EK1 with locking device

[Stepdale]

Hello,
I bought this many years ago from the postal clerk where I used to mail my ebay packages. It is completely unmarked and has a magnetic core. It has a very unusual latch that comes down when the cross is pinned that secures the pin in place. I have never seen one like it before and wanted to see if anyone here had or maybe knew a maker. Also, does it look to you like it may have been repainted at sometime in the past?
Thank you,
Dale

[Stepdale]

a

[Stepdale]

b

[streptile]

Hi Dale,

It's B.H. Mayer EK1 made in the early WWII period with a custom (jeweler-added) locking device for the pin.

[Stepdale]

Thank you!

[stukapilot]

Very nice Mayer's cross!

[SCOTT G]

An interesting pin lock addition, on a very nice looking "dirty (the way I like them)" cross.
Thanks once again for taking the time to share with us Dale

[Montgomery Burns]

the dirt is paint

to me it looks like it has being over painted and the restorer didn't mind the whole cross being black ...

maybe druckerschwärze, who knows .





regards kay

[Stepdale]

Yep, it's different, but I'll leave it as is. I bought it from the postal clerk along with an wooden box with a patriotic EK theme on it. He also had another imperial EK1 with a G on the pin, which I turned down because an older collector had told me all of these were repros. Oh, how I wish I hadn't listened to him, but such is life.

Appreciate you all taking a look.
Dale