A Request

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Well, actually, two to be precise.

I have recently 'liberated' an early BGS green collar tunic from a life of servitude as a faux SS garment. If you want to see it whilst still in bondage check this link (it's item #35, if you don't recognise it's parentage):-

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=639497

It's a nice one. Named and without any major damage (or BGS insignia - as you would guess).

This is the reason for my request. The SS insignia appears to have been glued to the tunic (then sewn in place). Anyone got any clues on how to remove 20+ year old dried glue? I've applied Shellite (with some success), but want to know if anyone 'out there' has a better idea. I ask this because I believe, once cleaned of the glue residue, this will make a nice display tunic.

Which brings me to request #2. As I said, all the insignia is long gone. You can still see where the crescent and arm patch were (sewn through the lining, I might add), but the shoulders pose an interesting problem. They appear to have never been opened, ie. no evidence of sewn-in boards - ever. So here's my request: Anyone 'out there' got a spare pair of schulterklappen mit lasche? I'm looking at doing this as a low rank, so Meister and above is not what I'm after. A matched or near matched pair would be my preference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me if you can help. Payment by Paypal as a 'gift' option if I can obtain the 'boards.

N

[Guardian 5]

N,

Many years ago I bought a big bag of BGS insignia removed from tunics on Manion's.

I'll see what I have left. If I have anything you need, you can have it for free. My one condition is that you post lots of pics of your restoration for everyone to see.

The same goes for anyone else trying to restore a BGS tunic.

Send me a PM with your snail mail address.

All the best,
TJ

[Nachrichten]

N,

Many years ago I bought a big bag of BGS insignia removed from tunics on Manion's.

I'll see what I have left. If I have anything you need, you can have it for free. My one condition is that you post lots of pics of your restoration for everyone to see.

The same goes for anyone else trying to restore a BGS tunic.

Send me a PM with your snail mail address.

All the best,
TJ

I remember the bag. You showed it it in the BGS thread.

Thanks for the offer TJ. As always, you are a gentleman.

I was going to take my first 'series' of photographs today. If all goes to plan, I hope to have it completed within a month (I'm pro-active). It was always intended as a base for my early BGS field gear to be displayed, so I can live with some imperfections.

Before anyone says it (about the sew-in boards) I'll make two comments:-

1. I'm not a tailor and my fingers do bleed; and

2. http://www.hotdogandsodacompany.de/h...dienstanzüge/

I'll go for the second style depicted on the website.

N

[Nachrichten]

Anyone got any suggestions on the glue dilemna?

N

[Nachrichten]

TJ,

As requested (and promised), with many thanks for your thoughtful suggestions (and insignia).

The dilemna revealed:-

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More of the task:-

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Finally, a teaser of what is to come:-

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As always, comments and suggestions are most welcome. There are loops present on the left chest pocket. They appear to have been 'professionally' added (either that, or the person who converted this tunic to mock 3R knew a little of the art of tailoring):-

Any suggestions as to what badge may have been there on a BGS tunic circa 1974?

N

[uscob]

I would go for a Sports Badge in this Case.

[Nachrichten]

I would go for a Sports Badge in this Case.

Hi Nico,

A good suggestion. Anyone have one for sale?

I'm also now looking for a pair of shoulderboard buttons. All the ones I have (BW buttons, that is) are too big.

TJ, the insignia you sent arrived. It's fantastic.

The cleaning continues. Next stop ................... the tailoring lady.

N

[Guardian 5]

N,

Glad to hear the goods have arrived.

Upon surveying the damage up close, I commend you for taking on such a challenge.

I must say however, that the "next stop tailoring shop" phrase is quite a teaser...

I can't wait to see the results.

All the best,
TJ

[Nachrichten]

N,

Glad to hear the goods have arrived.

Upon surveying the damage up close, I commend you for taking on such a challenge.

I must say however, that the "next stop tailoring shop" phrase is quite a teaser...

All the best,
TJ

I have a 'rescuer' obsession. I've retrieved other BGS garments from being faux WW2 items. As I progress this thread, I'll illustrate some of my other rescues. Most have 'scars', but they bear them well.

This is a challenge, but I think it still has/deserves a chance to be 're-born'.

TJ, thanks for the support. It's much appreciated.

N

[Collectinsteve]

Yesh, pity about the glue! If it is Elmar's glue I think you're screwed. I have a conservator friend who says it is one of the most hated substances known to them.

There's been a bunch of these, without badges, on German eBay recently. They tend to go for around $50. If you're patient the badging also comes up for sale fairly regularly.

Steve

[Nachrichten]

Yesh, pity about the glue! If it is Elmar's glue I think you're screwed. I have a conservator friend who says it is one of the most hated substances known to them.

There's been a bunch of these, without badges, on German eBay recently. They tend to go for around $50. If you're patient the badging also comes up for sale fairly regularly.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Thanks to TJ and my spares box, the insignia is not an issue.

This is a project, so I'm going to experiment a bit here. Besides, I like a challenge.

Was Elmer's last name Fudd?

N

[Gordon Craig]

Nachrichten,

In my experience, I have never found anything that will remove the glue. It sinks right into the fabric. Medal loops are not hard to make once you have studied authentic ones. I would measure the distance between the top of one loop and the bottom of the other. If it is 40mm then a Sports Badge would fit. If not, then it was probably done for a German badge when the fake insignia was added.

Regards,

Gordon