Hat/Tunic Combo

[RedBaran11]

Genossen,
As mentioned before I bought this cap (it should finally be in my possession very shortly!)


And as it would be there is currently a tunic I'm dead set on acquiring. What I would like to know is if/when I get the tunic,, would the cap above be acceptable with this 1960 dated tunic, with white piping on the tunic and yellow on the insignia?

[Mike G.]

Very odd. That Tunic, if dated 1960, should be color-piped.

While the hat you are asking about would be correct for the date about which you are inquiring, it is almost always worn with the Dienst Tunic, and normally would not be right for wear with a Parade Tunic.

That being said, I'm still puzzled by the date in the Tunic example shown.

[RedBaran11]

Hello Michael,
This early stuff has been until now something I have never really added to my collection- I suppose after 5 years on the hobby I should start I've always wanted to but lacked funds.

As I understand it color piped tunics were worn from 1956 to what, 1960 or 1961?

So perhaps it was produced in 1960 destined to be an infantry tunic, but by time it was actually issued (sometime between 1960 and 1965 most likely?) the color piping had been done away with.

Or maybe it was sadly once a color piped tunic and was shaved and piping reapplied?

Those are my theories.

[cabbell2207]

Love the early tunics, Iv'e seen a few at alocal gun shows but didn't know enough to buy one.

[RedBaran11]

Love the early tunics, Iv'e seen a few at alocal gun shows but didn't know enough to buy one.

Hallo Genosse,
Whereabouts in Ohio do you live? I'm in Columbus.

[Mike G.]

Color-piped Visor Hats sometimes were shaved and then white piping reapplied. Never heard of it being done to a Tunic and doubt it would work anyway. The reapplied piping would not stay fixed to a Tunic in wear, the way it would to a Visor Hat. Would not be cost effective either.

This example is a bit of a mystery.

Perhaps Rick C. or David H. upon coming across this thread can comment on their thoughts.

[RedBaran11]

Hmm, I have already bid on it, was that maybe not a wise thing to do?

[Mike G.]

No, I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying the Tunic has me puzzled.

There are anomalies that pop up pursuant the DDR all the time. This could be one. I've not encountered an example like this one before, that is all. That is why I'm eagerly awaiting a response from Rick or David.

The Tunic doesn't look like it has been altered or played with. I'm just not sure about the information that appears on the inside label.

I'd like to hear more from some sources I know and trust.

This forum continues to be a great learning source for me as well.

[Mike G.]

I think what we might have here is a Tunic that is a Color-piped Infantry Tunic, on which someone has added Signal's Insignia.

I think that would explain what is puzzling me.

[RedBaran11]

Here are some more pictures from the item description. Perhaps they will help?

[RedBaran11]

I think what we might have here is a Tunic that is a Color-piped Infantry Tunic, on which someone has added Signal's Insignia.

I think that would explain what is puzzling me.

Hmm, well, the bid is currently at 199 Euro, Is that too much then? Is it soemthing I should try to stay clear of? I thought it was maybe just an infantry color piped tunic as well, issued after the change to all white piping on the tunic itself.

Sorry, this earlier stuff is all new to me

[Mike G.]

It could just be me, but the thread on the Cuff Bars and on the Collar Insignia to me appears to be silver thread and not silver wire.

Unfortunately, it is a photo and I don't have it in my hands.

[Mike G.]

Justin,

The Tunic itself if dated 1960 as it appears to be, still would be an example of Color-piped Tunic. It is just piped in white instead of one of the other branch colors because it is Infantry.

They generally don't go for as much as a non-Infantry branch color-piped Parade Tunic, but do go for more than your standard table-fare dark collar tunics because they are color-piped just the same.

Were that a color-piped Signal's Parade Tunic, you, I and everyone on this forum would be in line at a bank trying to take out a loan so we could bid on it.

[RedBaran11]

It could just be me, but the thread on the Cuff Bars and on the Collar Insignia to me appears to be silver thread and not silver wire.

Unfortunately, it is a photo and I don't have it in my hands.

Well now I am unsure about what to do
So are you saying the insignia might not be good?

The description reads (again if this will help):

NVA Offiziers Feldbluse für Nachrichten Einheiten.Mit metall gestickten Kragenspiegeln,Ärmelpatten und Klassifizierungsabzeichen für Panzerfahrer.Schöner leicht getragener Zustand.100% Original .Käufer trägt nur Versand.Bei uns kein Kauf auf Risiko!

[Mike G.]

I understand.

I'm just passing on that the pictures (which are never as good as having the real thing in your hands) are showing what to me appear to be Cuff Bars and Collar Insignia that are sewn with silver color thread and not with braided wire.

Regardless, the Tunic based upon the date showing on the inside label, and insignia do not match. It can be yellow, or it can be white. It cannot be both.

Also, the classification badge is Armor, which also is wrong. Signal's had their own classification badge.

Does this seller currently have other NVA articles up for sale? Justin, maybe you can PM me the link. Don't worry, I won't bid against you, but I might be able to save you some hard earned cash. I have no less than three color-piped parade tunics in my collection, as well as several different Dienst Tunics also from the color-piped dark collar era.

That brings up another thing.

You are now delving into what can prove to be a very costly segment of the DDR collecting genre' - Color-piped Dark Collar era. Most stuff for sale from this period of time is very expensive. Enough so that it is worth the time and effort for not so nice people to reproduce the stuff and offer it for sale as original. So you have to really know what you are doing, or you can lose a boat-load of money real quick.

I would urge you if you really want to get into this part of DDR collecting, to set some money aside and start investing in books. They may cost a little money up front, but in the long haul, they will save you thousands of dollars. Because that is what we are talking about here ..... stuff that can cost thousands of dollars. You can walk away from a bad deal on an open collar grenztruppen tunic, with a wink and a grin. I guarantee if you get burned on color-piped dark collar era stuff, you are going to find yourself doing some serious soul-searching. You can save yourself a lot of grief by acquiring a handfull of books and arming yourself with the knowledge that will enable you to spot irregularities such as the one about which we are today conversing.

If there is still time before the auction ends, please send me the link. I'd like to see who the seller is, as well as look over his other wares. There may be inconsistencies there as well that will further serve to reinforce the suspicion the insignia is in question.