Anybody wanna buy a tank? :(

[tank_monkey]

Remember back when, when I posted pics from the Jacques Littlefield Museum in Portola Valley, California. That's a hillside community north of Palo Alto (where Microsoft & Apple Computer started in the 1970s) and where STANFORD University is now.

Here is his Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Littlefield

Well as you guys know, he passed away in 2009. He had a HUGE Collection of nearly every tank and armored vehicle made. Not only did he have tons of troop carriers, trucks, jeeps, APCs, etc. he had all the GUNS to mount on the vehicles. Tons of MG-42s, K98s, MG08s, MG-34s, M60s, RPG-7s, Oerlikons, 20mm cannons, M1A1s, M1 Garands, Maxims, etc. etc. Every vehicle from World War 1 to the Present day, had it's full complement of small arms. One of the German World War II Troop carriers had a pristine Karabiner 98K mounted in the clip right before the seat, about 20 of them!!!!!

Well the story floating around is that his wife (now widow) is a liberal anti gun bitch who just couldn't wait to get rid of the collection (not my words but the words of an ex employee of the tank museum). Apparently she intends to bulldoze the entire museum (It's a cluster of LARGE buildings) of military history and turn it into a place to breed horses (even though they have TONS of land and a horse ranch down the hill). What bothers me is that the Vehicles are the big deal, buyers and collectors from around the world are stripping that museum bare. But the SMALL arms, no one cares about. She intends to melt down or destroy all the military small arms at the end of 2011. :(

The thought of all of this getting melted down or hauled away as scrap makes me sick :(

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm01.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm02.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm03.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm04.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm05.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm06.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r84/Coolweather762/GUNS/TankFarm07.jpg

It's not about liberalism or being in California. It's about your WIFE doing what she wants with YOUR toys after you're gone. :(

[Sidartha]

Honestly.
If he knew how much his wife wouldn't respect his wishes, he should have made provisions in his will for them.
Currently I'm unemployed, broke, homeless, so I can't do anything for it.
However... I'm gonna buy the winning Powerball ticket tomorrow and then it'll be all better.:piggy-bank:

[MOP]

Wow !

I'm wondering if she's smart enough to sell those tanks at market values,

or cheaply priced .

Thanks for the pics.

I love the T-34/76 mod. 1943 "Mickey Mouse".

[gewehr44]

I would like to see some information that would support your allegation. I don't know what Jacques Littlefield did to make his money, but I'm sure he was smart enough to set something up like a corporation or non-profit.

Oddly enough, there's a group called The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation that appears to be in control of all that cool stuff & is a 501(c)3. Perhaps his wife is a controlling member of the foundation, but I'm skeptical.

http://mvtf.org/about.html

I did find this posting from a local tanker organization who expresses concern at the end about whether Jacques had made the proper provisions before his death, but it is only speculation.

http://www.bayareatankers.org/eulogy/eulogy_Jacques.html

This article from the WSJ interviews people involved with the foundation & no concerns are expressed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123395854437558427.html

[Solidus-snake]

This makes my heart hurt.

[mriddick]

The Patton museum would probably take them. As for the wife...it's her right and he knew about her, stupid yes but within her rights to waste money as she wishes.

[Penguin]

Well the story floating around is that his wife (now widow) is a liberal anti gun bitch who just couldn't wait to get rid of the collection (not my words but the words of an ex employee of the tank museum). Apparently she intends to bulldoze the entire museum (It's a cluster of LARGE buildings) of military history and turn it into a place to breed horses (even though they have TONS of land and a horse ranch down the hill). What bothers me is that the Vehicles are the big deal, buyers and collectors from around the world are stripping that museum bare. But the SMALL arms, no one cares about. She intends to melt down or destroy all the military small arms at the end of 2011. :(


And at that point my jaw hit the floor. I can't belive some one would melt and scrap all of that. I can understand not liking it and getting rid if it but, scraping it. That just makes me sad. I would love to get some of that if I could aford it. Unbelivable. She has to know it is worth crap heck if she just set a date and said people show up and take what you want I am sure it owuld all be gone in a short amount of time.

[mrkalashnikov]

Yes, it's hard to believe Mr Littlefield wouldn't have had the foresight to protect such an extensive and valuable collection of military history. I'm sure he must had made some kind of provision (trust, corporation, etc.) to ensure the armor and small arms are preserved for the future. Those pics remind me of the Bovington Armor Museum over in England, one of the world's largest of restored tank & armored vehicles.

As far as the wife, it just further proves the old adage, "Liberalism is a mental disorder".

[sam03]

That sucks.

[Schuetzenman]

I can't say anything nice so I won't say anything at all.

[tank_monkey]

I would like to see some information that would support your allegation.
I did specify that this was 2nd hand from the EX-employees of the tank farm. But seriously. When the wife FIRES ALL of the tank mechanics and restoration people, what do YOU think is going on?

I don't know what Jacques Littlefield did to make his money,
He was the son of the family that owned the construction company that built the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam amongst other small and little known projects....

but I'm sure he was smart enough to set something up like a corporation or non-profit.
He DID. The entire museum is in a TRUST. I don't know how she wrested control but she did. Don't know if you're in CALIFORNIA or not, but you can always go there for yourself. My friend came back a few weekends ago and he confirmed that a lot of the vehicles that are in the PICS the I took a few years ago are now gone. And the pics I took, I only got to photograph ONE BUILDING!!!!!! There were at least TWO OTHER Massive buildings that I couildn't photograph because the lights were off, but I got to wander through a massive room FILLED with armored vehicles via the light of my flashlight (and 'some' light from a skylight on the other side of the hall).

Oddly enough, there's a group called The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation that appears to be in control of all that cool stuff & is a 501(c)3. Perhaps his wife is a controlling member of the foundation, but I'm skeptical.
Good for you and your skepticism. :) I will make a point of going up there and taking photographs if I can this year. I sure hope that she doesn't do what she wants, but again, I have no control over what happens there. Again, I HOPE that none of this comes to pass like you. But I am reporting what I heard. That's all. But to be realistic, without Jacques running things, I fully expect things to come crashing down....

[gewehr44]

Well fuck, perhaps I'm more in denial than skeptical. :verymad:

Unfortunately, I'm on the opposite side of the country because I would love to visit that place especially if its going to disappear soon.

[HDR]

If he set up a trust then the trust takes over; if he was foolish and gave her the "power" then she can do as she wishes.

They say he who dies with the most toys wins..

[00RedZX-6R]

I will buy all of those toys at scrap prices.

Just let me get a truck

[Schuetzenman]

I will buy all of those toys at scrap prices.

Just let me get a truck

I think you will need a fleet of trucks.

[gewehr44]

Out of the blue I decided to do some searching & came up with a post over at the Actung Panzer! forum that seems more positive. Somebody there claims that Littlefield's children technically own the tanks & they are on permanent loan to the museum. They may have to begin fundraising at some point to support their operations.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=503807

Another interesting thread is that the Polish government is investigating the Panther tank that was restored as to whether it was properly exported out of the country.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501277

[Partisan1983]

God I wish I was rich.....



I'm so sick and tired of retarded fuckers pulling out in front of me and not getting up to speed....


If I were rich.......I'd love too just plow into those fuckin oxygen thieves....