Search results for ""SCHIFFER""

Enter the fascinating and beautiful world of antique phonographs. Brimming with visual delights, this volume boldly goes into the priceless collections of dedicated enthusiasts from around the globe, documenting the amazing rarities and charming curiosities of the phonograph. In this, their eighth collaboration for Schiffer Publishing, the award-winning authors have assembled over 400 full-color images of historic music machines, many never before photographed. The substantive text and captions add much previously unpublished information. Vibrant wood, shining brass, and fanciful decals are only the beginning. Wicker, glass, leather, gold leaf, and even seashells are to be found on some of the amazing antique phonographs within these pages. For those new to this field, a price guide, glossary, and bibliography are included. Advanced collectors will appreciate the wealth of newly-revealed details.

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Aerial combat over the Russian front from one who knew it first hand. Hauptmann Helmut Lipfert's vivid portrayal of his experiences in JG 52 during the last three years of the Second World War will stand as one of the truly classic chronicles of the Jagdwaffe over Russia. JG 52 Experten Walter Krupinski, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Heinz Ewald make their way through Lipfert's memoirs in an epic tale of combat over the Caucasus, Crimea, Hungary, and Rumania during the late war years of 1943-1945. Lipfert begins the story with his early experiences in the Bf 109 G-2 over Russia in II/JG 52 in 1943, and ends with I/JG 53 in 1945 with 203 aerial victories, one of the few pilots in histiry to reach 200. This book is a rare view into the air war over Russia, when Luftwaffe pilots accumulated incredible kill tallies while facing overwhelming odds against them in mass assaults. Werner Girbig is the author of Six Months to Oblivion-the Defeat of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force Over the Western Front 1944/45(available from Schiffer Military/Aviation History), and unit histories of JG 27 and JG 5.

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This three volume set on Imperial German swords, daggers, and bayonets is a follow-up to the author's successful and highly acclaimed four-volume series on World War II German (2005), and his equally heralded three-volume series on World War II German swords (2006) - both sets from Schiffer Publishing. These new Imperial volumes are the result of many years of arduous research on both sides of the Atlantic with several dozen advanced Imperial blade collectors making contributions. Additionally, the author's long-term relationship with key personnel in the Solingen edged weapon industry opened numerous doors in the preparation of this invaluable reference series. No one can doubt the fact that the quality of the Imperial sidearms far surpasses their subsequent mass-produced Third Reich counterparts. The author was afforded complete access to two of the most advanced Imperial edged weapon collections in the United States and one in Germany. Whether you own a single Imperial German edged weapon or have a massive collection of these beautiful artifacts, this series of references will greatly expand your knowledge and appreciation of these unique sidearms and will prove to be a must for all German edged weapon aficionados.

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Enthusiasts of Chinese porcelain and American commercial history alike welcomes this study of the porcelain dishes made in China for Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. The tea, yardgoods, and opium trade set the scene for commerce that brought this porcelain to the United States. Prominent families from Maine to South Carolina and West to Mississippi and California are represented with family crests, initials, names, or original design decorations. The original owners include George and Martha Washington, John and Abigale Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, DeWitt Clinton, Elias Hasket Derby, among the well known of the time, and many less famous owners of beautiful services. The decorations are divided into styles with armorial crests, monograms, eagles, marine scenes, Masonic emblems, portraits, floral decorations and include the mass-produced patterns: Canton, Fitzhugh, Rose Medallion, butterfly and variations. Fifteen styles of American eagle and four styles of Order of the Cincinnati decoration are illustrated. Students of American history, antiques, and Chinese ceramics will all find the material fascinating.

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Following on the acclaimed success of its inaugural SFP LookBook, Schiffer Fashion Press’s style guide extraordinaire kicks off its second season with Spring 2014 runway looks from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Ideal for identifying trends in color, fabric, embellishment, styling, and silhouette, here are images of more than 3,200 looks from more than 125 of today’s top designers, including Carolina Herrera, Mara Hoffman, Nicole Miller, Noon by Noor, Pamella Roland, Rebecca Minkoff, and more. This exhaustive compilation showcases high-end ready-to-wear, sportswear, menswear, swimwear, resort, and eveningwear presentations, but also offers comprehensive looks at styling trends for hair, beauty, and accessories. The SFP LookBook compiles everything that the Spring 2014 collections have to offer in one volume of high-quality images--it is a must have for designers, trend spotters, students, stylists, buyers, and fashion enthusiasts everywhere.

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This new book is a valuable aid when used in conjunction with eight important books which picture F. Carder's Steuben glass. The tabulated format is easy to use. The line drawings of shapes in Paul Gardner's classic book The Glass of Frederick Carder (reprinted by Schiffer Publishing), auction records of the last seven years, and references to photographs in the eight books cited are cross-referenced for easy access. In addition, 40 new color photographs of Carder Steuben glass, which have not been shown in other publications, are included here. Finally, the respected authorities on this finest of American manufactured glass speak in unison to today's researchers. Curators, historians, glass dealers, scholars, and collectors alike owe a round of applause to Marshall Ketchum for this precise and important reference work; this book will make their jobs much easier.

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A combination of original Blenko catalog pages and photographs, this book completes the Blenko “story,” covering the much sought after early designs and the later designs readily available to collectors. The first three color catalogs -- designed by Wayne Husted in 1959, 1960, and 1961 -- show some of the best of Blenko’s early glass production, and these are featured in this latest Blenko book. The year 1983 marked the beginning of the “late” period when the label was changed from the silver foil hand to the square with large B and red dot. The early years of the 1940s through the 1960s have been the most popular with collectors of Blenko Glass. However, interest in later Blenko has already awakened with the other Schiffer books on Blenko and with exposure on PBS videos. For the collector, current market values of this beautiful glass are included. Don Shepherd, Hank Adams, and Matt Carter were the staff designers responsible for all of the later glass in the catalogs. Many of their designs were inspired by those of their predecessors — those great designers of “cool 50s and 60s glass” — Winslow Anderson, Wayne Husted, and Joel Myers. Others are bound to become classics on their own merits.

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It is almost impossible to capture, in a single word, the enormous impact Dustoff had on the Vietnam War. However, John Cook has done it in a most compelling, sensititve manner. Here, for the first time, is one of the most incredible stories produced by Vietnam. This is the story of the men who risked everything to fly their evacuation helicopters into the teeth of the most intense fighting the war produced to achieve a single goal - evacuate the wounded. And that is what they did, day after day, night after night, under every condition imaginable. They flew through enemy fire, cloud banks, monsoons, fog, and darkness to reach the wounded. When it was all over, the men of Dustoff had performed an unbelievable feat - hundreds of thousands of wounded had been snatched from the battlefield. After exhaustive research and countless interviews, John Cook has skillfully woven all the threads of this epic story into a seamless fabric of dedication, sacrifice and courage. While it reads with the smoothness and consistency of a first-rate novel, there is no fiction here. The Dustoff crews are real, these events happened and Cook provides the absolutely critical human dimension that makes this story come alive. John Cook is also the author of The Advisor: The Phoenix Program in Vietnam (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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With names like Zemke, Schilling, Gabreski, Mahurin and Johnson, the 56th Fighter Group was, and still is, one of the legendary fighter units of World War II. BEWARE THE THUNDERBOLT ( the apt official motto of the 56th) is the story of the 56th Fighter Group in a chronological narrative of their combat missions. Composed of heroic pilots that aggressively took the air war into the enemy heartland in 1943, the "Wolfpack's" P-47 Thunderbolt contrails crossed high in the upper stratosphere as they escorted heavy bomber missions, or fell upon the enemy on the ground as their pilots destroyed over 1000 Luftwaffe aircraft. The story is also coupled with their post-war history of innovative Mustang missions to Alaska, and the first trans-Atlantic jet fighter missions in the P-80 Shooting Star. The foreword is by Hub Zemke, former commander of the 56th Fighter Group. David McLaren is also the author of Lockheed F-94 Starfire (with Marty Isham), available from Schiffer Publishing.

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The United States Air Force is the only Air Force in the world with the ability to project power rapidly, precisely, and globally using strategic bombers. With their global range, large payloads and immediate response capability, Air Combat Command's (ACC's) heavy bombers, the B-52H, B-1B, and B-2A are at the core of the USAF's war fighting strategy and provide both nuclear and conventional deterrent options for the United States. Don Logan's eighth book for Schiffer Publishing Ltd. presents a roll call of ACC's bombers with photographs and history of all 208 bombers since joining ACC in June 1992. Also included are all of the bomber's weapons including gravity weapons, and special weapons such as AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-86 ALCM/CALCM, AGM-129 ACM, AGM-142 Have Nap, AGM-154 JSOW, and AGM-158 JASSM. This book has over 700 color photographs, 40 line drawings, and 80 unit and special purpose flight suit patches.

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Jagdegeschwader 53 - or as it was better known, the "Pik As" (Ace of Spades) Geschwader - was one of the oldest German fighter units of World War II with its origins going back to the year 1937. This first volume, of a planned three volume set, covers the early years of the Geschwader from its founding in the spring of 1937 up to May of 1942. This book appears here for the first time in English, and contains over 200 additional photos not published in the original German language edition. The book also contains revised text and maps, and aircraft line drawings, as well as updated aerial victory and loss listings. The service record of JG53 can undoubtedly be regarded as uniquely representative for the rise and fall of the Luftwaffe, with the unit seeing action on every major war front. JG53 had a considerable share in the successes achieved by the Luftwaffe in the early stages of the war in the West, and at the outset of the war in the East until mid-1942, and through the tough battles fought over the Mediterranean fronts and suffering bitter losses in the vain attempt to stop the Allied bomber-offensive against the Reich. Equipped exclusivedly with the legendary Messerschmitt Bf 109, JG 53 "Pik-As" first saw front line action in the southwest of the German Reich, where at that time the only direct border line with France was the stage for some of the first clashes with the French Armee de'l Air as well as parts of the Royal Air Force's BEF, and became the Luftwaffe's most successful unit during the so called "Phony War." When on May 10, 1940, the Wehrmacht invaded France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, the "Pik-As" Geschwader was in the center of the action and during the six weeks of fighting in the West the Geschwader continued to prove its outstanding fighting qualities, and ranked highly amongst the top scoring Luftwaffe units when the cease-fire became effective on June 25, 1940. JG 53 later took part in the Luftwaff's foreseeably futile attempt to subdue Great Britain by ways of a strategic aerial campaign in the summer and autumn of 1940 which, although the pilots of JG 53 gave their utmost and took a heavy toll from the defending British Spitfires and Hurricanes, cost the Geschwader sad and irreplaceable losses. Given only a short time to recover and re-equip in the Reich at the beginning of 1941, and after another short period of action on the Channel Coast between April and early June 1941, the "Pik-As" Geschwader along with a majority of the Luftwaffe forces was moved to the East, where it took part in German invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. After only a few months of service on the Eastern front at a time when the complete failure of the German war effort against the Soviet Union was just beginning to become apparent, JG 53 was withdrawn to the Reich for another short period of rest and re-equipping, though two of its Gruppen were posted to the Netherlands in the fall of 1941, where they saw comparatively little action. This changed completely when at the end of 1941 the entire Geschwader was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre of operations, where III. Gruppe was first sent to North Africa to take part in the dramatic struggle there, while the remainder of the Geschwader went to Sicily as part of the offensive forces of the Luftwaffe that were concentrated there for the planned air offensive against the British island fortress of Malta, later to be joined by III. Gruppe after its return from Africa. Iochen Prien is also the author, with Peter Rodeike, of Messerschmitt Bf 109 F/G/K Series: An Illustrated Study (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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In over 270 color photographs, this book is a tour through modern aircraft paint schemes and markings, with its shark's teeth, heavy metal magic, and racy ladies. The reader will journey to: a European Tiger Meet where tiger and jungle cat paint schemes are the rule and not the exception - A-10 Thunderbolts and F-4 Phantom IIs - a stroll into Operation Desert Storm, and a first hand look at the Tornados, Victors, and C-130s which were participants - for perhaps the first time, a close-up look into the weapons bays of the now infamous F-117 Stealth fighter and the hidden humor of weapons bay art - a look at the colorful metaphors painted on the weapons to be delivered to Saddam Hussein - rare F-105 Thunderchief bomb bay door art, and the clever names on the intakes and panels of just about any active duty aircraft of the last twenty years. John and Donna Campbell are the authors of Talisman - A Collection of Nose Art, from Schiffer Military/ Aviation History.

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OSTFRONT 1944: The German Defensive Battles on the Russian Front in 1944 Alex Buchner. In 1944, when the entire Russo-German front was "ablaze" under continual Soviet attacks, wrong estimations by the highest German command led to critical decisions with grave consequences. The Red Army was growing increasingly stronger, and launched a major offensive. They engaged the Germans in a series of battles - Cherkassy, Tarnopol, Crimea, Vetebsk, Brody, Jassy - That ended in the collapse of Army Group Center, and catastrophic German losses. These battles cost the German army in the east well over a half-million casualties. The entire story is set forth in this new book by Alex Buchner. This in-depth study uses presently available sources and the reports of still-living participants, to document the events on the Eastern Front of 1944. It tells the story from the German point of view, reflecting on what is considered the most barbarous fighting of World War II. Alex Buchner is the author of several World War II studies, including The German Infantry Handbook 1939-1945, available from Schiffer Military History.

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The antique phonograph is the center of a beautiful, brilliant, and sometimes bizarre universe of accessories. The commercial development of the phonograph, during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, inspired a host of adjunct technology, from fancifully-painted flower horns to record storage disguised as furniture. Here are gadgets any snake oil salesman would be proud of - objects that claimed to make the phonograph louder, softer, improve the "tone," or remove the scratching of the needle. There are dazzling horns that call attention to the phonograph, or imposing cabinets that hide it completely. Each element of the talking machine, from its whirring spring motor to its polished woodwork, inspired bursts of inventive genius as brilliant and colorful as the nighttime sky on the Fourth of July. To aid the collector there is a guide to current values. Award winning authors Timothy C. Fabrizio and George F. Paul, in their sixth Schiffer book, take the reader on a lively tour of these utterly entertaining objects. The 555 color illustrations and engrossing captions introduce a multitude of artifacts not documented in the authors' previous works.

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The campaign and commemorative medals of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps frame an interesting evolution in our country’s military development and willingness to use this power on a worldwide basis. It traces their roots from our own Civil War to assuming the stature of the world’s super power. This work provides an in depth overview of not only the history and development of each campaign medal, but also the historical significance of the events surrounding the establishment of each medal. Informative and insightful glimpses of some of the main characters in this history, like Dewey, Sampson. DeLong, Butler, Hanneken, Peary and Byrd are threaded through this work. The book traces the events and their corresponding medals through our current involvement in the Bosnia peacekeeping mission. The book also covers, in great detail, several of the more important commemorative medals which were often struck on a limited basis to account for the lack of appropriate official federal awards. In many cases, these commemorative medals reflect exacting craftsmanship and unusual design features when compared to the campaign medals. All medals are exquisitely photographed in color with the exception of a few of the rare commemorative medals, which are reproduced in black and white. The work also covers a number of interesting foreign awards which have accompanied the award of a number of U.S. campaign medals. This work, which is well organized and easy to read, proves to be an interesting and informative reference work for the collector of these Navy and Marine Corps medals. A value guide is included. Ed Emering is also the author of Orders, Decorations and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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Drawn from the files of English, American, New Zealand, Australian and Canadian sources, as well as from veterans, this is the story of Lockheed's Lucky Star-the marvelous Ventura! Fashioned from the Lockheed Model 18 airliner, the Ventura went on to fight on nearly every World War II battlefront as a penetration bomber, anti-submarine patrol aircraft, reconnaissance bomber, and even nightfighter. John Stanaway is also the author Possum, Clover & Hades: The 475th Fighter Group in World War II, and Attack and Conquer: The 8th Fighter Group in World War II(with Larry Hickey). Both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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During the American Civil War, General Nathan Bedford Forrest stated that in order to win a battle, "you had to get there the firstest with the mostest". Today in military parlance the "C" designation means only one thing-getting there first with the most! Cargo aircraft are the backbone of today's military operations. From Operation Vittles to Operation Desert Storm, without the "C" planes the battles would have been lost. This new book is the definitive history of every cargo aircraft that displayed the American flag, from the commercial Douglas C-1 built in 1925, to the newest C-33 designation given to a potential commercial, off-the-shelf transport aircraft to supplement the C-17. The authors have attempted to trace the roots of each of the "C" aircraft. Bill Holder is also the auhtor of McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle: A Photo Chronicle(with Mike Wallace), and One-of-a-Kind Research Aircraft: A History of In-Flight Simulators, Testbeds & Prototypes(with Steve Markman)-both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Scott Vadnais is an Air Force public affairs officer currently assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing. He spent four years at Wright-Patterson AFB working with aircraft acquistions and testing programs including the C-17.

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The focus of this book is the tank battles fought during the opening phase of the war in North Africa. What really happened during the engagements? How were the tanks fought? What were their strengths and weaknesses? Not simplified generalities, but substantive, basic facts gleaned from searching for details in the surviving original records. The accounts of each battle are excerpted from the original reports written by the participants directly after each engagement. To understand the basis for the outcome of the battles, it is necessary to possess a basic understanding of the capabilities of each type of tank, its opponents, and how they were tactically employed. The first five chapters in this volume provide descriptions and technical attributes of the British, German, and Italian tanks and anti-tank guns along with the tactical doctrine from the period. Chapters six through eleven contain the details of the tank battles fought in North Africa during the period from February 1941 to June 1941. Translated excerpts from the Deutsches Afrikakorps war diary are used as a backdrop to provide a chronological guide as events progressed. An interesting feature from this war diary was the brief daily weather report revealing how hot it was and when sand storms occurred. Details on the actions in the tank battles are taken from after-action-accounts written directly after the engagements, enhanced by excerpts from war diaries of the armoured units involved to fill in the preliminary moves, buildup of strength, combat losses, and details on the actions that weren’t contained in the after-action-reports. This book is compiled from the results of digging through original records for over thirty years in an attempt to find data that would aid in assessing and understanding the tank battles that took place in North Africa. Tom Jentz is also the author of Panzertruppen 1933-1942, and Panzertruppen 1943-1945 (both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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Jon Maguire's book Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens was a tremendous success and set a new standard for American uniform and insignia references. Following its publication there still remained among collectors and historians a desire for more information. There was also an outpouring from many serious collectors who made available a wealth of items-the result, More Silver Wings, Pinks & Greens. This book of all new material greatly expands on the wing qualification bagdes, uniforms, and patches presented in the first book. Additionally, this work covers totally new areas including Civil Air Patrol, W.A.S.P.s, Air Transport Command, Factory Techincal Representatives, and "Yanks" in the RAF an RCAF. Other new areas presented are uniforms and insignia of the First World War era, and the "Golden Age" of the 1920s-1930s. There is also a large section on Aviation Cadets and civilian contract flying schools and instructors. The book is presented in the detailed and thorough style typical of Jon Maguire's work. Original items are shown in over 1000 color photographs, as well as numerous unpublished period photographs showing the items as they were worn. Jon Maguire is also the author of Gear Up! Flight Clothing & Equipment of USAAF Airmen in World War II, American Flight Jackets, Airmen & Aircraft, and Art of the Flight Jacket(all available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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This new photo documentation is the first book ever to cover in detail the history and development of military flight helmets from the post-World War II era to the present, and includes over 120 different helmets and their associated equipment such as oxygen masks, boom microphones, inner helmets etc. U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard flight helmets discussed range from standard fighter, bomber, transport and helicopter models, to high-altitude, special purpose and experimental types. Foreign helmets covered include British, French, German, Swedish, Canadian, and rarely documented Polish, Chinese and Soviet/Russian models. Also covered is an extensive selection of U.S. and Soviet/Russian space helmets. Extensively researched this book contains over 1000 images, most in color, and includes multiple-view photographs as well as detail views. Specific details of each helmet include manufacturer, proper designation, unique features, accessories, periods of use, branch of service(s), and aircraft in which is was used-selected export users are also included. Mike Breuninger is also the author of United States Combat Aircrew Survival Equipment: World War II to the Present-A Reference Guide for Collectors. Alan Wise is also the author of MIG Pilot Survival: Russian Aircrew Survival Equipment and Instruction-see page 14 of this catalog(both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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The F-117 was probably the most secret aircraft ever developed. The Stealth technology upon which the plane was based made it unique in its appearance. With its stark black appearence and wispy configuration, the plane was a strange departure from the sleek supersonic fighters of the period. This new book covers the technical and operational aspects of the Nighthawk from its initial use over Panama through its shining moment during Operational Desert Storm. Bill Holder and Mike Wallace are also the authors of McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle: A Photo Chronicle. Bill Holder is also co-author, with Steve Markman, of One-of-A-Kind Research Aircraft: A History of In-Flight Simulators, Testbeds & Prototypes(both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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YESTERDAY'S HEROES contains all 433 Medal of Honor citations such as this excert: ... Although machinegun bullets kicked up the dirt at his heels, and 88mm shels exploded within 30 yards of him, Pfc. Dutko nevertheless made his way to a point within 30 yards of the first enemy machinegun and killed both gunners with a handgrenade. Although the second machinegun wounded him, knocking him to the ground, Pfc. Dutko regained his feet and advanced on th 88-mm gun, firing his Browning automatic from the hip. When he came within 10 yards of this weapon he killed its 5-man crew with 1 long burst of fire. Wheeling on the machinegun which had wounded him, Pfc. Dutko killed the gunner and his assistant. The third German machine gun fired on Pfc. Dutko from a position 20 yards distant wounding him a second time as he proceeded toward the enemy weapon in a halr run. Along with the citations are Official Communiques from the front, and newspaper accounts of various battles. Yesterday's Heroes is a dramatic look at the courage of the American soldier in World War II. Kenneth Jordan is also the author of Heroes of Our Time: 239 Men of the Vietnam War Awarded the Medal of Honor 1964-1972, and Forgotten Heroes: 131 Men of the Korean War Awarded the Medal of Honor 1950-1953 (both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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In 1982, ownership of Matchbox die cast toys, the most popular metal vehicles in the world, passed from Lesney to Universal. The toys produced under Universal's ownership are documented in this thorough text. It includes the vehicles and a wide variety of other toys manufactured under the Matchbox logo, including infants' educational toys, dolls, and puzzles. This is the third in a series (preceded by Lesney's Matchbox Toys: The Superfast years, 1969-1982 and Lesney's Matchbox toys, Regular Wheel Years, 1947-1969, published by Schiffer Publishing) of marvelous Matchbox books by Charlie Mack. In this revised edition, he has gathered fine color photographs of all the vehicles, their variations, and the other toys produced by Universal. Additional materials include lists of places of interest for the collector to visit and mail order sources.

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In 1982, ownership of Matchbox die cast toys, the most popular metal vehicles in the world, passed from Lesney to Universal. The toys produced under Universal's ownership are documented in this thorough text. It includes the vehicles and a wide variety of other toys manufactured under the Matchbox logo, including infants' educational toys, dolls, and puzzles. This is the third in a series (preceded by Lesney's Matchbox Toys: The Superfast years, 1969-1982 and Lesney's Matchbox toys, Regular Wheel Years, 1947-1969, published by Schiffer Publishing) of marvelous Matchbox books by Charlie Mack. In this revised edition, he has gathered fine color photographs of all the vehicles, their variations, and the other toys produced by Universal. Additional materials include lists of places of interest for the collector to visit and mail order sources.

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On June 6, 1944, paratroopers of the legendary 101st Airborne Division jumped into Normandy with the mission of seizing exits of beaches at night before the amphibious invasion of France. They were the elite of the U.S. Army and were primed and ready to take on the Germans. This new large-format book contains over 300 photographs and a selection of full-color photographs of World War II era airborne uniforms and equipment. 101st Airborne in Normandy is written by a historian who has been interviewing many paratroopers veterans and collecting photographs for years. Dominque François is one of the leading experts on U.S. Airborne units during World War II. He has written eight books on the subject including his recent 82nd Airborne in Normandy, published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

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Told in anecdotal form, Vulture's Row tells a fascinating story about an important period covering nearly one half of the entire history of U.S. naval aviation. "Vulture's Row" is an area dubbed by naval flyers, on the island structure of an aircraft carrier where pilots who aren't flying can overlook carrier launchings and recoveries on the deck below. This new book by acclaimed author Paul Gillcrist is a series of true stories about the U.S. Navy carrier aviation from the perspective of a Navy pilot who spent thirty-three years directly involved in that exciting profession. The book begins with a series of vignettes in the period of the mid-1950s when the U.S. Navy introduced swept wing, jet-powered fighters into the aircraft carrier navy, flying from straight-deck carriers whose flight decks were made of teak wood. The thread of stories follows the author's career in chronological sequence, in various venues throughout the Navy. There are accounts from his first carrier deployment to the western Pacific, followed by events as a weapons delivery instructor at the predecessor to TOPGUN in El Centro, California. Some of his experiences as a Navy pilot are recorded in a section about Patuxent River, Maryland, the Navy's test center. Additional episodes include an unforgettable wing-walking flight. flying Japanese Zeros in the movie TORA!TORA!TORA! and the author's subsequent tour of duty in Pentagon conducting proficiency flights from our nation's capital. There are also accounts of combat missions over Vietnam and the author's experiences in both wing commander jobs, flying the F-4 Phantom II and the F-14 Tomcat. The last story is about his two flights, as a fifty-two year old Admiral, in the controversial F-20 Tigershark. These vignettes combine humor, hair-raising excitement and tragedy. Rear Admiral Paul T. Gillcrist, a U.S. Navy fighter pilot, served also as a test pilot and weapons delivery instructor, and actively flew from sixteen aircraft carriers for over twenty-seven years. The author writes with authority as a former fighter squadron commanding officer who recorded 167 combat missions over Vietnam flying the F-8 Crusader. Subsequently, he commanded a carrier air wing and finally served, the rank of Rear Admiral, as the wing commander for all pacific Fleet fighter squadrons. His pilot's logbook includes over 6,000 hours, in seventy-one different types of aircraft from 1952 to 1981. He retired in 1985 as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations(air Warfare). He is also the author of TOMCAT!The Grumman F-14 Story, and CRUSADER! Last of the Gunfighters(both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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The story of Hanns Scharff, the master interrogator of the Luftwaffe who questioned captured American fighter pilots of the USAAF Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in World War II. Scharff, a German Intelligence Officer, gained the reputation as the man who could magically get all the answers he needed from the prisoners of war. In most cases, the POWs being interrogated never realized that their words, small talk or otherwise, were important pieces of the mosaic Hanns Scharff was constructing for the benefit of Germany’s war effort. In the words of one erstwhile POW; "What did Scharff get from me? Nothing, yet there is no doubt he got something. If you talked about the weather or anything else, he no doubt got some information or confirmation from it. His technique was psychic, not physical." Another POW commented, "Hanns Scharff could probably get a confession of infidelity from a Nun!" To this day, ex-POWs fret and worry over what they said or even might have implied during their interrogations, and over what use Scharff may have made of their slip-ups. This book delves into the question: What was this magic spell or formula used by Scharff which made prisoners drop their guard and converse with him even though they are conditioned to remain silent? Hanns Scharff’s methods broke down barriers so effectively that the USAF invited him to speak about his methods to military audiences in the United States after World War II. Raymond Toliver is also the author (with Trevor Constable) of Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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This book captures the story of "Witchcraft," a B-24 Liberator, based in Rackheath, England, toward the end of World War II, that had a unique record in the 8th Army Air Force of flying 130 credited missions without aborting.This is a sequel to author Perry Watts' 2006 book (also published by Schiffer) on the 467th Heavy Bombardment Group, which sets this Liberator in context. In this book, Watts starts with Witchcraft's creation in the then-largest factory in the world in Michigan, then chronicles its transit like many Liberators to the UK via Brazil and Africa. The narrative provides detailed stories of Witchcraft's often hazardous missions with its Group over occupied Europe and during the battle for Germany 1944-5. This is a special testimony to why and how the B-24 played a key role in the World War II liberation of occupied Europe.

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After long years of studying sources and literature, Werner Haupt presents the military history of one of the larger theaters of World War II. The completion of the history of "Army Group North" is the result of the author's utilization of all German and Russian literature, as well as those combat diaries and documents of the committed troop units that are available in German archives. In addition, the author was assisted in clearing up several questions by the advice of former members of the army group - from commanders to drivers. This series by Werner Haupt will continue with a volume each on Army Group Center and Army Group South. The author served in the German Army as a soldier and officer in the northern sector of the Eastern Front during the Second World War. He is also the author of Assault on Moscow - 1941 (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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After long years of studying sources and literature, Werner Haupt presents the military history of one of the larger theaters of World War II. The completion of the history of "Army Group Center" is the result of the author's utilization of all available German and Russian literature, as well as those combat diaries and documents of the committed troop units, that are available in German archives. In addition, the author was assisted in clearing up several questions by the advice of former members of the army group - from commanders to drivers. This three volume set by Werner Haupt began with a volume on Army Group North and will conclude with a volume on Army Group South. The author served in the German Army as a soldier and officer in the northern sector of the Eastern Front during the Second World War. He is also the author of Assault of Moscow 1941 (available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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The 348th Fighter Group was the most successful P-47 Thunderbolt unit in the Pacific. Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Neel Kearby took an aircraft that was generally despised in the southwest Pacific and made it into the terror of the skies over such formidable targets as Wewak on New Guinea, and Cape Gloucester on New Britain. Besides the redoubtable Kearby, the 348th aces included William "Dinghy" Dunham, Bob Rowland, Bill Banks, John Moore, Sam Blair, and George Davis, the Texas ace who would later receive the Medal of Honor in Korea. Ending the war in P-51 Mustangs, the 348th ranged over the Japanese homeland - completing their impressive record and honor, and the drive begun by the illustrious Kearby. John Stanaway is also the author of Attack and Conquer: The 8th Fighter Group in World War II: Possum, Clover & Hades: The 475th Fighter Group in World War II; The Operational Story of Lockheed's Lucky Star (all three titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).

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Most histories of the northern sector of the Russian front concentrate on the siege of Leningrad, and focus little attention on the heavy fighting during the Wehrmacht's withdrawl into the Baltic countries. Retreat from Leningrad begins where those books end, with the massive January 1944 Soviet offensive which was designed not only to break the siege completely but also to destroy Army Group North. Enjoying huge superiorites in men and material, the Red Army attempted to crush two German armies which lacked more than a handful of tanks, contained a high percentage of unreliable foreign volunteers, and were hampered by Adolph Hitler's inflexable "no retreat" strategy. This untold story is recovered here in great detail, primarily as told by the German officers who served as commanders and chiefs of staff for Army Group North and its constituent armies. Their accounts were drafted soon after the war ended at the request of the United States Army, but have languished in poorly translated manuscripts until Professor Steven H. Newton re-translated, corrected, and annotated them, as well as providing subsatanial amounts of new material direct from the army group's operational records. The result is the most comprehensive and detailed operational study of sustained combat in the northern sector of the Russian front ever published in English. Dr Steven H. Newton is Associate Professor of History and Political Science at Delaware State University. Trained as a military historian, he received his Ph.D. fromn The College of William and Mary. His specalities include the German Army, Eastern from combat in World War II, and the American Civil War. Retreat from Lenigrad is his third book; he is also the author of German Battle Tactics on the Russian Front, 1941-1945(also available from Schiffer Publishing). Dr Newton is an active lecturer on Military topics, who has appeared in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. He also serves as a platoon sergeant in Army National Guard's "Stonewall Brigade"(1st Brigade, 29th Infantry Division[Light]).

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Number 8 in the Luftwaffe Profile Series describes the design and use of the Arado Ar 240.

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Military sweetheart jewelry was important on the home front during the World Wars I and II as mementos of the service men who were abroad. With their emblems of American and foreign military branches and rank, and patriotic devices clearly displayed, these lockets, bracelets, wings of love, In-service pins, "Remember Pearl Harbor" items. Victory pins, cards, pillows, banners, necklaces, and compacts became keepsakes representing loved ones and a display of patriotism. This book is published just in time to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion and end of World War II, one of the world's most patriotic eras. Nearly 200 beautiful color photographs of over 1,000 pieces with explanatory text and a price guide bring these items to life. The variety that was made astounding. These keepsakes are collected today to protect small pieces of history.

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The lovely Florence figures, made in Pasadena, California, by Florence Ward and the Florence Ceramics Company from 1939 into the 1960s are featured in this first book on the subject. With over 400 color photographs, readers are introduced to the lovely ladies in elegant, lace-trimmed gowns, perfectly behaved children standing or sitting quietly as angels, and gentlemen dressed like dandies in their short pants and fancy coats. This history of the Florence collection includes complete details about the early factory and the step-by-step process used in the creation of figurines as related by Florence's son, Clifford Ward, Jr. Some of largest Florence collections in the country are represented along with a price guide of yesteryear, Florence artware, Florence pairs, and children figurines.

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The dinnerware, cookie jars, vases, salt & pepper shakers, and figural characters of Shawnee Pottery, of Zanesville, Ohio, were popular items while they were being produced between 1936 and 1963. Shawnee's high quality items were well-priced for the mass-produced pottery market and their innovative marketing and production techniques and designs were often copied by others, making them a real leader in the field. This practical kitchenware and the whimsical, adorable figural characters have now become very popular with collectors. Never before have so many of the people who played key roles in the history of Shawnee Pottery contributed accurate and previously unpublished information for a book. Here is a thorough history which challenges much of the misinformation circulating about the pottery. With nearly 1300 full-color photos of the pottery and dinnerware, its marks, labels, catalogs, and even new items and reproductions, along with black and white historical photos of the personnel, plant, and manufacturing process, this book is the most comprehensive study you can have in your library of Shawnee references.

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This book covers the use and development of the Panzer 35(t) armored fighting vehicle.

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Covers the design and multiple uses of the Heinkel He 115.

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This is the book that automobile enthusiasts and collectors of gasoline station related items have been waiting for. Dealing almost exclusively with the venerable Texaco Company, it is filled with colorful photographs of their stations, products, giveaways, sales promotional toys, signs, banners, uniforms, and equipment. This comprehensive book also includes many historical black and white photographs of vintage Texaco stations, as well as early airplanes and ships from the extensive Texaco fleet. This book is a treasure trove of information, with concise captions and a helpful price guide. For those who remember the originals, Texaco Collectibles will bring back many fond memories. For all it will provide an interesting view of days long past.

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Basic, step-by-step instructions for building a comb-back Windsor chair, using traditional methods. With the simplest of hand tools and a lathe, even the amateur can produce a beautiful chair. Each step is illustrated and the patterns for the parts are given, along with measured drawings. Finally, various jigs and specialized tools like the steamer are explained and methods of constructing them given. Jim Rendi has captured all the skill of the colonial chair maker and shares it with his readers. His Philadelphia Chair Company specializes in Windsor chairs of several traditional styles, but this comb back is among the favorite. A gallery at the end of the book shares other styles of Windsors that use much the same methods.

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The styles of the telephones are often overlooked for their functionality. Everyone has one. But here, in text and over 250 color photographs, a history of the design of the telephone is presented from Art Deco years to novelty phones of the 1980s. Once the upright "candlestick" telephone was replaced by a desk set "cradle" telephone, its designs became diverse and important in a competitive industry. In this new book, the largest telephone companies are discussed, including Western Electric, Automatic Electric, Stromberg-Carlson, Kellogg, and North Electric. Major sections are devoted to European telephones and novelty phones. Memories will be awakened as you page through the book to see the phones you grew up with. Old telephones are appearing in antiques and collectors' shops throughout America, becoming one of the hottest new finds for collecting or just as accent pieces. This book will let you know what grandmother's phone is worth and so much more. A price guide is included.

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This book covers the use and design of the German 8-wheeled reconnaissance vehicles during WWII.

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