bronze PAB - good find or trash?

[John Ammons]

hi guys, what do you think of this PAB? i'm sitting the fence on this one, but i THINK it might look okay... but, i'll defer to the experts. it is not maker marked. thanks, john

[Philippe DB]

Hi John,


It tries to be a Zimmermann but it isn't.

Never seen this type of copie before,close but no cigar

KR
Philippe

[John Ammons]

thanks for helping me out phillipe... can you tell me what i am not seeing when trying to tell good from bad on these?

thanks
john

Hi John,


It tries to be a Zimmermann but it isn't.

Never seen this type of copie before,close but no cigar

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

Hi John,


First and most important, but neither of us can see it, is the eagles head and I have a strong suspicion that the seller don't want us to see it.

Zimmermann for sure was the champion of reverse hardware switches but the setup on your badge was never one of them.

The badge looks like a total flatback

It looks extremely thick and the edges of the wreath are not shaped like anything I have ever seen.

The base material used to make this badge is a modern alloy

And finaly it is my opinion that this badge received special threatment to imitate sand like zink bubbling under the finish. However the clever guys making this PAB forgot to duplicate that effect on the reverse of the badge.

I think this sums up most of my concerns and I'm afraid that this is a very recent attempt to copie sc Zimmermann's. Never seen one just like this on before.

Could you tell us were you found it or who is selling it?

KR
Philippe

[John Ammons]

hi philippe,

thanks for your patience and explanations... i'm here to learn. i did not purchase the badge, but found it while loafing ebay... i have learned to mostly avoid buying anything on there, but thought this one had a chance

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2266247623&ssPage Name=STRK:MEWA:IT

thanks,
john

Hi John,


First and most important, but neither of us can see it, is the eagles head and I have a strong suspicion that the seller don't want us to see it.

Zimmermann for sure was the champion of reverse hardware switches but the setup on your badge was never one of them.

The badge looks like a total flatback

It looks extremely thick and the edges of the wreath are not shaped like anything I have ever seen.

The base material used to make this badge is a modern alloy

And finaly it is my opinion that this badge received special threatment to imitate sand like zink bubbling under the finish. However the clever guys making this PAB forgot to duplicate that effect on the reverse of the badge.

I think this sums up most of my concerns and I'm afraid that this is a very recent attempt to copie sc Zimmermann's. Never seen one just like this on before.

Could you tell us were you found it or who is selling it?

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

Hi John,


This is what an original early so called Zimmermann looks like. The catch on these badges was only used for a very short period of time.

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

reverse

[Philippe DB]

The classic sc Zimmermann set-up would have looked like this. Also notice the color on this badge. This is the only acceptable finish on early Zimmermann zinkers. Only on late war Zimmermann's a darker bronze finish was used that comes closer to what they used on the badge you posted, but than again these badges featured crimped set-ups.


KR
Philippe

[Frank Heukemes]

This fake John shows us is also a first for me.

[John Ammons]

philippe... frank,

what can i say... you guys are the best. i really appreciate your help, expertise, and patience. i continue to learn... but i'm a long way from being there.

all the best,
john