Killing Dracula

ariel · 15th August 2007, 12:21 PM

Just ended.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=012
This is the absolute must for anybody traveling to Transylvania: you never know what may come into your hotel room in the middle of the night.
This box was valuated by a Romanian specialist at $26,600. Surprisingly, it was sold for much less.
The seller even provided the official export certificate.
The only problem: my mother-in-law, who was visiting with us, is fluent in Romanian.

The certificate says: "No national cultural value. Pictures are not needed"

Well, for $1,500 the new proud owner may use it to store kindlings. Some are already included with the masterpiece.

Hope the unnamed "Book" is, at least, the last installment of "Harry Potter"

Bill M · 15th August 2007, 01:31 PM

"There's a sucker born every minute...."

So we need kits like this!

Emanuel · 15th August 2007, 02:26 PM

Hahaha nice one Ariel. Maybe it was worth 26000 old Lei

"Is not part of the national patrimony" 56 bids by 19 bidders...cheez...I better ask my relatives for their vampire kits, we'd make a killing.

Rick · 15th August 2007, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Marsh

"There's a sucker born every minute...."

So we need kits like this!

Jose , you've got competition .....

Tim Simmons · 15th August 2007, 04:34 PM

Wonderful

cheap too

katana · 15th August 2007, 05:39 PM

......what....no garlic

Joe · 15th August 2007, 06:35 PM

I was in the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Florida two weeks ago, and tere was one in a case there. According to the the card that accompanied it, these were authentic kits sold in Europe in the mid-19th century. The one at Ripley's though had no stakes, but included a flintlock pistol with a pack of three silver bullets.

Neat stuff.

Bill M · 15th August 2007, 06:58 PM

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article...0&in_page_id=2

Jim McDougall · 15th August 2007, 07:14 PM

Always enjoy the light side Ariel!!!!

you have a keen eye in your ebay travels.

After a good chuckle with this interesting piece of European folklore

it was interesting to recall how much of similarly based folklore was applied to the swords and weapons. This is meant in a talismanic sense of course referring to the cabalistic and allegorical markings seen on blades in the markings and symbolism. If I recall, the fictional Draculas historic persona, Vlad, had a sword with a Toledo blade (no idea of the particulars beyond that). Just thought it interesting to note.

Jim

Emanuel · 15th August 2007, 07:33 PM

Ottomar Rudolphe Vlad Dracula Prinz Kretzulesco (Cretulescu) Hah!

Jim, I'm thinking that Vlad Tepes had some nice Ottoman blades as well. I don't recall ever hearing about or seeing his personal effects but I'll look into it. Last year I saw a gorgeous gilded pala in the presidential palace in Bucharest. I don't recall the name of its past owner.

Emanuel

Jim McDougall · 15th August 2007, 07:59 PM

Hi Emanuel,
He certainly must have indeed have Ottoman swords, and I'd really like to see illustrations of weapons attributed to him, or for that matter any of Transylvanian provenance. Thats quite a handle he had there!

all best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 15th August 2007, 08:33 PM

Hi Jim,
At the national Military Museum in Bucharest there were quite a few items from various princes and from other heroes. I will post in a separate thread the pics I took...I can't find my notes on the attributions though

Best regards,
Emanuel

Emanuel · 15th August 2007, 08:47 PM

Haha it seems that this kit has been sold before and it has a history in the collectors' world and Bram Stocker fans

http://infocult.typepad.com/dracula/...ekilling_.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

This time around it went for 200$ more

Ian · 15th August 2007, 09:50 PM

Ariel:

You need to be hired by Myth Busters.

Seems that a guy purporting to be the buyer actually still believes it is genuine.

ian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The certificate says: "No national cultural value. Pictures are not needed"

Well, for $1,500 the new proud owner may use it to store kindlings. Some are already included with the masterpiece.

Hope the unnamed "Book" is, at least, the last installment of "Harry Potter"

Battara · 15th August 2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Jose , you've got competition .....

Ahhhh but does he have seminary training?

I've had Vampire Slaying 101....and I make my own stakes!

Bill M · 16th August 2007, 02:13 AM

Lets call Buffy.

katana · 16th August 2007, 12:08 PM

Interestingly the idea of vampires is know by many cultures ...albeit with slightly differing descriptions. It seems that there was a genuine scare in Eastern Europe in the 18th C, that vampires were 'everywhere', bearing in mind the lack of education and the superstitions that pervaded society at that time, it is easy to see why every 'unusual' death (including animals) was 'the work of a vampire'.
So conceivably the 'well to do' could have indeed 'comissioned' the manufacture of 'Vampire killing kits'. Although it is likely the 'kit' that started the thread is 'spawned' from the popularity of Bram Stoker's book....early merchandising?

Also, some of these so called kits have a firearm and silver bullets...I cannot find any reference (pre-dating Stoker's book) that mentions their use against vampires....definately suggests that these are 'made up'.

Surely a crossbow would have been better....to shoot your Hawthorn (the best wood to use) stakes....from a distance or.... an Uzi with 'wood-tipped' bullets

Bill M · 16th August 2007, 12:38 PM

In many neolithic / animistic cultures it is thought that the blood carries the vital energy of the body. This is why a person dies when a certain amount of blood leaves their body.

So it is thought that ingesting blood gives greater vitality.

I like katanas suggestion that a crossbow would be a good vampire weapon, if they existed, which I am sure is a fiction, at least in the Hollywood / Bollywood traditions.

I saw an old cowboy movie where the bad guy was a vampire and people could shoot him and he would not die. The hero figured this out, carved a cross into the head of one of his bullets, inserted a tiny wood cross and ended the menace.

Speaking of weird, anyone seen the India version of "Thriller?" There is also a Philippine prisoner's version.

I'll post the English subtitle version for those who do not speak Hindi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJRNyPK-lc

And for our Pinoy contingency ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5nZcFIf3qc

VANDOO · 16th August 2007, 03:55 PM

ALL OF US ARE NOW SAFE FROM DRACULA BILL HAS HIS SKULL AND JUST TO BE SAFE HAS REMOVED ALL HIS TEETH. FOR PICTURE PROOF SEE AVATAR

Andrew · 16th August 2007, 04:38 PM

I can't wait for Radu to see this thread.

Runjeet Singh · 16th August 2007, 05:51 PM

That Indian Thriller clip is Genius Bill!!

Just a small point, the language is a South Indian language, probably Tamil, not Hindi. The South Indian Cinema has a large following, although not as big as Bollywood - the mainstream Hindi Film Industry. The lastest smash hit I am told in South Indian Film is "Sivaji". Here is the trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh63w2mwXIM

The star is a guy called Rajni, and although getting on in years now (whats with the Blonde wig?!), he did play a massive star in Bollywood film while I was growing up in the 80's. I spent many an hour practiving his cigarette flick into the mouth trick with a biro

. And his fight scenes....again pure genius

Couldn't find many from his Bollywood days but here is one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfpCLtHk_Ao

Cheers,
Runjeet

15th August 2007, 12:21 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Killing Dracula Just ended. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=012 This is the absolute must for anybody traveling to Transylvania: you never know what may come into your hotel room in the middle of the night. This box was valuated by a Romanian specialist at $26,600. Surprisingly, it was sold for much less. The seller even provided the official export certificate. The only problem: my mother-in-law, who was visiting with us, is fluent in Romanian. The certificate says: "No national cultural value. Pictures are not needed" Well, for $1,500 the new proud owner may use it to store kindlings. Some are already included with the masterpiece. Hope the unnamed "Book" is, at least, the last installment of "Harry Potter"

15th August 2007, 06:58 PM	#8
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Sucks to be Dracula! http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article...0&in_page_id=2

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15th August 2007, 01:31 PM	#2
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	"There's a sucker born every minute...." So we need kits like this!

15th August 2007, 02:26 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hahaha nice one Ariel. Maybe it was worth 26000 old Lei "Is not part of the national patrimony" 56 bids by 19 bidders...cheez...I better ask my relatives for their vampire kits, we'd make a killing.

15th August 2007, 04:34 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Wonderful cheap too

15th August 2007, 05:39 PM	#6
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	......what....no garlic

15th August 2007, 06:35 PM	#7
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	I was in the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Florida two weeks ago, and tere was one in a case there. According to the the card that accompanied it, these were authentic kits sold in Europe in the mid-19th century. The one at Ripley's though had no stakes, but included a flintlock pistol with a pack of three silver bullets. Neat stuff.

15th August 2007, 07:14 PM	#9
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Always enjoy the light side Ariel!!!! you have a keen eye in your ebay travels. After a good chuckle with this interesting piece of European folklore it was interesting to recall how much of similarly based folklore was applied to the swords and weapons. This is meant in a talismanic sense of course referring to the cabalistic and allegorical markings seen on blades in the markings and symbolism. If I recall, the fictional Draculas historic persona, Vlad, had a sword with a Toledo blade (no idea of the particulars beyond that). Just thought it interesting to note. Jim

15th August 2007, 07:33 PM	#10
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Ottomar Rudolphe Vlad Dracula Prinz Kretzulesco (Cretulescu) Hah! Jim, I'm thinking that Vlad Tepes had some nice Ottoman blades as well. I don't recall ever hearing about or seeing his personal effects but I'll look into it. Last year I saw a gorgeous gilded pala in the presidential palace in Bucharest. I don't recall the name of its past owner. Emanuel

15th August 2007, 07:59 PM	#11
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Hi Emanuel, He certainly must have indeed have Ottoman swords, and I'd really like to see illustrations of weapons attributed to him, or for that matter any of Transylvanian provenance. Thats quite a handle he had there! all best regards, Jim

15th August 2007, 08:33 PM	#12
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Jim, At the national Military Museum in Bucharest there were quite a few items from various princes and from other heroes. I will post in a separate thread the pics I took...I can't find my notes on the attributions though Best regards, Emanuel

15th August 2007, 08:47 PM	#13
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Haha it seems that this kit has been sold before and it has a history in the collectors' world and Bram Stocker fans http://infocult.typepad.com/dracula/...ekilling_.html http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting This time around it went for 200$ more

16th August 2007, 02:13 AM	#16
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Lets call Buffy.

16th August 2007, 12:08 PM	#17
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Interestingly the idea of vampires is know by many cultures ...albeit with slightly differing descriptions. It seems that there was a genuine scare in Eastern Europe in the 18th C, that vampires were 'everywhere', bearing in mind the lack of education and the superstitions that pervaded society at that time, it is easy to see why every 'unusual' death (including animals) was 'the work of a vampire'. So conceivably the 'well to do' could have indeed 'comissioned' the manufacture of 'Vampire killing kits'. Although it is likely the 'kit' that started the thread is 'spawned' from the popularity of Bram Stoker's book....early merchandising? Also, some of these so called kits have a firearm and silver bullets...I cannot find any reference (pre-dating Stoker's book) that mentions their use against vampires....definately suggests that these are 'made up'. Surely a crossbow would have been better....to shoot your Hawthorn (the best wood to use) stakes....from a distance or.... an Uzi with 'wood-tipped' bullets

16th August 2007, 12:38 PM	#18
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	In many neolithic / animistic cultures it is thought that the blood carries the vital energy of the body. This is why a person dies when a certain amount of blood leaves their body. So it is thought that ingesting blood gives greater vitality. I like katanas suggestion that a crossbow would be a good vampire weapon, if they existed, which I am sure is a fiction, at least in the Hollywood / Bollywood traditions. I saw an old cowboy movie where the bad guy was a vampire and people could shoot him and he would not die. The hero figured this out, carved a cross into the head of one of his bullets, inserted a tiny wood cross and ended the menace. Speaking of weird, anyone seen the India version of "Thriller?" There is also a Philippine prisoner's version. I'll post the English subtitle version for those who do not speak Hindi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJRNyPK-lc And for our Pinoy contingency ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5nZcFIf3qc

16th August 2007, 03:55 PM	#19
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ALL OF US ARE NOW SAFE FROM DRACULA BILL HAS HIS SKULL AND JUST TO BE SAFE HAS REMOVED ALL HIS TEETH. FOR PICTURE PROOF SEE AVATAR

16th August 2007, 04:38 PM	#20
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I can't wait for Radu to see this thread.

16th August 2007, 05:51 PM	#21
Runjeet Singh Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Warwickshire, England Posts: 150	That Indian Thriller clip is Genius Bill!! Just a small point, the language is a South Indian language, probably Tamil, not Hindi. The South Indian Cinema has a large following, although not as big as Bollywood - the mainstream Hindi Film Industry. The lastest smash hit I am told in South Indian Film is "Sivaji". Here is the trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh63w2mwXIM The star is a guy called Rajni, and although getting on in years now (whats with the Blonde wig?!), he did play a massive star in Bollywood film while I was growing up in the 80's. I spent many an hour practiving his cigarette flick into the mouth trick with a biro . And his fight scenes....again pure genius Couldn't find many from his Bollywood days but here is one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfpCLtHk_Ao Cheers, Runjeet