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**juvatwad** · 12-30-2008, 12:48 AM

Repro buttons made out of resin are readily available. Spools of original thread also show up from time to time. Lacking the latter, cotton thread of the right color can be used. It's never going to be original, so as ling as it looks good, that's OK in my book.

**BryanD** · 12-30-2008, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by PATMAN View Post

I have a couple of luft tunics I've posted that are stripped. I also have an army tunic worthy of restoration. I want to restore them and am pretty much seeking advice on the forum here in order to do it correctly from a historical perspective. I'm not out to fool anybody, but I don't want to go down to the local wally world for my thread..where might I find correct thread for the army tunic and then the luftwaffe as well? One of the luft tunics is the late pattern often mistaken for tropical apparently..with the blue grey buttons and button holes.

Got to Ebay and list buttons under WWII German catagory. Original WWII buttons are always available.
Be patient. They will be listed. Original thread is the same.
If you restore use period material to do so. The stuff you need is common.
DO NOT USE REPLICA MATERIAL! It isn't necessary.

**PATMAN** · 02-17-2009, 03:47 PM

Thanks for the input: update

As on my m36 army tunic in the SS forum, I thought it'd be fun to share the progress as I go along since you guys were kind enough to offer your advice and knowledge to me.
So far, I found thread on ebay as you've suggested but haven't had any luck as a high bid on any yet, there seem to be many packages floating around with several rolls and that seems a better deal than the 40 or so dealers are asking for a single roll. I'm taking my time.
Overall, I haven't done much with this tunic other than hunt thread. The buttons are all there on this particular one, although I picked up another that must have belonged to Frankenstein as it is so big! It has none and seems to be some converted item.
This is a nice stripped example of the post 1940 issue fliegerbluse. I say post 1940 because it clearly once displayed the luftwaffe breast eagle as you can see in the photo. The collar tabs were there also and the outline is visible. The insignia has been stripped as have the loops and buttons for the shoulder boards. However all other buttons seem to be present, including the four large button up front buttons, the two smaller ones near the collar, the interior buttons for the pocket with period sewn repairs and the bandage pocket. The cuff is displayed so you can see that while it has been sewn shut per the soldier's preference, the buttons are still present there also. Both pocket flaps have their buttons also. The tunic measures from neck to bottom front 23 inches and from the back of the collar to the same is 29 inches. Armpit to armpit measures 19 inches with the waist at 16 inches from belthook eyelits one to each other. The sleeves measure 24 inches long. There are three finger size holes under the left armpit. These are not visible unless you raise the sleeve and search. This one will display very well, looks slim, very fitted look.

Question: Is it likely this has been dyed? It is very dark, moreso in artificial lighting than sunlight as the pics show.

**Scott A. Hess** · 02-19-2009, 07:17 PM

Period thread can be found all over the place, its not uncommon, andyou can find most any shade of grey/green etc you need, blacks to tans, to olive, its all out there if you need to restore a piece. The question and debate which reigns supreme is should this even be done. To each his own, I have no problem with it as long as it is disclosed when sold, and affix the items where possible with hand sewing so they come off easy if you sell it and the person says strip it. tough call, but you will find opinions on both ends of the spectrum and in the middle as well, when all is said and done, its yoru money that your spending to own the stuff, be happy with it and enjoy it, in whatever form that takes, just dont pass the restored tunics on to others as untiouched pieces, however, that being said, one never 100 percent knows how the piece was before you purchased it, its a minefield, and unless you have apic of your germania ss panzer wrapper like Wolfe with the article in the paper fromthe 40's, you may never truely know how the piece looked on May 8th 1945.

**PATMAN** · 02-19-2009, 07:46 PM

I totally agree

Originally posted by Scott A. Hess View Post

Period thread can be found all over the place, its not uncommon, andyou can find most any shade of grey/green etc you need, blacks to tans, to olive, its all out there if you need to restore a piece. The question and debate which reigns supreme is should this even be done. To each his own, I have no problem with it as long as it is disclosed when sold, and affix the items where possible with hand sewing so they come off easy if you sell it and the person says strip it. tough call, but you will find opinions on both ends of the spectrum and in the middle as well, when all is said and done, its yoru money that your spending to own the stuff, be happy with it and enjoy it, in whatever form that takes, just dont pass the restored tunics on to others as untiouched pieces, however, that being said, one never 100 percent knows how the piece was before you purchased it, its a minefield, and unless you have apic of your germania ss panzer wrapper like Wolfe with the article in the paper fromthe 40's, you may never truely know how the piece looked on May 8th 1945.

I feel the same way about restoring them. My old point of view was to have nothing resewn, no groups broken up, etc. A real purist. But starting over and with a smaller budget this time, plus an extraordinarily competitive marketplace for these items I have changed that view mostly from necessity. Having said that, That's why I posted this. I think if we do restore tunics and give a documented step by step accounting for what was done and how it was done, there is a record floating around in cyberspace of every step of the restoration.

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