RK- on the way

[tom hansen]

another

[Biro]

Divit?

Marshall

[tom hansen]

There is actually a part of the frame on the 9 oclock at the 10 oclock corner where there is a defect such that the frame appears actually broken at that point. It appears as a black area on the photo, but one can actually see inside the beading. The one at 12 oclock is there, but very small.


Now oddly, on the photos sent, there is one photo showing Radwan wearing what appears to be this cross, funny loop, divit and all. Another photo shows him wearing what appears to be a 3/4 ring cross. There are some Bolivian documents which appear like IDs of the father and brother post war and some copies of wartime photos (only two show the RK) and a photo of the guy's grave in Russia.

Now the question becomes-

1. The cross is clearly a juncker cross

2. The frame is neusilber and the core is non-magnetic

3. There does not appear to be any disruption of the solder

4. There are these ghastly defects in the frame which looks like the medal is broken, but not by blunt external trauma to cause a distortion of the frame.

5. The rest of the cross shows the subtle defects in the frame seen in other juncker crosses

6. One photo shows Radwan wearing what appears to be this cross, the other with what appears to be a 3/4 loop.


Any thoughts??????????????????????????

[Dave Kane]

Marshall here is the divit.....Ya gotta excuse Tom and his Golf talk!!!


It appears as if it were paint or patina but on close-up it looks like the file slipped or the finisher had one hell of a hangover!!!

[tom hansen]

That is the "divit". I would assume given the zinc content that nuesilber would be more brittle than silver and subject to these "mistakes". Has anyone seen anything like this on a neusilber cross? It seems very odd.


I will see if I can get a better pic of the crosses from the photos. There are some Bolivian documents which look like IDs from the father and brother.

[tom hansen]

Here is another photo of Radwan with what appears to be a 3/4 ring cross.

[tom hansen]

Now here is another photo of the second cross. It seems as though the defect can be seen here, as well as the sharper tip loop. Dave has said that the corners of the beading near the swaz look a little less rounded than the actual cross.

[Dave Kane]

Now that's interesting!!! Thanks Tom.


I wonder if the 3/4 ring was the Award piece and the neusilber a 'purchased' cross for everyday wear afterall at a 'retail' level it was probably less expensive than a silver framed cross....just rambling thoughts!!

[tom hansen]

It sure looks like the same cross here with the two "wierd" componants of the "divit" as well as the sharper tips on the loop. Who knows whether this was the award piece and the 3/4 ring was private purchase or the other way around. The "story" was that this was the award piece kept at home and another cross was purchased and worn. There is some of the ribbon clipped off this one as well.


That photo as well as the fact that the cross is neusilber makes me feel comfortable that this in fact an early cross. The pic looks convincing with the two distinctive features of this cross. Any thoughts on this whole issue? Thanks

[Biro]

Ahhh......'Divot'......I see it....

I also can't help noticing that this is living proof how carefully the analysis of the inner corner 'finishing' from photos should be handled.....as, even with the angle, this clearly illustrates...

[Dave Kane]

Marshall...I was trying to be kind and handle that observation via PM....you Brits!!!


Yes, there is a major difference in the filing/finishing of the upper inner corners as you rightly point out!!!

[Biro]

Tom......I PM'd you.....

M

[Dave Kane]

Oh how bloody nice of you!

[Dietrich Maerz]

I would assume given the zinc content that neusilber would be more brittle than silver and subject to these "mistakes".

Tom,

that assumption is completely wrong. If Neusilber would be (more or less) brittle, one certainly could not form it into a RK frame via a press - it would 'brittle' into 1000 plus pieces.
Anyway, it's not true at all. Neusilber is still a very good and 'elastic' material.

Dietrich

[Dave Kane]

DM..would it be as easy to 'work' as sterling silver or its equivelent?