Luftwaffe Collection, Part 2

[Mike H]

This thread (Part 2) will feature some badges, insignia, and headgear.

The first few photos are of an Officer's visor cap which was made by Clemens Wagner. It came in its original cardboard box and the old tissue paper is still present in the interior. I hope to take some better pictures --- but these will get you started.

Mike Heuer

[Mike H]

Clemens Wagner continued ...

Here is a view of the insignia on the front of the hat. What first strikes you --- and which makes fakes so readily apparent --- is the quality and tightness of the bullion insignia. Look at this eagle --- closely trimmed around the edges and almost welded to the front of the hat and no stitching showing at all. This must have been CW's highest grade hat.

Mike

[Mike H]

And the interior ...

Here is a shot of the interior --- note the tissue.

Mike

[Mike H]

A tag

Here is a shot of a tag that was underneath the sweatband of the CW and typical (my General's visor has this as well). It talks about the stiffener and the weather limits on the cap.

Mike

[Mike H]

An EREL

Here is an Officer's visor made by EREL in the "EXTRA" grade quality. Again, insignia is very tight and well trimmed.

Mike

[Mike H]

Wreath closeup

A closeup photo of the wreath on the EREL EXTRA class. Here the typical EREL vented cockade is readily apparent. On the interior there is a metal grommet where the cockade vents into the interior.

Mike

[Mike H]

A Max Lindner

Here is an Officer's visor by a maker which doesn't get much attention --- Max Lindner of Munich. I like the shape of this cape with the rakish look. It is very lightweight and this particular example had a strip of original German newspaper placed underneath the sweatband for a better fit.

Mike

[Mike H]

White Top Enlisted

Here is a mint condition example of a white top enlisted visor which was never issued. This one is a size 57 and the size tag is still attached to the rear of the hat which you will see in the photos as well as the tissue in the interior once again.

Mike

[Mike H]

Another

Another view of the same white top visor.

Mike

[Mike H]

Size tag

And finally the size 57 tag on the rear of the hat.

Mike

[Mike H]

Now to the General's

I featured a photo of this hat as seen in the curio cabinet in the Part 1 thread. This is a General's visor made by Clemens Wagner. It is the same exact hat that is featured on the front of the Jill Halcomb headgear book, "Headgear of Hitler's Germany".

While not as in good of condition as my other CW hat, this one readily makes the fakes stand out with the quality of the construction of the hat as well as the beautiful, though toned, bullion insignia. I prefer the bullion over the celleon.

Mike

[Mike H]

Another view

More on the General's.

Mike

[Mike H]

Insignia

The bullion insignia on the CW hat.

Mike

[Mike H]

An Officer's M43

Here is the tough one to find --- an Officer's M-43. I could never figure this out as there are so many photos of the guys wearing them. As I mentioned in Part 1, I was lucky enough to get this one from Bill Shea of the Ruptured Duck. The hat is stone mint. It features a partial leather sweatband in the interior front, which I like in these hats. A closeup will follow of the insignia.

Mike

[Mike H]

M43 Closeup

Here is a closeup of the bullion insignia --- I also think you can get some sense of the quality of the hat material as well here. It is very fine doeskin wool.

Mike