A mundane object with quite a story (1 Viewer)

[Gideon]

It's been some years since I've posted here but thought this object might be worth you all seeing.

I found it at an auction in Bucks County PA in a box full of other hangers, box lots out in a field. I couldn't imagine it could be real but it is.

This clothes hanger is from the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Kopenick is a suburb a bit outside Berlin where the rowing competitions took place. The US team came out of Washington state and stayed at the police barracks. It was unusually cold, some of the team got sick and wound up losing. There's a book written about the rowing competitions called "The Boys in the Boat". This hanger must have been brought back by one of them as a souvenir.

In all the research I've done, there is none other in existence, this is it. I suppose most of what was left could easily have been burned for heat 9 years later in the closing stages of the war. It's a bit of a unicorn.

 

[theBaron]

Köpenick is also famous for the story of Wilhelm Vogt, the "Captain of Köpenick", who dressed himself in an old Army captain's uniform, commandeered a couple squads of soldiers, arrested the mayor and other city officials, and plundered the city treasury:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Voigt

Prost!
Brad

 

[Blackbob]

"Hauptmann von Köpenick", was produced a few years back by Hecker Goros with the individuals done in caricature style. See image. Sadly my own figures of this scene are packed away at present. It is still available from Berliner Zinnfiguren.
Sometime, well before covid, hopefully you will recall this period, I went on a riverboat trip while in Berlin .The guide, narrator was dressed at the infamous Hauptmann. A most enjoyable trip, assisted by the occasional local beer served onboard.

I believe the soldiers he acquired were from the 4. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß, known as the Moabit Violets. One suspects that this regiment and their involvement in the Hauptmann's escapade, and their nickname, caused them to be subjected to ridicule from other regiments
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Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and hopefully a better 2022.

Blackbob.

 

[REVWARBUFF]

Gideon,

Long time no hear.....good to see you on Treefrog after all this time!

That is quite a piece you got there and a very interesting story.

Looks like something that would wind up on the Antiques Road Show.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Mark

 

[Gideon]

Gideon,

Long time no hear.....good to see you on Treefrog after all this time!

That is quite a piece you got there and a very interesting story.

Looks like something that would wind up on the Antiques Road Show.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

Mark

I come on from time to time, see who's making what, etc. Happy to see there is still interest in this collecting genre. I've shifted into other areas of interest and fun.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Gideon,

Glad to hear from you! :salute:: Hope all is well with you and yours.

Your old friend,

Louis