[Ron Wood]

Tom A,

QUOTE]Now, how does the maker keep it from being passed off as an original after he is long dead and buried? Hate to be a party pooper but I feel that mine is a legit question.[/QUOTE]

You have posed a very good question, and as you stated, a totally legitimate question.

I feel that this craftsman fulfilled his obligation to assure that it will not be â??passed off as an original after he is long dead and buriedâ?. This individual has crafted a truly outstanding piece of work, and to his credit (God bless him) he has incorporated a number of subtle (and a couple of not so subtle) differences from the original in his recreation to assist future collectors from such subterfuge.

I appreciate the need to be honest, but it is the responsibility of the purchaser to do his â??homeworkâ? before buying anything of relative rarity. If in the future, as now, an individual obtains a reproduction or an outright â??fakeâ? without doing the necessary research to authenticate it, then he will be a graduate of the â??school of hard knocksâ?. All of us long time collectors have been stung (myself included, several times) and sometimes that is the best teacher.

If an individual expects to be â??spoon fedâ? all the pitfalls of collecting, then he/she is either indifferent to the intricacies of the hobby, or not sufficiently motivated to do the research necessary not to be bamboozled. Several members of this Forum have sought the advice of others, and thus have avoided being taken. That is what everyone should do. A warning to all collectors, if you swim with sharks, donâ??t bleed.

Tom, your point is well taken, you are not a party pooper. I hope your caution is heeded.