Imperial Pilot Badge

[taube]

Gentlemen,

as part of a larger group, I received this badge today.
It is a Weimar period variant, I suppose?
I noticed a very small "2" on the side of the needle end.
The former owner started as an infantry man and became a pilot later in WW1.
In WW2 he was an instructor with the Luftwaffe in Southern Bavaria.
He is not unknwon but not an ace as far as I found out.

Your opinions are much appreciated.

PS:
Excuse the photo qualitiy.
My other camera is on a holiday with my better half.

Cheers,
taube.

A

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B

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C

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At a closer look, the "2" could also be a coincidential accumalation of dirt...

[90th Light]

Never seen such a badge with a "2" on the pin. Putting the number two to one side, your badge is an original. The characteristics of this badge point to "Juncker" being the maker.

Is the badge made of nickel silver ? If it is then it has every chance of being a WW1 example. This type of hollow backed badge was the norm by 1917 (They also used silvered magnetic tin/ steel). I believe however that the hollow badges were in use before 1917 especially silver nickel examples. Such hollow backed badges are often seen on tunics being worn in the field 1915 & 1916.

It could also date from the period 1920 to 1940. However, they tended to make these hollow badges out of silvered brass in that later period. Although nickel silver was also used along side brass after WW1 but probably not as often. The pin, hinge and hook on your badge are typical of examples made during WW1. They did keep using old parts after WW1 so it is impossible to be absolutely certain.

Very nice find, thank you for showing,

Chris

[taube]

Great info, Chris.
Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge.
As for the material, I can only confirm it is non-magnetic.
Is there a means to distinguish nickel from brass?
Maybe they are of different weight?

Cheers,
t.

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Some more (lousy) pics on the details...

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1376262948.626955.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1376262962.585125.jpg

[Ron P]

I would venture that it is an issue war period example. Regards, Ron.

[90th Light]

Great info, Chris.
Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge.
As for the material, I can only confirm it is non-magnetic.
Is there a means to distinguish nickel from brass?
Maybe they are of different weight?

Cheers,
t.

Hello t,

given the level of appropriate wear/ patina, it looks to be a nickel silver type on my monitor. If it was made of brass, the gold-brown would be showing on the high points by now.

Also the fact that this soldier became a pilot later in WW1. There is every chance that this is the badge he was issued 1916-18. Then again he may have got it in the 1930's and wore it on his uniform during WW2 and before. Hard to say for sure but it certainly is a type and material that was used during WW1.

Either way the nickel silver examples are the best of the hollow types in my opinion. However, I also have a very soft spot for any which are magnetic,

Chris