are superb and wanted to share them
with you here.
I am of the opinion that Bill has captured P.T.'s ear much better than
the professional engraver of the commemorative half dollar did. I was at
a wedding on June 8th and kept getting distracted from the activities at
hand by observing the ears of the wedding guests, most of whom were
total strangers to me. I kept wishing I had a digital camera so I could
wander around and record the variety of different ears evident in the
crowd. Some folks have very small compact ears and others have ears that
take up half the side of their heads... REALLY COOL!
For those of you who might like to read a complete online book about
P.T., here is:
Link:A
Unique Story of a Marvellous Career. Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum
by Joel Benton, from the Encyclopedia of the Self by Mark Zimmerman.
If you are using a ScrapBook CD-ROM, then here are two enlargements
of Bill's
Link:FIRST and
Link:SECOND P.T.Barnum carvings and
a nice signed postcard
Link:PHOTO of P.T.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 6/7
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Ron Landis
Reverse Carved Buffalo Nickels
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-
From Buffalo Nickels...
I should know better... but when a recent SnailMail delivery
included an ANA publication (printed on HEAVY newsprint paper in newspaper
format) I leafed through it, clipped the one item of interest, and pitched
the remainder. Now that I want to tell all y'all about this article,
From Buffalo Nickels..., I can't get anybody to tell me what
the ANA publication was. I'm sure no author was credited in the area of
the article itself. I strongly suspect that the carved nickels themselves
are in Gail Baker's timecapsule. I called Ron Landis yesterday and he
confirmed, from my brief verbal description, that the carvings are his and
he recalls that they were sold to Gail Baker. If you want to read the
article itself you have to contact ANA or go to an ANA convention I suspect...
unless you have a ScrapBook CD-ROM, in which case I have archived a copy
that you can read by clicking on the reduced size article scan here on the
right.
The detail of the "Bos Under Trestle" carving simply blows this old man's
mind! Not only that but I'd bet that Ron carved this without the aid of
a microscope... just his standard headgear magnifers. I love the detail of
the markings on the sides of the Engine and the CoalCar. Wonder what the
hobos have in the can? Ron could have put a label on the can since he was
definitely down to that level of detail. They probably have some farmer's
chicken gently stewing in the can so a label wouldn't have helped. Talk
about detail! Ron even put the Hobo symbol for SafeCamp on the bridge
abutment.
I love the way that Ron worked the back of the Buffalo, or should I call
it more properly a Bison?, into the carving as smoke from the Engine. If
you are using a ScrapBook CD-ROM, then here is a rather fuzzy enlargement
of the
Link:"Bos Under Trestle" carving scan.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
The publication is Discover: The World of
Money published in April, 2002. Yes, the carvings are from my
collection. - Gail Baker...Mon, 10 Jun 2002 09:38:12
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| 6/6
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A Clifford Bolling photograph.
Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
1796 Dollar Struck Over 1794 Dollar
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Have You Seen This Die Crack Before?
A Clifford Bolling photograph.
Click for
Enlargement
96 Over 94 Reverse
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A Clifford Bolling photograph.
Click for
Enlargement
96 Over 96 Reverse
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I just received a couple custom struck pieces
from the Gallery Mint. The first a 1796 dollar struck over a 1794
dollar, the second is a double struck 1796 dollar, with the first
strike about 15% off center and the second strike centered. These
pieces didn't turn out exactly as I had imagined they would, but
they are still quite interesting. I just took a some photos and the
reverse die they used for the 1796 dollar has a fairly substantial
straight crack, from the the denticles almost to the eagles wing at
about 2:00. Both of these custom strikes used this die. I haven't seen
or heard about this one before, I'm trying to save up $76 to see if
they'll use this same die pair to strike another up for me on another
blank Ike planchet. Have you seen this die crack before? -
Clifford D. Bolling...Wed, 5 Jun 2002 20:06:40
In case y'all can't tell from these two neat multi-struck specimens,
the die crack is in the empty space between OF and AMERICA.
To answer Cliff's question... I don't recall having seen any specimens
from this particular broken dollar reverse die.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
A Clifford Bolling photograph.
Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
1796 Dollar Struck Over 1796 Dollar
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| 6/5
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A Bob Shalowitz photograph.
1796 HalfCent
Struck Over A 1943 Washington Quarter
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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GMM Overstrikes On US Silver Coinage
This custom struck specimen is currently being offered on eBay as I
write this. I wanted to show it to you because it is; 1) very pretty
and 2) relatively scarce. The Guys don't strike a lot of pieces over
existing coins because it can be very hard on their working dies and
thus not worth the risk for such a small monetary recompense. This is
not to say they NEVER strike such pieces but that they just tend to
avoid doing much of it. Of course the fact that US silver coinage never
circulates anymore makes this piece just that much scarcer.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
"Some of us will have to sit
up front with the Lutefisk."
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Mail From PaulBunyan.Net
Good Morning; Alas poor Harold, our favorite
Norwegian ski and toboggan builder, is gone. As the previous owner of
this fine sweat shirt, his wife told us that he had said many times
"I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that thing", and that is why she
made us take it off of him before we closed his casket. Knowing how
cool it can be on fishing trips and Kansas winters, I, along with the
other pallbearer gave his wife a can of oiled kippers, dated 1942
(G.I. K ration), for the shirt, and I won the flip. "I should have,
I had the heavy end, and Harold wasn't that heavy". I don't know the
date of your birthday, but I do have this fine shirt boxed for you.
(Christmas box.) My only thought being, I hope that casket is warm,
so Harold don't get a chill. A photo of you with the shirt on, would
be nice, even nicer if you weren't in a box. -
Clifford L. Kraft...Tuesday, June 04, 2002 8:48AM
Postscript:
True Tales?
It is true that I had an Uncle Harold Olson, Mom's
sister Wanda's husband, who was Norsk. He worked for Northland Ski Co.
(long since gone.) He did make skis and toboggans, and once repaired my
big sled when, at a very young age, I hit a culvert. Uncle Harold was
"I believe" all that a good Norwegian should be. He loved to fish and
partake of the sauce. But most of all, he loved Lutefisk with his
scrambled eggs in the morning. "What ever Harold loved, he did a lot
of, and did it well." When ever we had the Fisk, you had to save one
portion for Harold's breakfast, and if possible two portions for two
breakfasts. Now, as I think of it, I never heard anyone call him
anything but Harold. No Harry's or Ole's... always Harold. I guess
that 5'3" guy with the smile got his respect, and I can remember a
few times when he may have led my 6'4" father astray. "We best not
get into the Mutt and Jeff stories." Now that I have that out of my
system, I'll go work on my boat, and let you get back to proving it is
possible to cut grass faster than grass can grow. "Don't weaken!" -
Clifford L. Kraft...Wednesday, June 05, 2002 2:41PM
Cliff always can be counted on to provide a few rays of sunshine in my
sometimes ordinary days. Yesterday's day brightener was particularly
appreciated since a lightening strike had taken out the transformer on
our supply pole and we were without electricity from roughly 11AM-11PM.
Did a lot of reading until the daylight failed. Took a nap... one can
only sleep just so much! Sure was a welcome sight to see EMail from
Cliff when I turned my machine on towards midnight. THANKS CLIFF!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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