Author
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Topic: My Favorite Item in My Collection Is.....
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DChudwin Member Posts: 1096 From: Lincolnshire IL USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 06-30-2002 06:47 PM
What's your favorite item in your collection--the one that you would never want to part with??My favorite is an Apollo 11 lunar orbit chart with an inscribed Neil Armstrong autograph. In 1969 I covered the Apollo 11 launch for the College Press Service (I was 19 at the time). There were many "goodies" at the Press Center at Cape Canaveral, including a copy of the Apollo Lunar Orbit Chart for the mission. It is a color map which shows the path of the Apollo spacecraft over the surface of the moon. I held onto the color map for many years, but as the 25th anniversary of the flight approached, I decided to try to get it autographed by Neil Armstrong, who was still sporadically signing at the time. I sent the map with an article I wrote about the launch and pictures I took of the crew walk-out to an Ohio address. The envelope was sent back, marked "refused." I decided not to give up, so I sent the items to Armstrong in care of the Astronaut Office in Houston. Weeks went by and I was sure all was lost. On July 20, 1994, the anniversary, I looked in my mailbox. To my complete surprise, the map came back inscribed "Best Wishes to Dr. Dave Chudwin, Neil Armstrong." Needles to say, this made the Apollo 11 25th anniversary very special to me. Armstrong no longer signs and the Astronaut Office no longer forwards mail to former astronauts, so this happened just in time. What's your favorite?
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apollo11lem5@aol.com unregistered
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posted 06-30-2002 08:13 PM
Hello All.... Favorite item ? That is a difficult question. I suppose my very favorite is my print of "The Great Moment" by artist Paul Calle. I met Neil Armstrong in person at the dedication of The Astronauts Memorial on May 9 , 1991 at KSC. I had the honor of introducing my friends Don and Blanche Chaffee (Roger's parents) to Mr. Armstrong at the conclusion of the ceremony. I was there as a guest of the Chaffees ......what a day !! I then walked with Mr. Armstrong to his ride in the KSC parking lot and discussed his X-15 days with him along the way. I asked him if he would sign my "Great Moment" print if I mailed it to him and he said he would be happy to. About 6 weeks after sending him the print, it arrived back. He wrote...." To: Donald R. Brady Jr.....with all good wishes....Neil Armstrong ". That is indeed a prize to me. What an incredible day plus I got to discuss the X-15 with him for about 15 minutes . The word " Moon" never exited my lips !!! A once in a lifetime experience never to be repeated. A classic case of being in the right place at the right time. Donald Brady |
rjurek349 Member Posts: 1190 From: Northwest Indiana Registered: Jan 2002
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posted 06-30-2002 09:17 PM
Great topic idea. What is my favorite? It would have to be a flown item -- I love flown items, simply because in my mind they act as sort of time machines. When you touch whatever its is (a betacloth patch, a medallion, a flag, a checklist page, etc.), you are touching something that was physically there along for the ride. I have a number of flown items, but I would have to say my two favorites are the flown beta cloth patch from Apollo 7 and the flown beta cloth patch from Apollo 14 that I own. I like them not just because of the inscriptions and COA's that come with them, but because I negotiated and brokered the purchase myself with Walt Cunningham and Ed Mitchell,respectively. That experience itself elevates them to a special place in my collection, over the flown items I have purchased via brokers or via auction. Rich |
scout706 Member Posts: 166 From: Phoenix, AZ USA Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-30-2002 11:13 PM
My Personalized Pete Conrad. Apollo 12 was my favorite crew. I started collecting after Mr. Conrad died, so when I found this well, I had to have it!------------------ "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but it's a long one for me." - Pete Conrad, Apollo 12, November 19, 1972 |
astronut Member Posts: 969 From: South Fork, CO Registered: Mar 2000
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posted 06-30-2002 11:13 PM
My favorite is my A12 flown 12x18" Texas flag I bought directly from Al Bean.------------------ Happy trails, Wayno "...you are go for TLI." www.TransLunarInjection.com |
FlAlan New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 07-01-2002 02:50 AM
My favorite item is a poster from the Sep. 1973 issue of National Geographics. The poster is an artists rendition of all the Apollo astronauts on the moon. It is autographed by: Wally Schirra,Walter Cunningham,James Lovell,James McDivitt,David Scott,Russell Schweickart,Gene Cernan, Buzz Aldrin,Pete Conrad,Richard Gordon,Alan Bean,Fred Haise,Ed Mitchell,Al Worden Charles Duke,and Harrison Schmitt. These were in person autographs so the meeting was half the thrill. Alan |
Scott Member Posts: 3307 From: Houston, TX Registered: May 2001
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posted 07-01-2002 07:44 AM
The cue card I bought from Charlie Duke years ago. It was used inside the LM on the lunar surface and has tiny pieces of lunar dirt adhering to the velcro glue on the back.
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4tr Member Posts: 129 From: Scituate, Massachusetts Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 07-01-2002 11:22 AM
Even though I collect primarily moonwalker/moon voyager autographs, my favorite item is my Apollo 11 moondust display from Florian.There's absolutely no parallel to this in history. Suppose you had a vial of sand brought back from Columbus's first voyage to America with a provenance as good as Florian's. Talk about a unique historical artifact! However, there would still be arguments over whether Columbus was really first to the New World. And, of course, it would still be just sand. Well, maybe I'm overstating my case. In any event, I can't think of anything I'd rather have than a sample of moondust kicked up by the first man to walk on the Moon. When you think about it, it's amazing that such a thing is even available to collectors. Ed Fortier |
Dennis Talbot Member Posts: 172 From: Terrigal NSW Australia Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 07-01-2002 11:37 AM
Here is a link to my favourite piece. It is a pic of the moon taken by the crew of Apollo17 and signed by Arthur C. Clarke he inscribed the piece "Apollo - the one achievement our age will be remembered by, a thousand years from now - on many worlds" I use it as the centre piece of the display I have up with 12 moonwalkers surrounding it. http://www.djtalbot.addr.com/Clarke_Arthur_C.htm |
Cliff Lentz Member Posts: 655 From: Philadelphia, PA USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-01-2002 12:41 PM
I think my favorite item is the Jim Irwin autographed photo of the Apollo 15 Liftoff. He was appearing at Spacecamp when I was at the Adult Space Academy. He was signing his book and flag photos, but just with the standard signature. I noticed a day later that I had the liftoff photo so I carried it around just in case. As luck would have it I saw Mr. Irwin talking to a few counselors on his last day in Alabama. He sat down and signed the photo for me adding the famous Crescent Moon drawing that I've heard so much about since. When I see the photo I always think about those five minutes that the eighth man to walk on the moon gave me as well. |
Dan Lorraine Member Posts: 373 From: Cranston, R.I. Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-01-2002 12:50 PM
Hey Dennis,Great year to Have Arthur Clarke sign your photo ..... 2001!!! Dan |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 07-01-2002 07:25 PM
The favourite item in my collection is an Apollo A7LB EVA glove. Complete with inner pressure glove, wrist connect and ID tag the glove was made in April 1972 for then Apollo 17 back-up LM pilot Jim Irwin. There are only slight signs of wear but what makes it so interesting is that unlike other similar items that have cropped up over the years on Superior this glove has been worn by a man who had already walked on the moon. |
xdef66 Member Posts: 43 From: Detroit MI. USA Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-02-2002 12:10 AM
Greetings All... What was going to be my favorite item was a signature by astronaut Jerry Linenger! He is a local hero here and even has a McDonalds resturaunt dedicated to him and his achievements..Here being Eastpointe, Michigan! I have been trying to get his signature for quite some time and jumped at the opportunity to bid on the "Hero's for Hero's" auction back in October of 2001 with the proceeds going to the American Red Cross! I sought out a beautiful shot taken by Linenger that shows a full shot of Michigan and the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, I've not seen my purchase since mailing it off ten months ago to Robert Pearlman at Collectspace. Empty promises and outright lies are all that I've gotten. Anyway I'm only out a few hundred dollars and it was for a good cause! Favorite item? I guess you'll have to ask me again later! |
Werb New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 07-02-2002 01:10 AM
My favorite item? ( Other than the obvious ) Well I think it would have to be a photo of Buzz Aldrin and I taken on Feb 13th, 1998. He was at Alyeska Resort ( In Girdwood, AK ) for a charity benefit, and I met him on the slopes. Just being able to meet the second man on the moon, and shake hands and exchange a few words was great! But to have my picture taken with him was over the top. He was also one of the first astronauts I was able to meet in person.......so that made it even nicer. I know this isn't a flown item, or something straight from NASA, but this sort of thing actually means alot more to me since I was able to say "I was there and met them". From The Last Frontier......... Mike
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Rizz Member Posts: 1208 From: Upcountry, Maui, Hawaii Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-02-2002 01:26 AM
I have a similar favorite! That Buzz guy sure gets around. I had the honor of having dinner with Buzz here in Hawaii this past February. The following day he toured a facility that I work at, and I was able to bring my 6-year-old son Blake along. During the tour, Buzz was presented with a small medallion from the USAF, and my son presented Buzz with a small, very small Saturn V rocket. The photo taken right after that of little Rizz and Buzz is my most fave. [This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited July 02, 2002).] |
Jake Member Posts: 464 From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A. Registered: Jun 2002
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posted 07-02-2002 03:42 PM
Well I'd have to say that if my home was on fire I'd grab two things first... My Globe of the moon signed in person over the years by 13 Apollo Astronauts... followed close by my original oil painting of two men on the moon - painted in 1962 by a NASA artist at the cape which was later published in National Geographic. I acquired the painting from a very good friend who worked as an engineer with Von Braun begining in 1951. Oh the stories he tells of day-to-day life having lunch with the guy in the next office over - Von Braun!Meeting and interacting with these folks has to be one of our generations greatest opportunities... ------------------ Jake Schultz - curator, Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home) |
hhager2 New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 07-03-2002 11:56 AM
Every item I have means something to me. My favorite is the space helmet with a crack in it. I used to have it in my office. Visitors would look at it and i would say try it on. Itwas just exciting to see the little kid come out in these business people when they did. |
CPIA New Member Posts: From: Registered:
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posted 07-03-2002 07:32 PM
hhager2,We live next to each other. If you would like, please email me at mcglynn@aol.com Larry McGlynn |
BLACKARROW unregistered
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posted 07-04-2002 05:38 PM
I've just seen Cliff Lentz's contribution about meeting Jim Irwin. I live about 75 miles from where Jim Irwin's grandfather was born. Col. Irwin visited Northern Ireland at least 6 times between the late 1970's and early 1991 ( he died in August, 1991). I was privileged to meet him three times, the last time at Belfast City Hall in Jan. 1991. In March, 1983, Col. Irwin was at a meeting in Belfast, staying at the Europa Hotel. My brother, then a journalist but now the editor with a local newspaper, arranged for me to meet Col. Irwin at his hotel suite, where I interviewed him for about 40 minutes about all aspects of Apollo 15. I wrote an article which was then published in my brother's paper (and I didn't get paid for it!!). I sent a copy to Col. Irwin, and about 2 weeks later I received a personal,full-page hand-written signed letter (with the crescent moon) thanking me for what I had written. It was a fine gesture by a very decent and modest man, and I would have to say that it is even more important to me than a personal letter from Neil Armstrong dated 1970. |