18 year service medal

[Phil_C]

Please can I have some input into my 18 year service medal, in regards to originality. Sorry about the quality of the photos.

Regards
Phil

[Phil_C]

front

[Phil_C]

Back

[J Temple-West]

More practice with the camera, Phil... 18yr looks OK to me..

[Phil_C]

Thanks John, The only thing about the cross I don't like is the ring for the ribbon, it looks kind of new so I think it's been replaced, how much do these things go for?

Regards
Phil

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Phil,

I agree, it looks ok. Note that you can find these also non magnetic, while most are magnetic. What about yours?

Yes, the ring is a bit small and might be replaced. The numerals 18 come at least two slightly different styles.

Current price is around 130.- USD plus minus 20.- USD.

Cheers, Frank

[Phil_C]

Thanks Frank,

I knew that you could have magnetic and non magnetic, Mine's non magnetic, does this mean that it's zinc? What metals were these made out off?

Regards
Phil

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Phil,

No, these do not come in zinc to the best of my knowledge. If it is something other than steel it should be a white metal. I have never seen yellow metal Buntmetalls as a base yet, put they possibly exist as well.

Cheers, Frank

[J Temple-West]

Hi Phil, Frank is right (as usual), on all counts.. I wouldn't worry about the ring.. I have couple of these and there does, indeed, seem to be distinct variations with both small and larger rings, magnetic and non-magnetic + some are slightly fatter, in design than others, due no doubt to period of manufacture, maker etc..
All in all, you have a nice piece at a very good price..

[Rick Research]

How's it compare with this one? This is also a white metal with frosted silver finish. The arms look shiny in the scan, but are frosted like around the center disks-- this and a 4 came with 25 and 12 to a naval officer transferred into the Luftwaffe, and were never worn, October 1936 issues. The 4 Years Medal it came with is silvered steel.

Obverse:

[Rick Research]

Reverse:

[Phil_C]

Thanks John, Frank and Rick for the information, I think that it's an original piece, with the exeption of the ring and maybe the eagle.

Rick - Mine is very similar to yours although not as good condition though, I bet it's nice to get an officers complete set, have you got all his awards and information?

Regards
Phil

[Rick Research]

Oh no! Now I have to go scan the EAGLE?

Yours looks OK, why any doubt?

Mine came out of a three generation of officers family group. His 18 and 4 were never worn. His sew on 9 ribbon bar's in the Ribbon Bar Article.