Soviet 3 Place Labor Medal Bar

[John F.]

Hello,

I thought I would share my new arrival. It is my latest eBay find and it just showed up in the mail today. It is a three place Soviet Labor Medal bar. The medals are not rare or a unique combination by any stretch of the imagination despite what the listing said on eBay. However what it is, is a lovely mix of ribbons, enamel and tarnished silver.

In case you are new to collecting the awards are: The Order of the Red Banner of Labor, Medal for Valiant Labor, and the Medal for Distinguished Labor.

Best,
John

[John F.]

Here is what the ribbon bar would look like.

[Dood]

Hello,
The good labour complete set of awards!
Documents are? Here one of my last purchases of labour awards.
Tapes on awards were replaced with the former owner.
http://www.md.1gb.ru/forum/viewtopic...574&highlight=

[John F.]

Hi Dood,

Unfortunately this bar has no documentation.

I love the plaid ribbons that the former owner used on your medals

[Ralph P]

John - Thanks for posting...becuase I am for sure new to Soviet awards can you show the back of the medals and ribbons...thanks.

[John F.]

Hi Ralph,

per your quest. Classic soviet pin back fastener. The serial number on the back of the Order of the Red Banner is 611071.

[Ralph P]

John – Thanks much for the follow up and picture of the back of the medals.

A question to the forum members and apologies if my question should be known and readily available in reference books. Where or who would put the medal groupings backings together? I hope my question is understandable...

[desantnik]

John – Thanks much for the follow up and picture of the back of the medals.

A question to the forum members and apologies if my question should be known and readily available in reference books. Where or who would put the medal groupings backings together? I hope my question is understandable...

Military voentorgs (like a US military PX, but much more numerous throughout the Soviet Union) could do it, as well as the individual if he purchased the excess ribbons and appropriate-placed suspension.

[R. Murray]

That's a nice grouping. I have all three of them myself. My Red Banner of Labor is serial number 787598. Do you have the Order of Labor Glory, 3rd Class? That's another nice piece. I picked up a Medal for the Restoration of The Coalmines of The Donbas on Ebay several years back.

[Ralph P]

Desantnik - Thanks for the reply and useful background information on the construction of a medal grouping. It appears it would be a bit time consuming for an individual to put together...just thinking out loud...

If sending to the voentorgs...Would you send your medals or just the ribbon backings?

Thanks again...

Military voentorgs (like a US military PX, but much more numerous throughout the Soviet Union) could do it, as well as the individual if he purchased the excess ribbons and appropriate-placed suspension.

[John F.]

It appears it would be a bit time consuming for an individual to put together...

Ralph,

Not only time consuming, but a pain in the butt as well. I replaced a worn ribbon before on a Soviet medal bar and it is not as easy as as you think it would be.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi John, nice group.

I saw a similar medal bar in a local antiques centre here in the UK but with the Order of the badge of Honour, instead of the Banner of Labour as on yours. The price almost tempted me to buy it, at £30/$60, but as it was post war I (for once) resisted.

Cheers, Ade.

[John F.]

I saw a similar medal bar in a local antiques centre here in the UK ...The price almost tempted me to buy it, at £30/$60, but as it was post war I (for once) resisted. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Ade,

You are stronger willed then I. I really didn't need or have a use for this bar I just liked the way it looked.

[desantnik]

Desantnik - Thanks for the reply and useful background information on the construction of a medal grouping. It appears it would be a bit time consuming for an individual to put together...just thinking out loud...

If sending to the voentorgs...Would you send your medals or just the ribbon backings?

Thanks again...

First, look at the attachment point of any Soviet medal on a suspension. You'll notice the suspension closes over a suspension ring (the ring which goes through the medal's top ring).

To attach the suspension ring to the suspension, open the inverted, "U" shape part (or lips) of the suspension (single- or multiple-award). Each side of the inverted "U" is flexible and with a pair of needlenose pliers you separate the "U", slide in the suspension ring, and then close the "U".

Thus, you could order your ribbon mount at the voentorg and let them do the hard part of slipping on the ribbons (comes with practice) and then at home you could apply your medals to their respective place on the suspension.

[NavyFCO]

Ralph:

If you're going to be at the ASMIC show at Ft Belvoir in Feb, and if you remind me, I'd be happy to bring up my box of ribbons and mounts and show you how they put the mounts and ribbons together. It's not terribly difficult to do. Back in the mid 90s, I used to put groups together on commission for several fellows (they'd pay for the awards, send them to me, and I'd put them together for them) and did many groups this way (God forbid now 10 years later that they're being sold as actual "groups", I'm certain.....) but after doing a few hundred of these, it's not as difficult as it might appear at first.

Dave

Desantnik - Thanks for the reply and useful background information on the construction of a medal grouping. It appears it would be a bit time consuming for an individual to put together...just thinking out loud...

If sending to the voentorgs...Would you send your medals or just the ribbon backings?

Thanks again...