[meteorite-list] ANSWER - whole stone concerns

From: Walter Branch <waltbranch_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 8 May 2011 22:57:18 -0400
Message-ID: <04A6CFFB24DC45E0BE02C72D76B2A0AB_at_acer330bb84976>

No fakes in my collection!

Well that's not entirely true.

Mike Gilmer recently sent me some really cool looking iron meteoerwrongs but
he identified them as such!

Thanks Mike. I really don't collect meteorwrongs but they are interesting
in their own right. There is a thread on one of the cloudy nights forums
concerning a certain book which is passed from one amateur astronomer to
another. The only requirement is that the person obtaining the book send
it to someone else. No money exchanges hands - just the book.

Anybody want to see these iron "wrongs." Just email me and I will send them
along but you have to do the same for someone else.

-Walter Branch

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Blood" <mlblood at cox.net>
To: "Walter Branch" <waltbranch at bellsouth.net>; "Meteorite List"
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 9:48 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ANSWER - whole stone concerns


> OK,
> I think all of you are right. Therefore, you should all send me
> Your entire meteorite collections - then I will be stuck with any and
> All fakes in your collections.
> Just trying to be helpful, Michael
>
>
> On 5/8/11 5:17 PM, "Walter Branch" <waltbranch at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
>> Hello Michael,
>>
>> It really is not that easy. As this example illustrates, even honest
>> dealers can be duped. I purchase meteorites from a very small list of
>> dealers. Very small. I have done business with some for 15 years; two I
>> started buying from this year. All have earned my complete trust.
>>
>> However...
>>
>> While I trust these dealer to not intentionally dupe me, how do I know
>> they
>> trust their sources and they have done their due diligence in the same
>> way I
>> have?
>>
>> As an example, I applaud Anne Black for setting the example of providing
>> provenance for her meteorites but how am I assured the person who sold a
>> given specimen it to Anne did what Anne and I would have done? BTW, I
>> trust
>> Anne.
>>
>> I sold some meteorites recently. I listed the dealers I purchased the
>> meteorites from. I sold one last week that I obtained from Matt Morgan.
>> I
>> told the purchaser I got it from Matt. Did Matt vett his source, as I
>> have
>> done Matt? I don't know. Did the person before them? I don't know.
>> BTW,
>> I trust Matt.
>>
>> Remember the, what was it, sandstone dinosaur egg incident?
>>
>> As we can see, the chain of custody can become quite complicated.
>>
>> I have been concerned for a long time now about this sort of thing
>> happening. The surprising thing to me is that it did not happen sooner.
>>
>> This whole incident is really getting to me. I have had it on my mind all
>> day.
>>
>> -Walter Branch
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Michael Blood" <mlblood at cox.net>
>> To: "Richard Montgomery" <rickmont at earthlink.net>; "Meteorite List"
>> <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 4:53 PM
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ANSWER - whole stone concerns
>>
>>
>>>> How can I be sure that
>>>> any whole stone be properly labeled as classified?
>>> --
>>> Easy,
>>> We have only been saying this on the list since
>>> The list began: Buy from a dealer known for honesty
>>> And integrity.
>>>
>>> God bless the IMCA and the hard workers of the
>>> Board BUT I do not consider an IMCA number to be
>>> The equivalent of "honesty and integrity." I know an
>>> example where two new dealers applied. One was accepted
>>> The other was told to, essentially, get some more experience
>>> Under his belt. Well, I knew him personally as a person
>>> Of honor. The irony was I also knew the other "dealer" and
>>> That individual had attempted to increase price on me
>>> AFTER I had sent money for a new fall. Between the
>>> Two, there was no question in my mind in whom I would
>>> Have confidence. So, no, I do not consider an IMCA logo
>>> Sufficient in and of itself to "guarantee" authenticity. (I
>>> DO consider it sufficient to pursue action if I am defrauded,
>>> However)
>>>
>>> Additionally, failing to KNOW people who have long
>>> Standing honorable dealings - such as ET, Mike Farmer,
>>> Anne Black, Geoff Notkin, etc, etc, etc, then I would take
>>> An unknown IMCA member over an entirely unknown
>>> entity. In fact, I would not deal with an entirely unknown
>>> Entity again - unless I KNEW what I was getting was
>>> What I was paying for through other sources than the
>>> Seller. (IE I could see by looking at it, it has distinctive
>>> Features unique to that fall, the seller bought his stash
>>>> From someone I know, etc).
>>>
>>> So, the answer to your question is simple: Buy only
>>>> From dealers you know AND TRUST or, at the very least
>>> from IMCA members.
>>>
>>> Warm regards, Michael
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/8/11 8:54 AM, "Richard Montgomery" <rickmont at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello List.
>>>>
>>>> This latest Mifflin business has me very disturbed, and brings up a
>>>> question
>>>> I've been meaning to ask you all for a while now: How can I be sure
>>>> that
>>>> any whole stone be properly labeled as classified?
>>>>
>>>> Of course there are obvious stones like Camel Donga, (all those that
>>>> stand
>>>> alone with external character)...but up until now, only my trust in
>>>> reputations has allowed me to be comfortable, along with provenance and
>>>> labels, chain of custody, etc. Yet, now I'll hesitate to acquire
>>>> whole
>>>> stones (one of my favorites is to collect wholes and
>>>> stand-up-by-themselves
>>>> specimens)...without knowing the back-story comes from someone with
>>>> honor.
>>>>
>>>> I will, however, not hesitate to buy specimens from those of you whole
>>>> continue to demonstrate honor. Reputations are as important as
>>>> thorough
>>>> classifications.
>>>>
>>>> This recent incident is exactly what we don't need. If there is honor
>>>> anywhere, it has been demonstrated by the refundings/returns of those
>>>> unfortunate to have been affected. Congrats to those of you who did.
>>>>
>>>> Only finding the head of the snake will put this all to rest. Or, we
>>>> all
>>>> carry microprobes in our backpacks.
>>>>
>>>> Richard Montgomery
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________
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>>>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> "Teachin' a pig to dance is a waste of time and it irritates the pig"
>>> Mark Twain
>>> --
>>> 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
>>> 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
>>> Shaquille O'Neal
>>>
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________
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>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>>
>
>
> --
> "Teachin' a pig to dance is a waste of time and it irritates the pig"
> Mark Twain
> --
> 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
> 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
> Shaquille O'Neal
>
>
Received on Sun 08 May 2011 10:57:18 PM PDT