Sal,
In my years of buying from vets, I have had very few Spanish Crosses, and I didn't buy the Spanish Cross with Brilliants that came in. It was not for sale. The owner's car was worth more than my house. I did get one gold Spanish Cross with Swords that did have the droop tails, but it was unlike all the fakes produced post-war. The droop tail was not as radical as on the fakes. It was sold and I wish I had kept it.
I would like to see the close up photos of the droop tailed versions, on these boards. If they are the same as my memory allows, after all these years, I could have comfortable feelings that it was produced during the period. It is not impossible that Steinhauer and Lueck produced patterns that were not accepted and they remained in the warehouse. It is very unlikely that they were produced immediately post-war, if dies had to be created during that period of 1945 to 1950. I would think the original dies would have been sufficient to make any post-war production.
We know that Lauer of Nurnburg and Assmann were involved in producing US insignia, in the immediate post-war period, but I have not seen any Steinhauer and Lueck production, other than the Naval clasp, which may turn out to be wartime production. Immediate psot war photos show naval personnel wearing the clasp in place of the breast eagle and they all appear to be identical, not shipboard made. They are made of bronze, which would be unusual for pre May 8,1945 production because of the strategic need for that copper in wartime, for munitions.
I have no other information on immediate post-war production by Steinhauer, other than the testimony of US veterans who were bartering for medals at Steinhauer and at Deumer facilities.
If someone could post good close up photos of the Spanish Crosses, from these boards, I would be most appreciative.
Bob Hritz
In my years of buying from vets, I have had very few Spanish Crosses, and I didn't buy the Spanish Cross with Brilliants that came in. It was not for sale. The owner's car was worth more than my house. I did get one gold Spanish Cross with Swords that did have the droop tails, but it was unlike all the fakes produced post-war. The droop tail was not as radical as on the fakes. It was sold and I wish I had kept it.
I would like to see the close up photos of the droop tailed versions, on these boards. If they are the same as my memory allows, after all these years, I could have comfortable feelings that it was produced during the period. It is not impossible that Steinhauer and Lueck produced patterns that were not accepted and they remained in the warehouse. It is very unlikely that they were produced immediately post-war, if dies had to be created during that period of 1945 to 1950. I would think the original dies would have been sufficient to make any post-war production.
We know that Lauer of Nurnburg and Assmann were involved in producing US insignia, in the immediate post-war period, but I have not seen any Steinhauer and Lueck production, other than the Naval clasp, which may turn out to be wartime production. Immediate psot war photos show naval personnel wearing the clasp in place of the breast eagle and they all appear to be identical, not shipboard made. They are made of bronze, which would be unusual for pre May 8,1945 production because of the strategic need for that copper in wartime, for munitions.
I have no other information on immediate post-war production by Steinhauer, other than the testimony of US veterans who were bartering for medals at Steinhauer and at Deumer facilities.
If someone could post good close up photos of the Spanish Crosses, from these boards, I would be most appreciative.
Bob Hritz
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