Most
of you serious helmet collectors are probably already aware of the amount
of fake helmets out there in the world for sale. But, just in case - set
out below is an email from an HDS UK colleague of mine (this is Des Williams
writing), which I received 30th October 2007. My friend has recently inspected
one of these fake Indian made, 12 bolt helmets, in the "flesh". Some friends
of his had just
purchased
it from a UK dealer and have since been able to exchange it for a genuine
helmet, after taking the vendor to task on the fake. Now, another of these
fakes has just appeared on Ebay this week and this (email) to all HDS SEAP
members is to serve as another warning to be VERY careful when buying helmets
over the Internet. Attached is a photo of the fake helmet inspected by
my friend, it is one of a series of photos taken from many angles to show
where the manufacturers have differed from the genuine article, but you
must admit that the hat looks pretty good at first glance. Hard to tell
until one has the hat in hand- Buyers beware!!!
Here
is a copy of my colleagues email and photo.
"Hello
Des,
Have
a look on e-bay at item number 120177081695. It is another example of a
fake helmet, like the one I saw here in the UK recently. What's alarming
is the serial number range has now moved on from
192??
to 193?? and they have improved the copy of the air valve from the one
I saw. They are being made in Mumbai in India and if you look at
the e-bay item, they are selling other bits as repro, but they say the
helmet is genuine - very naughty!! From the photos on the sale page, they
haven't fixed anything else, but some you can't tell unless it is compared
one for one with an original. What can we do?" |
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