Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5201.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.95]) by osgood.mail.mindspring.net (Mindspring Mail Service) with SMTP id t7gbfg.ona.30ahi43 for ; Wed, 31 Jan 2001 10:23:28 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <20010131152208.25467.qmail@web5201.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [64.12.103.29] by web5201.mail.yahoo.com; Wed, 31 Jan 2001 07:22:08 PST Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 07:22:08 -0800 (PST) From: MPCgram Subject: MPC Gram 241 To: mpcgram@yahoo.com MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii ==================================================== MPC Gram ==================================================== Covering the Entire World of Military Numismatics ---------------------------------------------------- Series 002-Number 241 Wednesday 31 January 2001 A "New" WWII Pow Chit by Fred Schwan I wrote a story in the past few months stating that MPC replacements “are found where you find them.” The gist of the story is that they come in unexpected places at unexpected times. Of course, this applies to most of the issues that we collect. I was reminded of this yesterday in a dramatic way. I “found” some unlisted WWII POW chits from Camp Reynolds, Pennsylvania. I purchased these wonderful chits in September 1999. I found them yesterday in an unopened envelope in a pile of papers in my office! Search of most of my sources did not turn up anything on Reynolds, but an Internet search did find some information. It seems that there was a train station (named Victory) near Camp Reynolds so train buffs know about it. Camp Reynolds was a transfer station for units going to European Theatre, 1942-late 1943. After training at other camps, units would be held until it was time for boarding transports along East Coast. They then would be sent directly to the docks. By early 1944, Camp Reynolds was empty and further units going to ETO went directly to ships from training camps. Starting in summer of 1944, Camp Reynolds was used as a POW camp. POWs were held until late 1945. The Camp Reynolds chits that I “found” were in a booklet good from June 30, 1945 to August 30, 1945. It is a $10 booklet with 2, 5, 10, and 25 cent denominations. The (partial) booklet is worn so it is not a remainder although it must have been of the last issue for the camp based upon the dates and this probably accounts for how it was saved although I do not have any information on how it came into the hands of collectors (other than this one). The serial number of the booklet is 13698D. This is not a particularly low but still the chits must be rare since none have been reported until now. The suffix letter probably indicates the booklet denomination. Possibly $1, 2 and 5 booklets were also issued. The booklet was printed by Allison Coupon Company of Indianapolis (Marcus!) which also contributes to the reason that this camp has not been reported. Much of the research on the POW chits was based upon data available from other manufacturers. Additional Internet searching netted some information on the printer. The following information was provided by Allison Payment Systems (APS). Beginning business operations as a coupon book production company in 1888, the Allison Coupon Company was sold by the original owners to Cummins Chicago in 1962 and became a division of Cummins-Allison Corp. The current business operation was acquired from Cummins Allison Corp by the APS Management Team in May of 1995 and reorganized as a limited liability company in the state of Indiana. While surfing for the above article, I found the wonderful chart below on POWs held in the United States. I am sorry that it is a little difficult to read after sending via email, but I think that you can make it out. To me the most fascinating parts are the first and last few entries. In Many 1942 there was one Italian prisoner and no Japanese. The next month the numbers are reversed. Unless this is a typographical error, who were these people and what happened to the Italian fellow. Even if it is an error in the table (quite possible) who was the one Japanese and where did the other nine come from the next month? Then going to the end of the war, who was that last Japanese prisoner held in 1946? At the peak, about half a million prisoners were held in the continental United States. By adding in the guards, that is easily half a million stories! Some of you will be surprised to know that two very famous paper money collectors were POWs during the war and one of them was in a camp in the United States. Albert Pick (yes THE Albert Pick) was a POW in the United States. I am sorry that I do not know were he was held. I did one time ask him if he “collected” anything while he was in the camp. He said that he did have a few things from when he was there (here), but not really anything for his paper money collection. The other famous POW was Amon Carter, Jr.. Amon DID actively collect while he was in POW camps in Germany! Accounts of this period of Amon’s life can be found in Brotherhood of Money and Amon. Both are wonderful books, and both are scarce. I first read Amon by obtaining a copy via interlibrary loan and I am sure that both can be found that way today. Monthly Census of Prisoners of War Held in the Continental United States End of Month 1942 total German Italian Japanese May 32 31 1 - June 33 32 - 1 July 49 39 - 10 Aug 65 55 - 10 Sep 177 130 - 47 Oct 183 130 - 53 Nov 431 380 - 51 Dec 1,881 512 1,317 52 1943 Jan 2,365 990 1,313 62 Feb 2,444 1,026 1,356 62 Mar 2,755 1,334 1,359 62 April 5,007 2,146 2,799 62 May 36,083 22,110 13,911 62 June 53,435 34,161 19,212 62 July 80,558 54,502 25,969 87 Aug 130,299 94,220 35,986 93 Sep 163,706 115,358 48,253 95 Oct 167,748 119,401 48,252 95 Nov 171,484 122,350 49,039 95 Dec 172,879 123,440 49,323 116 1944 Jan 174,822 124,880 49,826 116 Feb 177,387 127,252 49,993 142 Mar 183,618 133,135 50,136 347 April 184,502 133,967 50,168 367 May 186,368 135,796 50,164 408 June 196,948 146,101 50,278 569 July 224,863 173,980 50,276 607 Aug 243,870 192,868 50,272 730 Sep 300,382 248,205 51,034 1,143 Oct 338,055 248,781 51,032 1,242 Nov 360,455 306,856 51,156 2,443 Dec 360,281 306,581 51,071 2,629 1945 Jan 359,687 306,306 50,561 2,820 Feb 360,996 307,404 50,571 3,021 Mar 365,954 312,144 50,550 3,260 April 399,518 345,920 50,304 3,294 May 425,871 371,683 50,273 3,915 June 425,806 371,505 50,052 4,249 July 422,130 367,513 49,789 4,828 Aug 415,919 361,322 49,184 5,413 Sep 403,311 355,458 42,915 4,938 Oct 391,145 351,150 35,065 4,930 Nov 358,419 324,623 29,539 4,257 Dec 341,016 313,234 25,696 2,086 1946 Jan 286,611 275,078 11,532 1 Feb 208,965 208,403 561 1 Mar 140,606 140,572 33 1 April 84,209 84,177 31 1 May 37,491 37,460 30 1 June 162 141 20 1 Compiled by Glenn A. Sytko ==================================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- On Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday, I will provide here the draft values of MPC (regular issues including multis, but not replacements). In the past these drafts were circulated among a few active dealers and/or collectors for comment before publication. I believe that this will be the largest ever attempt at coordinating such a catalog. The Pick catalog might have as many as 200 persons providing values, but they are spread over the entire world. Often only one provides values for a country, group of countries, or some issues within a country. I am making a point of mentioning all of this before sending the draft, because this will allow you to exercise a bit by compiling some of the data yourself without the benefit of seeing the draft. Of course you do not have to do this, but I guarantee you that it is a difficult exercise. =================================================== Mail Call --------------------------------------------------- Dear Gram, Regarding the question about listing printings and replacements (if not too late with this response): other than the error in the ending SN for the overall listing (first line, last SN should be 6,800,000, not 6,000,000), I like the second proposal better (though I understood the apparently erratic SNs perfectly well, they are easier to follow using your revised layout). Joe Dear Gram, I would like very much to attend the MPC fest but will be very busy with opening our new shop in Lakeland but if time permist I'll be there. Mike Cummings =================================================== Departments --------------------------------------------------- WWII numismatics seminar at ANA Summer Seminar 2001 --------------------------------------------------- Not only does the scholarship fund have an official identity but also has a bank account! Any further donations should be paid to the order of "Military Numismatists Scholarship" and sent to: Military Numismatists c/o Marcus Turner 8103 East US Highway 36 Suite 163 Avon, IN 46123 THE UPDATED LIST OF SCHOLARSHIP BENEFACTORS 1/21/01. These folks have generously provided money or material to finance scholarships to the ANA WWII Numismatics seminar. Your contributions will help promote collecting WWII material and be greatly appreciated. Mr. Anonymous Donor Mike Cummings Ed B. Doug Bell R. A. Medina Harold MPCKid Kroll Leo "Paymaster" May Bill McNease Marcus Turner Larry Ski Fred PK6 Joel Shafer World Wide Ventures John & Nancy Wilson Neil Shafer ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest II ----------------------------------------------------- MPC Fest is the annual feast of MPC. After some difficulties of coordination we have not changed the dates and tentatively scheduled 9-11 March 2001 for MPC Fest II. Confirmed participants in MPC Fest II Doug Bell Bill McNease Al Glaser Phil Goldstein Harold Kroll Ian Marshall Larry Smulczenski Leo May Kevin Maloy Marv Mericle Bruce Potter David Seelye Nick Shrier Fred Schwan Dan Swartz Warner Talso (and Jane) Marcus Turner (We are well past last year's participation level. Can we double it, triple it, more?) If you have made a reservation and your name does not appear above, please contact the gram immediately (MPCgram@yahoo.com). The schedule of Fest events has been eliminated from this issue to save space. It has appeared in each gram for the past few weeks and will appear again. Remarks: registration is $139 per person (for reservations after February 15 $164, after March 1, $189). This includes two nights lodging (double occupancy, room assignments by first sergeant the only possible exception is married couples), Meals as indicated (Friday evening not included), equipment and amenities. The value of souvenirs and goodies distributed will likely exceed the cost of the entire Fest. Reservations accepted now at MPCGram@yahoo.com, deposits ($50 minimum) accepted at MPC Fest, 132 East Second Street, Port Clinton, Ohio 43452. Confirmed reservations will be listed daily in the gram—make your reservations now! Additional information; the Comfort Inn is located at 1723 East Perry Street, Port Clinton, Oh 43452, you may use one of the online map services to get exact driving directions. DO NOT make your own reservations or inquiries. The best airports in order of distance are Toledo (45 mins), Cleveland (90 mins), Detroit (100 mins). We will try to coordinate ground transportation, but there are no guarantees here. Questions: send your questions to MPCgram@yahoo.com. In most cases the questions will be answered in the letters section of the gram. After all, if you have the question, someone else probably does too. ==================================================== Post/Base Exchange (PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale will be run here for free. Send your ads to the gram. This service is for everyone, most humble dealer or most advanced collector. The point is to make the gram more interesting. Send in a list of items for sale and we will list them here in the gram. In all cases confirm your order via email first. MPC Series 692 $1 replacement, unc $900. Ian Marshall, please e-mail for confirmation. iam@total.net. MPC series 481/3 $10 VF $75.00 confirm at coinman@rochester.rr.com. MPC Series 681 $1 gem CU $18. Confirm fred@papermoneyworld.com. WANTED Collectors may submit lists of items wanted for their collections for listing here. Dealers and collectors who have these items are then encouraged to list them for sale in the above section. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list. MPC Series 591 $5 in vg or f MPC Series 611 $1 and 651 $1 in CU MPC Series 661 $10 fine or better, $20 in vf all WWII items pertaining to Camp Perry, Ohio WWII English war bonds (and savings stamps, was savings certificates and the like) =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com critic: Harold Kroll - MPCKid@papermoneyworld.com; index manager: Ed Beaman webmaster & technical advisor: Doug Bell - (Wiz): doug@papermoneyworld.com; The Boss: Judy Schwan ===== MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation. __________________________________________________ Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/