Any One Collect Pins?

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I'd consider this a productive contribution

Can you give an example of a faked pin(s)? I don't think forgery pins are a huge problem in baseball. There IS one guy on ebay (pinzplus) who sells reproductions but he is up front about it. Now, if one of his repros then gets pawned off as authentic to someone else, that's another story...

That's exactly what I was thinking...They all do seem to come from that one seller. He does state they are reprints...well to be honest he puts an innocuous "RP" in the subject line as opposed to the more offensive "Reprint" or "Repro". Then in the description he clarifies for those that may have overlooked the "RP" initially.

Example: Willie MAYS 1952 PM 10 RP *PIN* w/ Attach 1-3/4" N.Y. Giants Baseball Polo Var#1



What happens to all these reprints he's littering the market with? Is every buyer going to acknowledge they are reproductions when they go to sell? A seasoned pin collector may be able to immediately tell the difference between an original and reproduction...but a less seasoned pro may not be able to. And I doubt this guy has cornered the market on repro pins. Are there others out there who don't declare even an "RP"?

[Fballguy]

Also...Notice the frayed edges of the ribbon in that example. Honest attempt to create a vintage looking reproduction? Or an enticement to the next owner to flip as original?

Rob

[batsballsbases]

If someone wants to put these up for me that would be great ebay # 112401809845. A pinzplus repro and an oldie but goodie I actually bought this pin about a year ago to check it out 192177933913 Rob and I had a discussion about it. Still has the same fake age spots put on the front. Size is wrong and the back is a dead give away... When I had it in my hand I could tell right away it was fake. Very light, new shiny collet, and painted black in the back...

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by batsballsbases

If someone wants to put these up for me that would be great ebay # 112401809845. A pinzplus repro and an oldie but goodie I actually bought this pin about a year ago to check it out 192177933913 Rob and I had a discussion about it. Still has the same fake age spots put on the front. Size is wrong and the back is a dead give away... When I had it in my hand I could tell right away it was fake. Very light, new shiny collet, and painted black in the back...

Al mentioned these two. I don't collect Mantle but I'm pretty sure the "real deal" is a different size than the one being sold. The real Deal Mays is definitely a different size (2.125"). We discussed this Mays before...Al bought this exact pin just to make sure, determined it to be a repro and got his money back. My question is: is this the same seller or did it somehow change hands? If it is the same seller, he's not stating what he knows. That said, I've bought from this guy and he has always been fine.

I guess it comes down to homework, Rob. I can't say whether or not these secondary sellers know what they have. If that Mays was the right size and real, I'm hoping Al would let me win it since he already has the %$@*& thing!

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Al mentioned these two. I don't collect Mantle but I'm pretty sure the "real deal" is a different size than the one being sold. The real Deal Mays is definitely a different size (2.125"). We discussed this Mays before...Al bought this exact pin just to make sure, determined it to be a repro and got his money back. My question is: is this the same seller or did it somehow change hands? If it is the same seller, he's not stating what he knows. That said, I've bought from this guy and he has always been fine.

I guess it comes down to homework, Rob. I can't say whether or not these secondary sellers know what they have. If that Mays was the right size and real, I'm hoping Al would let me win it since he already has the %$@*& thing!

Rob,
Nope the Mantle 60 in 61 is 1 3/4 inch in size (Real Deal) the one being sold is also 1 3/4 in size. Side by side the fakes are kinda washed out in look. The images are a little blurry.
As for the Mays yes wrong size being sold 1 3/4 (Fake) 2 1/4 in size (real) and yes this is the pin I bought back about a year ago but not the same seller. Has the exact same (Fake) age spots on the front with a few more now... Amazing.
As for union Bugs yes a true indication of a real pin from the era, but like was said NOT all the REAL pins have them on it. You really have to collect for many years to have the feel and know the look of pins.. Yes around 50/50 as to having the union logo on the back....
As for winning pins sometimes someone has to open up that snapper purse a little wider my friend in order for the GOOD items to come to a collection!!

[ooo-ribay]

So Al, do you think the age spots on the Mays were put there by the creator (presumably pinzplus)? I don't. I think it is one of his pins that was maybe stored in a wet area. I really don't know, one way or another. I have several of his repros....I should experiment to see if I could create some fake age. I guess printing the pin with an image lifted of an old, aged pin makes sense but he doesn't seem to do that. His pins seem to be repros of mint examples (as shown).

[batsballsbases]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

So Al, do you think the age spots on the Mays were put there by the creator (presumably pinzplus)? I don't. I think it is one of his pins that was maybe stored in a wet area. I really don't know, one way or another. I have several of his repros....I should experiment to see if I could create some fake age. I guess printing the pin with an image lifted of an old, aged pin makes sense but he doesn't seem to do that. His pins seem to be repros of mint examples (as shown).

No I agree with you as to he (pinzplus) doesnt seem to age them himself. I believe he sells them looking brand new and OTHERS try and age them to make them look old.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

That's exactly what I was thinking...They all do seem to come from that one seller. He does state they are reprints...well to be honest he puts an innocuous "RP" in the subject line as opposed to the more offensive "Reprint" or "Repro". Then in the description he clarifies for those that may have overlooked the "RP" initially.

Example: Willie MAYS 1952 PM 10 RP *PIN* w/ Attach 1-3/4" N.Y. Giants Baseball Polo Var#1



What happens to all these reprints he's littering the market with? Is every buyer going to acknowledge they are reproductions when they go to sell? A seasoned pin collector may be able to immediately tell the difference between an original and reproduction...but a less seasoned pro may not be able to. And I doubt this guy has cornered the market on repro pins. Are there others out there who don't declare even an "RP"?

I happen to have that repro and the real deal. Even if the repro were artificially aged, it still wouldn't be "right" due to the size of the image and lettering. I don't know pinzplus's motivation for making these. I don't believe it's nefarious. I think he's just a guy with a button maker, trying to make a few bucks. The majority of his pins are "fantasy" items, using an image from, for example, an old Mays ad for Chesterfield cigarettes.

[ooo-ribay]

Another characteristic of a real PM-10 is the "union bug" stamped on the back. Unfortunately not every real example got the stamp. Maybe about 50%, Al?