A Rare Dark Collar Tunic

[David H]

Getting back on topic, I have an unbadged closed gray collar tunic dated "II L" with white piping along the cuffs. That date code is 1987, yes? Can someone tell me what the story is with this thing before I do anything to it?Steve

Actually there is no mystery on that one the 'L' code was used for 1973 and 1987 so if you tunic is a dark collar then it is fine and made in 1973

[Collectinsteve]

Woohoo! Thanks David H for that bit of info. Confusing, but I suppose that was the intention of the system.

Well, at least I didn't lose a bunch of money on the tunic. Now I have to figure out what should go on it so I don't wind up with something like Michael has. When I badge uniforms I do it to have an accurate representation for my own collection, not to fake other collectors into parting with large wads of cash.

Steve

[erovi]

After looking at the picture in more detail, I'm inclined to think that instead of an "F" it could be a "B". This could have been the result of something getting in between the clothing and the stamp. At least this would be a more logical explanation of the whole matter and therefore worth checking into.

[iannima]

I have an unbadged closed gray collar tunic dated "II L" with white piping along the cuffs. That date code is 1987, yes? Steve

Sorry Steve you need to be more precise than that: if it has a dark collar (as the ones posted on this thread) it is likely to be L=1973 but if the collar is the same colour as the rest of the tunic, it is likely to be L=1987. Depending on what the answer is, there can be some variation on the insignia you want to put on. It may seem very complicated but I don't think it is. Not all that much in any case.
I have tried to assemble a couple of Soviet uniforms and I have found their dress regulations and insignia bewilderingly complicated . I worked out that whilst a Major in the NVA would have only two types of shoulder boards to deal with, whichever order of dress; for the equivalent rank in the Soviet Army, there would be as many as five if not six different pairs, depending on the item of clothing etc.

[iannima]

I'm inclined to think that instead of an "F" it could be a "B".

I must confess, they are DEFINITELY "F" for me.

[SanderMan]

What an absolutely bizarre tunic! I can imagen this fellow would've got some beef from his superiors for wearing a different kind of tunic!

[Mike G.]

The point I was trying to make was .....

All insignia on the Hauptfeldwebel Tunic upon inspection would appear to be factory applied. Yet we as knowledgeable collectors know everything about this Tunic is wrong, and this Tunic could not possibly exist in the real DDR / NVA world. Therefore, factory application of insignia is not always proof a Tunic is legitimate.

Wish it were so - but it ain't.

[Collectinsteve]

Matteo,

It's the same type as Michael's, closed dark gray collar. So I think it's safe to assume "L" = 1973 in this case.

Michael,

I know I learned a lot from your posting. I also agree with you, and others, that the apparent factory application is quite the head scratcher. Definitely not something one sees every day

Well, at the very least you have a very nice looking piece of expensive gray cloth! Personally, I'm still glad I got into uniform collecting just after the Wall came down. No $450 Strichtarn uniforms in my collection

Steve

[uscob]

Fake mistake? The value of dark collar tunics sure is an invitation to produce them. Materials, machinery and know how is readily available, so why not consider it a high probability?

This site (http://nva.4mg.com/) helps me get an idea of prices as well as what is being reproduced.

Puhhh, these are prices. My customers will kill me if I'll ask 4.95 for a Shoulderboards "S" or "F". Maybe I have to raise the prices.
Also funny to see bundeswehr Stuff marked as NVA.
Nico

[Rev462]

[quote=Michael D. Gallagher;3994564]Here is something interesting I did not pick up on first time round.
The stamp inside this Tunic indicates it is constructed of Dederon (Gabardine). It is of course constructed of wool.

Mike,

"Dederon" is the name of the fiber, a type of nylon, used to make the tunic fabric. It does not designate whether the material is "Kammgarn" (i.e., gabardine) or "Streichgarn" (wooly). Both enlisted & officer uniforms contained Dederon.

"Dederonhaltig" simply means something like "contains Dederon".

In the early days (1956 to approximately 1963) the fiber was called "Perlon". Both enlisted and officer uniforms were marked "Perlonhaltig."

They changed the name of the fiber from "Perlon" to "Dederon" because of some kind of copyright dispute over the name. The name "Perlon" was copyrighted in West Germany. I'm not sure how an Eastern Bloc company could get into legal trouble by infringing a Western copyright, but apparently that was the concern.

[Mike G.]

Hi Rick,

Matteo also provided me with some insight on the term Dederon. I obviously misunderstood its use.

Thanks for the additional information.