Imperial Pilots Badges --> Opinions Requested

[streptile]

Hello Imperial Pilot Badge enthusiasts,

I am in the Southwest for the holidays and I stumbled almost by accident upon three beautiful badges in a local antique/curio shop.

These are so far out of my area of expertise and field of collecting that I don't know what to make of them. Two are engraved.

I believe one is a Prussian Pilot's Badge, one is Bavarian, and one is also Bavarian, but of a different sort.

Can I please have your opinions about authenticity and value? If I am to make a purchase it will have to be tomorrow before I leave, so please don't hesitate to jot a few words down.

The photos are the ones I took in the shop, and I can not get more in time to post to the forum before I leave.

Three posts to follow.

Thank you in advance!

[streptile]

Marked for C.E. Juncker. Engraved.







Is this one Prussian or Bavarian?

[streptile]

Another one, engraved. Marked for Karl Pollath







The two first together:

[streptile]

Last one, a different type. A glider badge, perhaps? Could someone help with identification, please?

A simple engraving. I believe this one is (or purports to be) a Meybauer based on the shield stamp and pin shape.

[streptile]

Finally a word on price.

I'd really appreciate some opinions about whether these prices are within range, if they are originals.

I can have any one for $1500.

Any two for $2500.

All three for $3250

Your speedy help is very, very appreciated!

[streptile]

Here's what I could manage to do with the marks from my original high-res photos.

Juncker:



Pollath:



Meybauer (?):

[Steve P]

Trevor, nice finds mate...I'd like to come by these by accident...The Juncker & Pollath Pilot Badges are definitely good IMO...They are the two piece type with a smooth back - best for engraving - and exhibit the correct air holes that allowed the gases to escape when soldering the two halves together. I believe from the MM the cutout is a Prussian Commemorative Pilot's badge (WWI equivalent of the Retired Pilot badge) is a Meybauer that looks good to me though I haven't had much experience with them and don't own one (the details and other aspects of the badge and the MM look right to me) and it's the nicest of this badge type that I've seen (though given the 925 silver content and scarcity of materials, such as silver of this purity during the war, it may be a post war example). The prices are about right IMO (you might do better if you tried but not easy to find). I would be very happy and proud to own all three.

Pics of my Bavarian and Prussian Pilots badges to compare follow.

[Steve P]

pic #2

[Steve P]

pic #3

[Steve P]

pic #4 Bavarian Pilot Badge

[Steve P]

pic #5 (Note the rayback design of the reverse differs to yours but the smooth back is equally as valid, per my Prussian Juncker)

[Steve P]

pic #6

[Mike Kenny]

Ouch.

Imo both Juncker Pilot's and both Bavarian Pilot's Badges are fakes. All share the same "notch" flaw at the lower right of the hinge recess. Haven't seen a Juncker moon+crown+800 mark I liked yet - textbook Juncker badges from veterans haven't been seen with the crown as far as I know.

As for the Meyabuer Retired Pilot's Badge, the hardware looks interesting but I don't trust those markings.

None of these are for me.

Regards
Mike

[jaba-the-hunt]

Be carefull the JUNCKER pilot badge isn't that what lokks like. I will never buy this.
The maybauer retired badge don't makes me happy but i can't rely say if OK or not.
This one should be hollow. I'm not sure if it is.

Regards Alex

[ChrisH]

iam 100% with Mike ..................
all 4 pilot are fakes !!

the Meybauer looks very fine, but not the marks , i would pass

regards Chris