RK Production Frames

[Dietrich Maerz]

I got hese two produktion frames in the mail today from a friend in Germany. I'm in the middle of really studying those adn I'm also quite sure that they are from a fake RK.
However, there's a lot to be learned with those, especially about the famous die making process and the die flwas. I will venture into this later.

Meanwhule the physical facts gathered so far:

plate thickness : 0.57 - 0.58 mm
plate size : fairly square 63.44 x 63 x 46 mm

Since no material gets lost during the die pressing procedure and none is added, the plate has a volume of 2.294 cm3. It weighs 23.2 gr. ergo the specific weight is 10.11 gr/cm3. Pure sivler is at 10.5 gr/cm3, Neusilber is at 8.72 gr/cm3.
So the material is heavy in silver content, whether it is "800" I don't know. At least the parts are easy to bend and do not show any sign of rust.

From the inside, it looks like a dipping ring, but the outside clearly shows it's not.

[milsurp]

Hello Dietrich,

Very interesting indeed... I look forward to seeing the results of your project.

Good luck.

Craig.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Craig,

I just started. Here is one frame from the outside. I'm not good with a camera, only with a scanner. So the actual frame now 'sits' on top of the sheet metal. It can clearly be seen, that the ring does not dipp into the frame.

[Dietrich Maerz]

And here is the inside of the same piece. The scanner is taking away the 3D effect, the cross is now 'behind' the sheet metal. One has to 'flip' the picture, kind of.
The ring is hollow and so are all the little beadings. Holding it in my hand, I can now clearly see what I tried so many times to describe during the S&L flaw thread. Two parts of tooling, upper and lower, one piece of sheet metal pressed between it.

[milsurp]

Dietrich,

Fascinating stuff. We can learn a lot from this...

Are you planning to make a set of frames from these plates?

Rgds,

Craig.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here's the center of the outside for study of the maker. Also, clearly the machining of the actual tool can be seen. This is a sign of the high die pressure used: the marks are imprinyts from the tool, not actual machining marks at the sheet metal. And no, it's not a Meybauer.

[Brian S]

Let me know when the Oaks dies get there!

[Dietrich Maerz]

Actually, I'm a little surprised by the quality. Maybe the beading lacks a little in depth, but in general the definition is good.
Brian, I'm just ignoring you, ok?

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here's the 3 o'clock arm, outside.

[Brian S]

Can you put some modeling clay in there or something and create an impression.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Inside or outside? Everything or just a part of it?


Dietrich

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here's the imprint as requested. The detail gets lost but at least you see what it is.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Somebody ( ) wanted to have a comparison with the S&L 3 oclock arm..

[Erich B.]

frame

Is it the reflection of the light, or does the beading show some wear or flattening on the high points? Also, does your friend know where these originated?
Very interesting!
Erich

[Dez H]

Going to start churning out a few RK's Dietrich?



Will keep a close out for you on ebay.......