2nd Class Spange Information Please

[Bob Hritz]

A good friend just sent me this spange, because he knows I have a fondness for them. However, I cannot identify this one and have not seen this pattern before. It is beautifully frosted and burnished and shows age, but not use.

Is this a recognized original? I searched many threads but did not find the identical spange.

Thank you,
Bob Hritz

[streptile]

Hi Bob,

This one is not considered an original.

[Bob Hritz]

Thank you. I have not seen this type before and thought it looked very nice.

Any idea of the source or how long they have been around?

Bob Hritz

[streptile]

Any idea of the source or how long they have been around?

I don't. I have seen them stamped with various spurious maker's marks. For example, "107":





...or "21":





As far as I know they appeared within the last 15 years, but Ben or Jon may know better. I myself have one in my fake box that I bought in 1999 from eBay -- so at least 12 years, let's say.

Not everyone thinks they are bad (see below), but to me the bad maker's marks and brassy material of some examples make them unbelievable as originals.