EK I marked 800 with unusual case

[EK Hunter]

Hello again everyone,

Today I received this cased 1914 EK I, maker marked 800. It was an eBay purchase. The cross looks pretty good. But to my surprise the interior of the case is not slotted to accommodate the hinge/pin assembly. Instead the plush inner surface appears to be recessed and padded while the outer edges are raised. Please check out these images:

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...dEKI800003.jpg

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...dEKI800005.jpg

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...dEKI800009.jpg

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...EKI800b001.jpg

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...EKI800b006.jpg

I've never seen a EK I case interior like this one and I find that it does not hold the EK in place well allowing it to wobble somewhat. Not too mice in my opinion.

Has anyone seen a case interior like this before? Is it as unusual as I think it is?

I have 7 days to examine this set before I decide to return it and I'm wondering if it's a keeper or not.

By the way, what's the current collector's market value for cased EK Is at the moment?

As always I'd welcome your opinions and feedback. Thanks.

Best,

EK Hunter

[Mike Kenny]

I have not seen an insert like that in an EK1 case before. Even EK2 cases normally had an impression of the cross to fit into. The outer decal looks OK, and the case looks old. The insert looks more like it fits a table medal, although some of the edges do not look well formed. I'm thinking the lower insert might have been lost and replaced - either that or the case may simply not be for an EK, but maybe instead some sort of patriotica. If it is genuinely for an EK1, it would be very unusual.

Regards
Mike

[EK Hunter]

Thanks for your comments Mike. Whatever the case it appears the case has held something with a hard and narrow pin-like shape for quite some time because of the clear indentation in the center of the plush interior. So apparently it was used for storing an EKI. But whether it was originally meant for this purpose is now a big question because of your observations.

I hope others on the Forum will weigh in with their thoughts as well.

Thanks again,

EK Hunter

[Montgomery Burns]

can you lift the inlet out ? and turn it around ?

(don't do nothing if it is glued tight of course )



regards kay

[EK Hunter]

Actually that had already occurred to me Kay. But it seems to be glued in place rather well. So I don't dare try to force it out.

Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Best,

EK Hunter

[VtwinVince]

Case and cross are definitely period, with the insert modified for whatever reason. I like the set

[EK Hunter]

You know, it occurs to me that the insert may have been originally designed to accommodate an EKI with a screw plate or other similar kind of fastening device. But as can be seen by the pronounced vertical indentation in the interior's center, it ended up housing a cross with a standard hinge/pin/clasp device.

This seems plausible, doesn't it?

Best,

EK Hunter

[Mike Kenny]

Anything could have happened in the last 90 years. I obtained an EK1 in a definite EK2 case (button type clip case with EK2 impression and section for ribbon). It's been there a while though (5 years? 50 years? who knows) and the pin has left an impression, but it is definitely and obviously not original to the case.

I think the origins of your set can only be speculated.

Regards
Mike

[EK Hunter]

Well in my opinion the case is certainly period and was meant to house an EKI. That much I think we can all agree on. Now given the wide variety and shapes of fastening devices that exist for 1914 EKIs, it stands to reason that there would be a variety of interior case designs out there as well. The only problem is that in more than ten years of collecting imperial EKs, this is the first time I've come across such a case. So I'm hoping someone will come forward eventually to confirm I'm not the only collector who has one of these!

Best,

EK Hunter

[EK Hunter]

Here are some additional and better images of the set in question.

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN9147.jpg

http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/DSCN9148.jpg

Best,

EK Hunter

[streptile]

I've seen that case type with an EK2 in it.



PS If you enclose your image url in these brackets: [img] [/img] then it shows up here.

[Brian S]

Like this!




Could be a general purpose case from that manufacturer. The purple for the EKI makes sense.

[EK Hunter]

Thanks Trevor and Brian.

Best,

EK Hunter