Two-tone Gold/Silver EK1 ?

[Luft62]

Hi All,
I have this Imperial EK1 that has a gold coloured beading but a silver outer frame.
In this pic it looks like the outer frame is showing through "gold" but it just a trick of the scan and a reflection (not the greatest of images).

I can make out some gold colour where the black core is chipped or thin and it would appear that the core is brass (non magnetic).
It is quite noticable when beside another "normal" imperial EK and would have looked even more so when new I imagine.

It is unmarked and the hinge is of the type found on later war EK1s.

I thought all EK1s had to basically Black and Silver?
So is this some fantasy piece?
If "genuine" is it a normal presentation piece or private purchase?
Who made these gold/silver framed EK1s?

Any information would be much appreciated!

[Tiger 1]

Tim,

A couple of questions.

Can you post a picture of the reverse?

Is this cross the standard three piece constuction or is it a one piece strike?

[CRBeery]

Luft 62,
I have an EK2 that has a similar frame. When I bought it I just thought it was a brass frame with wear to the beading. The next time I get my collection out I will look more closely at it. I know it is a three piece. I do not know if it is magnetic.

CRBeery

[JensF.]

The front looks good, but we need a pic of the reverse. Is the inner frame frosted? Maybe the "frosting" got this strange gold colored patina. Have you checked the core? Is it magnetic?

[Luft62]

Hi all,
Here is a pic of both front and back of this EK1. It is 3 piece and
non-magnetic.



After a bit of research, I discovered a reference to these EK1s in "The Iron Time" and apparently these were "higher end" private purchase pieces, where the gold/silver effect was purely for decoration.

The example pictured in "The Iron Time" would appear to be exactly the same as mine.

Tom; the beading has no traces of silver at all, just as the outer frame has no traces of "gold". It would all appear to be done (which seems to be confirmed by "The Iron Time") so as to "enhance" the overall appearance of the cross by having gold beading and a silver outer boarder - not just a case of wear to silver-plated brass beading.

[Tom Y]

I can see 2 possibilities. Either the silver has toned to a gold color or the frame is plated brass ans has worn on the beading. I have examples of both in my collection. Is the color the same between the beads? If not, considering the brass core #2 seems more likely.

[Luft62]

Hi All,
Sorry, I had some trouble adding the pic that included the reverse view but now all is okay!
See my above posting.

[JensF.]

Looks like a cross made in the 30s with this type of pinback. They sometimes had brass cores and even brass frames. I have an EKII of this type. I think your cross is genuine and rare. The backplate seems not to be made from brass.

[Luft62]

Hi all,

On the top of page 199 of "The Iron Time" by Stephen Thomas Previtera there is an EK1 pictured that would appear to be identical both front and reverse of this one.

The caption to this picture says:
"Gold and Silver combined on one 1914 First Class, adding another dimension to the varieties encountered with this, the most diverse of all Iron Crosses. A special feature here, is the brass insert painted over with black enamel, just enough to reveal gold highlights to the crown and other details. The hinge attachment to the backplate points to late war manufacturing. No marks."

The illustration in "The Iron Time" much more clearly shows the distinct gold beading and gold colouring down to the "step" which seperates the gold beaded section from the final outer silver border.
It also shows almost exactly the same amount of "gold" highlights to both the crown and the "W".

[Tiger 1]

Tim,

I'm a bit sceptical of Steve Privetera's description. I am under the impression that the regulations for the construction of the Imperial Iron Cross specified that the cross would be of silver and blacken iron to represent purity and strength. The ribbon is also of black and white(silver) to represent the Prussian colors.

"Custom" features as changing the colors of a State award would be similar to changing the US Purple Heart from purple enamel to red just because it would look snazzier. Or for that matter the very rarely seen blue metal flake version of the Poure le Merit. ;>)

With no disrespect to the Iron Times author, there are quite a few descriptions of items shown in the book that do not bear up under scrutiny. Much credit is due to this very beautiful visual reference but care is needed in accepting everything that is written. I think many of these discrepencies were previously discussed here.

IMO the end result that we are seeing after many years, is a cross that has the surface worn or purposely removed on the high spots to reveal the brass base metal underneath. I have several similar examples in my collection where the finish is worn and the coloring is different. This would not mean that it originally came that way. Look at the thread "Round 3 EKs" posted by George L on 10-08-02.

These two toned crosses are definately legit but for different reasons than stated in the Iron Time.

Just some thoughts.

[Luft62]

Hi Tiger 1,

I agree that certain descriptions in "The Iron Time" may well be not 100% correct, but in the case of this EK1 I do not think its colouring is caused by a combination of wear and age.

I will have to get the cross out of storage and get some decent pics of it.

On this cross the border is silver only for the very outside flat edge to the "step" from then on it is a gold colour which includes the beading and the remainder of the border down to the black enamel. This is no "line" between silver and gold that has occured because of wear, but rather is a razor sharp edgle created by the top of the "step" on the border. There is absolutely NO traces of silver on any part of the border that is gold in colour (and visa versa).

I am thinking that perhaps this cross may be a two piece cross and not three piece. With the back plate also forming the outer silver edgle and the brass centre section set within that border.
The centre section is then painted as per a normal EK (with, or without highlights to the crown and "W" !).
This would explain the difference of finishes in the border. I will either prove or disprove this theory when I get the cross again (tomorrow at latest).

The above theory is the easiest way I can explain the differences in finishes on the border (the outer silver border shows no signs of being simply a coating or plating but rather appears to be a silver metal - deep scratches still silver) without actually having the cross in my hands.

(I now feel like leaving work early and going to get it to solve this mystery immediately!)