Status: U Return-Path: Received: from web5205.mail.yahoo.com ([216.115.106.86]) by tyner.mail.mindspring.net (Earthlink Mail Service) with SMTP id tggh9o.hnl.37kbi5q for ; Sun, 20 May 2001 18:29:12 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <20010520222911.25560.qmail@web5205.mail.yahoo.com> Received: from [64.12.101.154] by web5205.mail.yahoo.com; Sun, 20 May 2001 15:29:11 PDT Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 15:29:11 -0700 (PDT) From: MPCgram Subject: MPCGram 343 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 343 Sunday, May 20, 2001 Canadian Use of MPC in Germany By Phil Goldstein The following correspondence between a Canadian (Ren) and me confirms the use of MPC by Canadians in Germany. [in a letter from Ren] OK - let's provide some background detail. Canada is a large nation in size but small in population. The USA has about 300 million people - Canada has about 30 million. This 10-1 ratio has been with us for half a century. Canada's Armed Forces are proportionally small. None the less - as a NATO partner, Canada agreed to sending military personnel to Europe in the late 40s/early 50s. This would be in the form of Army personnel in northern Germany and Air Force personnel in France and southern Germany. The first RCAF personnel arrived in France in the fall of 1952. Now then - we can talk to some of the original "old farts" and they will tell you about being paid in scrip etc - but this is not really what you want. As Jack Webb would have said in the old TV show "Dragnet" - "I want the facts, just the facts" - not fading memories from those who think they remember what it was like close to 50 years ago. Go to the following link:www.grostenquin.org/misc/gtmisc-1.html and read the detail provided by Don Norrie. He was there at the time that the order came through - that Canadian service personnel would no longer be using scrip, and he is the fellow that has provided me with some of the samples that I presently have. You will note that my existing samples have come from two different people - Gawd almighty - could this be another conspiracy? :) This is the page where I hope/plan to include all of those examples of scrip that you are going to send me (in three days) OK - when RCAF personnel in Canada were selected to proceed overseas - they would be provided with a small booklet - sort of a 50s version of "Everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask".. Now then - let's try for something a little more solid - and go to the following link: www.grostenquin.org/gtwelcome.html 1 - Select item #1 and you will see the cover of this booklet. Even though this particular copy dates 1959 - it was probably printed in mass numbers in the early to mid 50s, and the powers to be simply continued to distribute the same copy - even though some parts were out of date. 2 - Select item #12 (page 11) and read the sections pertaining to Foreign Exchange and the Bank of Montreal. As you will find - there is mention of scrip in both sections. Need more - select the following link: www.pinetreeline.org/metz/other/otherm13.html This is a typed copy of the official RCAF Historical/Narrative Report for the RCAF manned radar station that was located in Metz France. This was obtained from the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa - and is as official as it can be. Read the entry dated 27 May 1958. Now then - I suppose that we could continue to dig away - getting personal points of view based on memories or whatever. The bottom line - Canadian Air Force personnel were paid with American military scrip between 1952 (at the earliest) and 1958 (at the latest). In 1958 - a decision was made for the Canadian military to stop using American military scrip - and yes my friend, we poor Canadians, located in France, were then paid in US dollars. You figure it out? Of course - we could go to our local Bank and purchase French Francs (with our American dollars) if we needed local currency. Now then - I've come through to the best of my ability. I will await the flood of MPC samples (within three days). Geeze Phil - I hope you have a smile on your face. =============================================== Editorial ---------------------------------------------------- The proof that Canadians used MPC can be found at the links mentioned if the text itself is not good enough for you. This creates at least one new missing link—Bank of Montreal MPC checks! It seems almost certain that the checks issued by the Bank of Montreal must have been restricted in the same way that US Military Banking Facility checks were restricted. It will be a wonderful discovery when someone finds that first Canadian MPC check. There are probably other Canadian MPC items as well. Then there is the possibility that some other allied country used MPC in Germany or even in some place or way that we cannot even imagine. =========================================== Mail Call ---------------------------------------------------- Dear Editor, Rumor has it that you have a 541 $5 "rag"...is the rumor true, and if so, is it for sale??? I could reeeeaaaaaalllly use that to fill a hole! Take care and have a GREAT day! bill yanchick Hello Bill, Wow, rumors have amazing leggs. I do not know where you learned about this note, but it is true. This Series 541 $5 is not only the worst condition 541 $5 I have ever seen, it is very possibly the worst MPC that I have ever seen. It is terrible. It is mostly all there, but chuncks have worn away. Not torn or cut, but worn away. It is hard to believe that there could be a worse note. I love it! Let me explain. I obtained this note from Doug Bell the first time that we met. It was at the Memphis Paper Money Show two or three years ago. He proudly showed me his collection of which he was justifiably proud. He was a little embarrassed when I turned to the page of 541s because of the dreadful condition of the $5 note. He must have been amazed when I got all excited about his “rag.” He considered it a filler just as you talk about above. I however, as I said, loved it and wanted it for my collection. Eventually we worked out a complicated trade deal where Doug got a much better 541 $5 and I got his rag. I have a nice uncirculated 541 $5in my collection. I have had it for many years. It is an historic note it its own right having been imported by Freeman Craig, Sr. while it was current. I paid $700 for it when it listed in catalogs for $12.50 (or so). Do not get me wrong, I was excited to obtain the above unc note and still enjoy it, but I thrilled to obtain the rag that I call about poor. The note is from position number 1! I had been collecting position ones casually for quite some time when Doug showed me his note. I figured that there was a good chance that I would never see a 541 $5 from position one and would therefore never be able to complete my #1 collection, so when I saw his I really got excited. After that transaction, I got a lot more serious about my position #1 collection, but I still have a way to go. As you can imagine from this discussion, I cannot let this one go just now, but I will show it to you in Colorado! Editor Dear Editor, You got a letter from a William Choate stating that he was a dependent in Japan 59-61 and his Dad was in the Air Force. I was curious if he mentioned where Base they were stationed at? Rod and I were there during the same time with my Dad also being in the Air Force. Anyway I know you have enough mail to read so I better close for now. Take care and keep up the good work. Wes ( The one without the beard). Dear editor, I am suffering from a severe case of "gramless in Seattle". Is there a near term cure for this malady? TomK Dear Tom, It is so nice to be loved! Editor =================================================== 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 3/22/01. 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. Many donations were received at CPMX and MPCFest. Mr. Anonymous Donor, Mike Cummings, Sue and Keith Bauman, Ed B., Doug Bell, Tom Denly, Continental Coin Invensor, Inc., Denly's, R. A. Medina, Harold “MPCKid” Kroll, Leo "Paymaster" May, Mrs. R.C. Matherne, Bill McNease, Marv Mericle, Mel and Jeremy Steinberg, Marcus Turner, Larry Ski, Guido, Fred, PK6, Joel Shafer, World Wide Ventures, Pam West, John and Nancy Wilson, Neil Shafer, W. E. Yanchick, Mark Watson, Al Glaser, Phil Goldstein, Rod Hardy, Wesley Hardy, Gary Hicks, Jack Lippincott, Ian Marshall, Kevin Maloy, David Seelye, Nick Schrier, Elmer Smith, Dan Swartz, Tom Warburton, Dick Freyser, Tim Kyzivat ==================================================== 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. FOR SALE Your items for sale will be listed in the Gram for FREE. Send your listings now. 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 or sale in the above section. This is a trial, if you like it, send your list. =================================================== Staff: publisher and editor: Fred Schwan - fred@papermoneyworld.com; assistant editor - Phil Goldstein IWANTMYMPC@aol.com Tueseday columnist Joe Boling – JoeBoling@aol.com Thurski cloumnist Larry “Ski” Smulczenski – ski@papermoneyworld.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. 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