57 Air Gunners & Army Flak Badge

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Got these just the other day and thought I'd share. These are my first 57s since I mostly collect WW2 but am now starting to add to some of my post war items I have kicking around.

Joe

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Back side

[DavidM]

Hello

Welcome to the '57 addiction' From the photos these look like a couple of nice mid produced new form items. Could you post side on photos showing the hinge block and pin please.

Regards
David

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Thanks David, I'm really just getting my feet wet in the interest of post war items. I picked up some Bund items some 20 years ago and alot of DDR when the wall first came down helping a friend who invested in a few warehouses back then. Wish I kept most of it now. Are there any books or information out on these?
Here are the side photos you asked for, so mid production which means made when?

Joe

[DavidM]

Hello

Thanks for the side view, which helps confirm my thoughts that these are mid produced pieces. By mid produced I'm estimating these were made somewhere between the early to mid 1970's, although they could be slightly early or slightly later.

Bookwise, you will have to wait until a bit later this year when Peter Wikings book on the 1957 new form items is published. It's looking like it will be a good book and well worth buying. Until then, you have this forum, which is a great source of information for the 57's.

Regards
David

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Side view of Army Flak

[George L]

I'd agree on these being later produced piece from looking at the hardware without the block hinges. The pins also look like what you'd see on later badges, too.

[Mike Yokum]

Hey Joe,

Congrats on your first 57er's! What caused you to get into this collecting field? Is there a specific area of 57er's you're interested in? Qualification badges? Combat Award Badges? General interest?

Keep up the good work and pay attention to advice from George L, DavivM, and of course, Peter. These gentlemen now this field! There are others too, that I'm leaving out because of my aging memory, to them I'm mean no disrespect.

Welcome to the 57er passion!
Mike

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Thanks Mike
Well I've been collecting WW2 since I was around the wee age of 10 when I stumbled on my Grandmothers Brother footlocker in the attic and been collecting on and off since then (I'm 45 now)..I had some post was caps and tunics that I picked up some 20+ years ago and kind of had them in the back of the closet or in boxes never really thinking much about them. When I stumbled on a Thread about Post War Bund items and the prices of them going up it peaked my interest to start collecting these items as well now. I mean they are over 40 years old now and not as cheap as they were back then.
These 2 Badges so far are all I have, but I would be interested in obtaining the 57 styles to go with the TR that I currently have.
I use to have alot more items in the line of equipment and feild items but lost it all in a fire where they were stored(one of the downfalls here in CA) almost lost the rest of it this summer but Thanks to the Quick responce of the military and fire dept all was saved.
And most of all with what i've been reading so far They aren't faked yet..

Again Thanks for the welcome and hope to learn.
Joe

[George L]

Hi Joe, welcome to the club of collecting 57's!