marine sea-pilot badge

[TP Alexander]

Hi there,
I have an opportunity to pick this badge up. It isn't anything that I really collect, so I was wondering what you all thought of it.
Made by Meybauer.
From what I have seen of the badge, it appears that the somewhat bent needle only opens to a 45 degree angle due to either a production fault or a repair. I can't see any trace of repair though. The needle is placed half a millimeter or so too high, which stops it from folding out completely. It doesn't look like anyone has tried to force it though. A minor flaw I would think. The badge in itself is almost mint.
All opinions are very welcome.
Thanx,
Tim

[TP Alexander]

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[TP Alexander]

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[TP Alexander]

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[TP Alexander]

Sorry... Dupe pics...

[Ferg 1]

Good example and great condition. If the price is right you should snap it up. Ferg

[Jelle M.]

Wow great conditioned badge, thanks for showing.

[TP Alexander]

Thanx for the input guys!
If I get it, I may throw it on the E-Stand sometime next week.
I think I mentioned that it falls WAYYYYYY outside of my collecting interests, although it is a cool looking badge!
Tim

[TP Alexander]

Got it.
Listed it.

[TP Alexander]

Can anyone evaluate and confirm or deny this statement for me?

"The award period for these badges is from 1914 until the 1920's. The most desirable badges are from the period 1914/1918. The wartime pieces were made from silver.
It is very hard to pinpoint exactly when that badge was produced but it may be a piece from the 1920's. It is an original piece in great condition but probably post war."

Thanx,
Tim

[Hagrid]

Hi Tim!
When the badge was instituted in June 1913, the document signed by v.Tirpitz stated that " the badge is made of gilded silver and will be worn on the middle left breast side, attached by a needle..."

Carsten Baldes published his following opinion in his book:
In the beginning all badges were made of silver and by Hugo Schaper - up to 1916. The increasing number off naval flyers made it necessary to allow other companies into the business, accompanied by a change in the materials used: Alloys like bronce, tombac, brass. Even Schaper did that from 1917 on - whether there have been silver pieces during that period as well, Baldes does not mention.

The conclusion of the said is that evidently there were non-silver badges on the market during wartime after 1916 and you can not derive the exact time a badge has been made from the base metall used.

Your badge might be younger because it may not have been worn as much during abusive war action

Regards
Hagrid

[TP Alexander]

Hi Tim!
When the badge was instituted in June 1913, the document signed by v.Tirpitz stated that " the badge is made of gilded silver and will be worn on the middle left breast side, attached by a needle..."

Carsten Baldes published his following opinion in his book:
In the beginning all badges were made of silver and by Hugo Schaper - up to 1916. The increasing number off naval flyers made it necessary to allow other companies into the business, accompanied by a change in the materials used: Alloys like bronce, tombac, brass. Even Schaper did that from 1917 on - whether there have been silver pieces during that period as well, Baldes does not mention.

The conclusion of the said is that evidently there were non-silver badges on the market during wartime after 1916 and you can not derive the exact time a badge has been made from the base metall used.

Your badge might be younger because it may not have been worn as much during abusive war action

Regards
Hagrid

Thanx for that explanation, brother.
Tim