Unique EKII?

[Tom Y]

This just arrived today. An MEH 3 piece all steel EKII, but with a difference. Apparently there was a glitch in the stamping machine and the planchet was turned 180 degrees and restamped. There's a faint impression of the other details, but the dates are fairly clear. Anyone ever seen the like?

[Tony & Kaiser]

All steel? Really? Tom, is it magnetic, or was it cast white metal? I have never heard of this before? T

[Tom Y]

Yup, steel frame and steel core, both magnetic. I have a normal MEH that's the same. I think they're post-war production made to be sold cheap.

[Tony & Kaiser]

I think they're post-war production made to be sold cheap.

Tom,
I assume this is what comes out of the mould on p. 166 in "The Iron Time"? I was wondering where a solid cast EK2 would come into play, a the book shows the mould, but as far as I can tell, it does not mention them anywhere else. Interesting. T

[Eric Stahlhut]

Tom,
I assume this is what comes out of the mould on p. 166 in "The Iron Time"? I was wondering where a solid cast EK2 would come into play, a the book shows the mould, but as far as I can tell, it does not mention them anywhere else. Interesting. T

Tom's example is a three piece EK, with a very surprising core considering how relatively strict quality control was supposed to be. I've never noticed one like it before! Good score, Tom! Any chance of some clearer pics of the core? Also, is the ring on your other MEH not soldered or joined together completely like the one pictured above?

Tony, those one piece cast EKs you are referring to can be noticeably thicker
than an average EK; when you find one you'll be able to tell right away.

[Tom Y]

I've poste a couple HUGE shots: http://www.mypage.ewol.com/wildman/114O Huge.jpg
http://www.mypage.ewol.com/wildman/114R Huge.jpg They'll be slow to load, but you can see the fine details. The ring on the other MEH is joined, looks seamless. I'll post a pic of Tiger's MEH in the AM.

[Tom Y]

Here are Tony's. The EKI is one piece steel copper and then silver plated and marked 800 The 2Kl is a 3 piece all steel like mine.

[Tiger 1]

Good eye!

Tom,

Congratulations on your great find! Good eye! It pays to look closely at even the most "common" items sometimes. Very cool.

Just a slight correction.

My MEH EKI that you posted is three piece construction also. Both the EKI and the EKII are the standard three piece construction then copper flashed followed by silver plating with the core painted black. The weird thing is that the pin on the EKI is marked 800. Maybe a little subterfuge at the time of original marketing. It must of looked just as good as a genuine silver type when new. Like you said it's possibile these "steelies" may have been sold during the hard times just after the war in the twenties. Just speculating about this though. Who knows?

I'll have to look at it more closely at mine to check if there's any double strike visable.

Best regards and good hunting!

Tony

[Blitz]

An all-steel EK? Well, now we have a true Iron Cross here! Great find Tom!

[Tony & Kaiser]

I've poste a couple HUGE shots

You weren't kidding. I printed it off and am using it for a tablecloth.

I am a little confused how I would tell (by sight) if an EK2 had a steel frame, or it was a tarnished silver frame?

[Tiger 1]

"I am a little confused how I would tell (by sight) if an EK2 had a steel frame, or it was a tarnished silver frame?" [/QUOTE]


Tony,

The best way is to test the various areas with a magnet. Just be careful in not confusing the core's pull use a small magnet at the edges. Otherwise the steelies that Tom shows have a copper flash on the steel to help the silverplate adhere better.

Tony