EK2 with Spange KO

[Don D.]

In the 2nd quarter 1916 (April-June) following Iron Crosses 2nd class were delivered to the General-Ordenskommission in Berlin:

A.Berliner Firmen:

Kluge & Co., Hofjuweliere - 23.500
Wilm, Hofjuwelier -20.000
Neuhaus & Sohn, Juweliere - 18.000
Zehn, Ordensfabrikant - 16.000
Rosenthal & Sohn, Hofjuweliere - 18.000
Wiechmann, Goldschmiedemeister -19.500
L. Werner, Hofjuwelier -17.000
Schaper, Hofgoldschmied - 19.000
Lieferungsverband für EK - 4.000

B.Auswärtige Firmen:

Klein & Quenzer, Fabrikanten in Oberstein - 29.000
Hofstätter, Gravier- und Prägeanstalt in Bonn - 4.500
Heinrich Schneider, Hofjuwelier in Leipzig - 1.000
B.H.Mayer, Hofkunstprägeanstalt in Pforzheim -4.000
Meyle & Mayer, Fabrikanten in Pforzheim -2.000
Bury & Leonhardt, Hofjuweliere in Hanau -3.500

During the same period following 1st classes were delivered:

Sy & Wagner, Hofgoldschmiede - 1800 Stück
J.Wagner & Sohn, Hofjuweliere - 2700 Stück
Gebr. Friedländer, Hofjuweliere - 1900 Stück
Godet & Sohn, Hofjuweliere - 1100 Stück
J.H.Werner, Hofjuweliere - 500 Stück


In 1924 the GOK still had in stock
- 408.241 Iron Crosses 2nd class
-more than 160 kilometers of ribbon for the 2nd class

Regards
CSForrester

There sure are some prominant manufacturers missing from the EK2 list. Namely all the ones listed as making EK1s.

[CSForrester]

Sorry, my mistake. I forgot to list the number of 2nd classes produced by those firms, which also produced 1st classes. So the numbers from April -June 1916 were:

Sy & Wagner, Hofgoldschmiede: 26.500
Johann Wagner & Sohn, Hofjuweliere: 25.000
Gebrüder Friedländer, Hofjuweliere: 25.500
Godet & Sohn, Hofjuweliere: 22.000
J.H.Werner, Hofjuweliere: 22.000

The price for a 1st class paid by the prussian state was 7,- Mark, for a 2nd class 4,- Mark for the firms in and around Berlin, 3,25 Mark for firms outside Berlin.
A case for the 1st class was 3,- Mark and 14 meters of ribbon for the 2nd class in 1914 22,- Mark, in 1916 17,20 Mark.

Regards
CSForrester

[Don D.]

Thanks for the clarification and additional info.

[Ammersee]

In 1924 the GOK still had in stock
- 408.241 Iron Crosses 2nd class
-more than 160 kilometers of ribbon for the 2nd class

Regards
CSForrester

With almost half a million EK's unissued in 1924 it would seem that a great number of them would have survived until today. I don't see unissued crosses that are new in the box very often. Were there that many sold between 1924 and 1945?

And the ribbon...what happened to 160 km of ribbon? Were some of the crosses and ribbon destroyed in WW2? It's hard to believe that much ribbon was sold and used between WW1 and WW2.

With those numbers it just seems like new in the box crosses and ribbon should be more common. Ammersee

[CSForrester]

There are some facts in the sources that most of the Iron Crosses which survived the war were destroyed and melted in the late 1920s. That was quite normal, Silver was rare and the Weimar Republic needed money.
The same happened to about 6.000 Iron Crosses of 1870 which were given back to the GOK. Around 1900 they were destroyed and the silver melted in the Berlin Mint. I am afraid the ribbons came also in the cloth mill (dont know the correct english term) like thousands of badges, shoulderboards after World War I.

Regards
CSForrester