Pour Le Merite

[torstenbel]

Hi Guys, I assume this is a bad one and I hope that you are able to tell from this back of the reverse side only? Is it a bad one? Cheers, Torsten.

[medalnet]

This looks like the 1957 type made by Steinhauer & Lück.

[torstenbel]

This looks like the 1957 type made by Steinhauer & Lück.

so, that would make it a semi-official kind of piece and not just a cheap copy for the mass market? Cheers, Torsten.

[medalnet]

so, that would make it a semi-official kind of piece and not just a cheap copy for the mass market? Cheers, Torsten.

That depends what you consider not cheap . I believe those went always for about 200 to maybe 350?!

...and, yes it is an official piece, but unfortunately not from the not to interesting timeperiode.

[Les]

That depends what you consider not cheap . I believe those went always for about 200 to maybe 350?!

...and, yes it is an official piece, but unfortunately not from the not to interesting timeperiode.

I agree with Andreas that this is probably one of the S&L made items. These first appeared on the "market" at the same time the 1957 TR medals were being made and were still in stock by S&L for some time afterwards, or at least through the 1960's. The item was sold in a plain black rectangular box similar to the case for the TR Ritterkreuz, was completely unmarked, and could be bought by -anyone- for US$40 when they were first sold. (I have one in it's original case.) Les

[torstenbel]

Les and Andreas, thank you very much... I don't think that I will ever get my hands on an effordable WW1 period made PLM and so, I will probably take up the offer I got for this one...Les, would you be able to post pics of the correct case to go with this one ...??...and would anyone know of anyone who has got such a case spare at the moment? Cheers, Torsten.

[Les]

Les and Andreas, thank you very much... I don't think that I will ever get my hands on an effordable WW1 period made PLM and so, I will probably take up the offer I got for this one...Les, would you be able to post pics of the correct case to go with this one ...??...and would anyone know of anyone who has got such a case spare at the moment? Cheers, Torsten.

Torsten, I can't post photos to this Forum, but if you send me an email address by PM, I'll send you some photos of what the case (and S&L medal) look like. I haven't seen a case for the S&L copy by itself floating around. I was lucky enough to get mine from the original owner. Les

[torstenbel]

PM sent...

[torstenbel]

Les was kind enough to email the following details, as well as some pics of his PLM and case...here are his message and his pics...thanks again Les...

Torsten,

Here's three views of the case. There is no press-catch at the bottom end
of the case, and it remains closed by a friction or snug fit. The size of
the case is a little shorter than the RK case copies on the market , and a
little bit wider than the RK version. The hinge is brass. The case is
covered with ersatz leatherette made from pressed black paper, and the box
is very light-weight.

If you need larger photos or better ones, please let me know. I cropped the
size of the two exterior views down in case you have a slow Internet
connection. I left the photo of the medal inside the box as is, so you
could get some of the details of the S&L copy. The quickest way to spot one
of these is by looking for the last two connected letters in POU=R.
Although this version was made over 45 years ago, it's arguably still the
best copy of the market.

I hope these help.

Regards,

Les

[torstenbel]

Les's box...

[torstenbel]

and Les's box again...