FR and Fr

[otter76]

I am very fond of Friedlander Eks. Of course special hardware and other makers are still into my collecting field, but somehow I kind of find FR and Fr pieces to be of superb quality and simple prussian beauty

I was wondering how many different core variants have already been identified for both markings? I know 800 marked Eks have also been reckoned as Friedlanders as well.

Cheers, Alex

[gregM]

This might give some idea of the different cores

Fr--
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=263251

FR-
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=266094

[VonPeter]

Isn't "FR" still belived to be Frank & Reif?

/peter

[otter76]

Thanks Greg for the Study links. For sure a good starter.
Seems variations are more than a couple for both Fr and FR, as per Wernitz info. So I will just share three of my own with his typology.
Core Type D I am not sure about because he mentions it for WS cores, but I am most eager to think they share this one although not listed in Wernitz. Oh, and mines are all FR marked.

[gregM]

Just curious here but what is the difference between the B and C cores?

[Brian L.]

Isn't "FR" still belived to be Frank & Reif?

/peter

I always thought so.

Fr = Friedlander, Berlin

FR = Frank & Reif, Stuttgart

[Chris Boonzaier]

I called and spoke to Frank and Reif a number of years ago.... I had methusula on the phone and he was adament that they never made Imperial Iron Crosses.

I think the matching of FR and Frank and reif originates from some guy going down the list of initials and simply adding what he thinks to be logical to the list, an obvious danger in this case

best
Chris

[otter76]

Just curious here but what is the difference between the B and C cores?

Basically are both the same apart from the grained surface of the C core.

[gregM]

Thanks
I did notice that and thought it may have been just a paint issue.

[saschaw]

Isn't "FR" still belived to be Frank & Reif?

I always thought so.

Fr = Friedlander, Berlin

FR = Frank & Reif, Stuttgart

As Chris yet explained, no. Besides what he reports, this Stuttgart firm is not mentioned as a supplier in the Gerd Scharfenberg article or the Frank Wernitz book, both based on GOK archive files.

Now as both "Fr." and "FR" 1st class crosses are apparent early award types, and no other than the well known five Berlin makers were involved into official making of the EK1 until 1917, both "Fr." and "FR" must be Gebrüder Friedländer. Clear now?