25 Bronze Panzer Badge, Again
Sorry guys I realize these GB marked bronze panzer badges have gone around the block before, but I can’t find any of the old photos still posted. This piece came out of a very old collection that came up for sale at the recent Dallas show. The scanner did a lousy job of picking up the GB mark but most of the other details are fairly clear. Anyone have something I can compare it too?
-
Ignored Due To Invisibility. -
Snigley
To me the badge looks to be genuine. If you e-mail me I will send you some pictures of Jody Beltram's bronze GB panzer. He sent me some nice high quality pictures some time ago.
Regards
Peter C -
Snigley,
Looks the same as my #50 "GB" PZ Badge.
EMail me and I'll send pics.
Regards,
CJ
Hope you received the pics - if not you can view them at http://home.att.net/~SgtMaggit/50TankGB.html
CJ
[ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: CMagnifico ]Comment
-
Snigley,
Send me your eMail again - I blew it away by mistake.
Regards,
CJComment
-
Snigley:
I do not own any numbered badges in bronze but have several in silverr. Knowing that the same makers made both, I thought some comparison photos would help answer your request. By general accounts, the same makers' badges should pretty much look alike.
The first pictured was awarded to Freidrich Rapp who fought with the 10th Pz Regt/ 8th Pz Div and the Panzerrigment "Großduetschland". He also earned the DKiG in this latter unit.
This is a JFS marked badge in 25.
The next two badges belonged to Herbert Elsner of the 23rd Panzer Div. Pictured below is Elsner, late in the war, wearing one of the pictured badges. While not a real clear shot(it is of the typical 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 small wartime pictures so often seen produced by a personal cameras), I think it is the Pz 75 he wears. Elsner also was awarded the DKiG. He supposedly was a very late war KC winner as well and had a cross to prove it, although he does not yet show in any reference I have found.
The Pz 50 is an unmarked badge. It shows heavy wear and is actually broken at the wreath on the left side.
The Pz 75 is a 'JFS' marked piece and also shows considerable age and wear.It compares favorably with the Rapp 50 JFS in terms of construction, but the two, being different grades, cannot be too directly compared.
Lastly, I show a Pz 50 with a GB maker mark. This is probably the one that we can compare best to the GB in bronze you show.
Comments of comparrison and comments in general are welcome. All numbered badges are heavily reproduced and one is wise to be skeptical. There have been a lot of threads on these badges - General Assault included. Personally, unless I had provenance or was absolotely assured of my source, I would be careful. I purchased the last badge shown based on the latter criteria and a lot of study.
I will not attest 100% to the originality of this last badge since it does not have the provenance the others above do. However, I do believe it is an original wartime produced piece. The pin was broken at one time and repaired.The badge shows quality construction, very nice detail to the acorns, 'squarness' of the angles in the number cartouche, crisp raised numbers, and fair wear and tear.
The main difference at a glance between all of the badges shown here is the cutout - or lack there of - around the eagle's wings . The rivet construction also shows to be different amongs all badges. The repaired pin on the last 50 does not provide a good basis for comparison.
With a little help/comment we could get somewhere with this thread.
ScottCSP
sigpicComment
-
Scott, thanks for the photos. Your GB marked badge appears virtually identical to mine. The only difference I see, and it may be nothing, is that the number-plate on yours has a nice bright brass appearance while the one on mine is more of a subdued copper color. You're right that these badges are generally tough to make a call on. The one I purchased has been in a collection since 1955 and I'm still asking opinions. Hopefully others will join in and maybe we can make this an informative posting.Ignored Due To Invisibility.Comment
-
Agree - very similar/almost identical, save for the finish and wear and tear. The catch on yiours is square and the one on mine is round, but I see little significance in that observation.
I would hope that this thread catches on a little, as there is so much controversy over these badges. A lot is well-founded, however, some of these numbered badges are considered more scarce than I think they really are.
ScottCSP
sigpicComment
-
Snigley,
Look at my post above for the picture link as I have no way of having photos hosted except by making a page.
Thanks for the very nice posted photos guys.
Really enjoyed them.
Regards,
CJ
http://home.att.net/~SgtMaggit/50TankGB.htmlComment
-
CJ, you have some really nice closeup photos on your web page. They were really helpful in making a comparison. Thanks!Ignored Due To Invisibility.Comment
-
Snigley,
You quite welcome.
That's whats its all about - collectors helping collectors.
CJComment
Comment