How to identify the manufacture period?

[Haddock]

Hi everyone,

As I just new to this hobby, the first thing I would like to know is how to identify the manufacture period of those 1957 version items.

Perhaps we should start with the EKI?

[Peter Wiking]

Hi there.
Your piece is probably made in the 90's. Definitely not from the 60's or 70's. Iron Crosses from 1957 and on through the 60's will have frosting on the inner beading. The outer flange will be burnished. Burnished is a sort of polishing. The core on these early crosses is painted before assembly with no spill on the frame, and the general quality of the early production is much higher than the 80's or 90's production. The early production had solid hinges. Not semi hollow as on yours. The needle on the early crosses are longer than on your piece.

Peter

[Haddock]

Thanks.

Therefore the semi hollow hinges are the important feature to identify the 1990's productions, right?

Is there any thing else, for example the shape?

Those three closed combat bars all with solid hinge, but their shapes are different. the gold and bronze one is bent but the silver is totally plain. Can we say that the silver one is a later production?

[Peter Wiking]

The 3 CCC you show is from the 1960's. The solid hinge is a good clue to what is an early production. The type of catch used on your pieces here is a good indication on early production as well together with all the fine details, materials and finish. The semi hollow hinge was in use long before the 1990's. It was in use in the 1970's. I have not seen it though on any Deumer or S&L production from 1957 to 1965. They have all been found to be solid.

There is much more to this than could be fitted in one thread. I recomend that you use the bronze clasp you have there as a reference point. It is a very nice clasp and has many of the "secrets" to what is an early 1957 badge.

Keep in mind that as a 1957 collector we are on unbroken ground. I learn from purchasing pieces. I study them and compare them with each other.

PS. I would check the finish of the gold clasp. I think it is refinished.

Cheers.
Peter

[DaveNZ]

Hi everyone,

As I just new to this hobby, the first thing I would like to know is how to identify the manufacture period of those 1957 version items.

Perhaps we should start with the EKI?

last week perhaps? alas...