Large frame - Small core EK2 mm J

[Douglas 5]

The odd WW1 cross I get from time to time as part of 39 cross purchases .
This one very odd and or puzzling strange .
At first glance not much out of place . Ring marked with J . Very deep struck crown with pronounced bottom ring .
Some places say Juncker and others say unknown maker ?

Douglas

[Douglas 5]

Reverse shows a die crack at the top .
And to my surprize .....The core moves and moves ??

Douglas

[Douglas 5]

.... And core keeps on moving .!!
The core is so lose that it almost falls out !!
It is so small --> so why is it in the large size of frame at all ??


Douglas

[Douglas 5]

Obviously the core is too small- not meant for the frame . Hard to say ... at one time may have been soldered to the frame to keep it in place ???
The siloette shot shows the size of the gap - a knife tip fits through - and movement of the core .
If I tried I probably could pull the core out , which would bend the frame in places doing so . No indication that anyone has done this yet .

Is a small core like this common ?

Douglas

[streptile]

Hi Douglas,

Interesting cross. I can't place this frame without reference to some photos, but it seems like it might be an LDO frame. Maybe Berg & Nolte 40?

I've seen these mismatches before, but rarely. I always suspected that some makers tried to use leftover cores with the new "LDO" size frames, and this was the result. Who knows?

[Douglas 5]

When you say "LDO" size frame/ left over core ... does that indicate a WW2 assembled cross with an inter war core ? Or an inter war - private purchase/replacement WW1 cross - only with a LDO size - comparable lager frame and left over small core - assembled pre 39 ?
And the J on the ring - the same as in the pinned referance thread - Study of EK data base 1914 , page 2- post 20 to 22 ?

Douglas