Hi, grateful for any feedback on this cap, a size 58 made by Mutzen-Fabrik Dressen, manufactured in the town of Rheydt (near Monchengladbach), and accepted at the Frankfurt Depot in 1942 (F 42).
It seems to exhibit a number of traits normally seen with this maker (zig-zag sewn insignia, the 2 widely spaced stitch lines above the peak, tan rivets, light coloured stitching etc), and is the earlier of the 2 types (either manufactured with or without a soutache, but always with a sweatband and I believe exclusively in 1942), i.e this example manufactured prior to July 1942, with the soutache subsequently removed according to the regulations of that date, either in the supply chain or in the field.
The soutache (was Artillery red) seems to me to have been removed in a non-professional manner, perhaps by a soldier in the field? A tailor might have made a better job of removal? As I understand it the sweatbands were first added at the beginning of 1942, so in theory putting this cap in the first half of 1942 for manufacture/ Depot acceptance.
Another example (formerly LeeG collection, and before that Ralph Heinz collection) of this maker was recently sold on the Virtual Grenadier site:-
https://virtualgrenadier.com/sale_item.php?iid=6045
The manufacturing traits can can be seen across the 2 caps, although the zig-zag insignia stitching is tighter on this example. WAF member Lodsworth's recent (2019) detailed study of M40 tropical caps refers to this among the 10 surviving examples known to him, where he states "their eagles and cockades are applied using wide or narrow machine zigzag-lock stitch" so I am assuming that he has viewed other examples by this maker with a similar narrow zigzag insignia application.
I have asked the seller if there is any known history with the cap and am awaiting a response.
Other than that I would say it has been worn, but have not examined it in hand yet.
Regards, Paul
It seems to exhibit a number of traits normally seen with this maker (zig-zag sewn insignia, the 2 widely spaced stitch lines above the peak, tan rivets, light coloured stitching etc), and is the earlier of the 2 types (either manufactured with or without a soutache, but always with a sweatband and I believe exclusively in 1942), i.e this example manufactured prior to July 1942, with the soutache subsequently removed according to the regulations of that date, either in the supply chain or in the field.
The soutache (was Artillery red) seems to me to have been removed in a non-professional manner, perhaps by a soldier in the field? A tailor might have made a better job of removal? As I understand it the sweatbands were first added at the beginning of 1942, so in theory putting this cap in the first half of 1942 for manufacture/ Depot acceptance.
Another example (formerly LeeG collection, and before that Ralph Heinz collection) of this maker was recently sold on the Virtual Grenadier site:-
https://virtualgrenadier.com/sale_item.php?iid=6045
The manufacturing traits can can be seen across the 2 caps, although the zig-zag insignia stitching is tighter on this example. WAF member Lodsworth's recent (2019) detailed study of M40 tropical caps refers to this among the 10 surviving examples known to him, where he states "their eagles and cockades are applied using wide or narrow machine zigzag-lock stitch" so I am assuming that he has viewed other examples by this maker with a similar narrow zigzag insignia application.
I have asked the seller if there is any known history with the cap and am awaiting a response.
Other than that I would say it has been worn, but have not examined it in hand yet.
Regards, Paul
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