BAUSCHER MARK

Bauscher Mark

Q: I have a bowl with these marks on the bottom. Can you tell me what they mean?

A: The swastika inside a gear is the logo of Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF), the German Labor Front. The DAF was founded after Hitler came to power in 1933 and was the only legal trade union under the Third Reich. The words "Modell des Amtes Schnheit der Arbeit" roughly translate as "Approved Model of the Office of Beauty of Work." "Schoenheit der Arbeit" (Office of Beauty of Work) was an organization under the DAF concerned with improving conditions in the workplace and that, according to one source, also gave the seal of approval to good designs.

The Office of Beauty of Work existed from 1933 to c.1939. Bauscher Weiden was established in Weiden, Bavaria, in 1881. The company became part of Hutschenreuther AG in 1927 and is still in business as a subsidiary of BHS tabletop AG. Bauscher Weiden specializes in hotel tableware.

This Bauscher Weiden mark was used from c.1920 to c.1939. Nazi memorabilia was understandably unpopular for many years after the end of World War II, but more items are showing up for sale now and prices are rising. Some pieces were brought home by soldiers who fought in World War II. Nazi memorabilia is collected for its historical and collectible value, and not to make a political statement. Many who offer Nazi memorabilia for sale are careful to point out that they do not agree with the policies of the Nazi party and are not in any way affiliated with it.

HANDLE WORLD WAR II SOUVENIRS WITH CARE

Handle World War II Souvenirs with Care

Souvenirs from World War II and the wars that have followed it are aging and may be dangerous. Hand grenades, bullets, mortars, mines, and guns came home with the soldiers and were often stored in attics after a few years. Last month a Columbus, Ohio, woman found a hand grenade among her father's belongings stored in a shoebox in the garage. She put it in her car and after driving around running errands for a few days, she stopped at a fire station to dispose of it. Imagine her surprise when the firefighters quickly evacuated the parking lot.

In other incidents during the past year, some World War II grenades were taken to an auction house to be sold--the bomb squad was called and shooed everyone out of the building; and a landmine was found in a trash bin and everyone nearby had to be moved out of the way.
Explosives deteriorate, become unstable, and can explode unexpectedly. Although the Army sends out posters to veterans to remind them about the danger, children and veterans have died in the past year from handling war souvenirs.

Don't throw any type of explosive in the trash. It could harm city workers. We found a box of rifle bullets in our very hot attic a few years ago. Our son had stored the box with his hunting rifle years before when he moved out of town. We took the bullets to the nearby firehouse but kept the empty box as a collectible.

GENERAL MACARTHUR DOLL

General MacArthur Doll

Q: I have an 18-inch General Douglas MacArthur doll that I received for Christmas in 1942 or '43. Heaven knows why my mother thought I would want that doll when all my friends received cute dolls with clothes they could change into. The only thing the general can do is salute. I would love to sell him, so will you please let me know what I might be able to get for him and how I could go about selling him?

A: The Freundlich Novelty Corp. of New York City made your portrait doll and a lot of other World War II military dolls--from U.S. Army soldiers and Navy sailors to WAACs and WAVEs. Your doll's body, including his cap, is made of composition, a mixture of sawdust and glue that can be easily molded. The General Douglas MacArthur doll was made about 1942. If you had his original tie, belt, and cardboard tag, you might be able to get up to $400 for him in an online auction or at a doll auction. Without the tie, belt, and tag, chances are your doll would sell at auction for about $100 to $200. If you decide to sell it to a dealer in your area, you can expect the dealer to pay you about half the doll's retail value.