LW PAB's

[Mike Yokum]

These two pieces arrived today. Certainly not early by the standards we currently use, but scarce badges nonetheless.

The Silver badge has the tank glued to the wreath and weighs in at 48.11g. The Black version is riveted and is a whopping 55.6g! The hinge blocks are open on both pieces.

[Mike Yokum]

Black...

[Nigel N]

First of all, these are great looking badges Mike, they might not be the earliest, but these are pretty rare, and you takes what you can find sometimes!!!
Would i be right in assuming the rivetted version was slightly the earlier of the two???
I'm fascinated by the weight difference between the two badges, what could account for that???
Assuming (again) that these are S & L pieces, what date would we put on them, 1970's i would think, but early, middle or late???
I think you've landed two great badges Mike, i'm sure you are really happy with them, i would be!!! Those "leftovers" are looking tastier by the minute
Congrats Mike
-Nigel

[LuckyLuudje]

They look nice and are collectable (at least for for some) in it's own way.

If they would have been close in quality compared to the early/mid 57's, I would have been all over them.

[Mike Yokum]

Thanks gents. I do consider them collectible even as late made as they seem to be. They are scarce enough, although several hit the market from a large collection recently, that I am happy to have them. I know you Luud and Christian over on the GCA have some very desirable, early versions and perhaps someday an early one will cross my path. For now, these display nicely, IMO.

My long term plans are to build another display case featuring FJ stuff from the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 1. Hermann Göring.These badges are a start towards that end.

In an attempt to answer your questions Nigel, I would not know which part of the 70's to date these to. Perhaps early on the riveted one and mid on the glued one. Purely conjecture on my part. The weight difference is caused primarily by a much thicker section of metal behind the Panzer on the Black badge. I'm no metal expert by any stretch of the imagination, but the wreath/medal base could very well be made from a different metal, again conjecture, but even with the thicker section on the black the weight difference doesn't quite add up.

[Nigel N]

Thanks for your answers Mike, your dates seem to make sense, i think they are too good to be much later!
-Nigel