25 year SS Medal

[J C Gray]

Th two accepted forms of embroidered runes...

[Larry Lipps]

JC, any chance you could post those with the whole ribbon so it's possible to get a sense of scale?

[CurtD]

SteveT hasn't been around lately, but here is a pic of his. I will have to look this up, but I believe the ribbon is 50mm wide (wider than the medal itself). The runes are about 15mm tall.

[Skipper Greenwade]

That's what I expect to see when looking at one of these

Wider ribbon and smaller runes. There may be variations out there, but given the rarity, I would tread very carefully.

My two cents'
Skip

[Frank Heukemes]

I have to admit that when I looked at the close up pics Bob sent me of this very award that I focused on the medal which I thought (and think) is a superb example. I do not know if the runes on the RIBBON have to look like the two mainly accepted types in every case or if variations could be possible.

[BobI]

Thank you Frank!
I think it would be helpful for you guys to see the reverse of the ribbon. I can not open it all of the way since there is a staple holding it closed. The staple has a nice patina and has been there for a very long time, I would prefer to leave it there. Here are a couple of pictures for you.
Best Wishes,
Bob

[BobI]

another shot

[Glowlight]

Hopefully some of the cloth guys will weigh in on the stitching on the back side of this ribbon.

[BobI]

Here is a close up of a 8 year ribbon so you can compare the stitching of the fabric.
Bob

[Frank Heukemes]

I have received pics of another example with long runes which I will post when I get back home.

[J C Gray]

With regard to the ribbon in question; the workmanship to the embroidery is reasonably well executed and it does seem to show genuine ageing, but I am still not overly enamoured with the shape of the runes,as they seem to taper towards the top of each downstroke. As I have already noted in my previous post, the only period documentation that I know of for 35mm [runic] ribbon, refers to, either the small vertical runes or the integrally woven, lighter blue version. Taking all of this into consideration, I, therefore, do not think that it is beyond the realms of possibility for this ribbon to be a period, unofficial replacement.

Shown below are the only two other examples of the large, angled Sigrunen which I have come accross and although it is difficult to ascertain originality from such poor images, the medals pictured along with them would appear to be ok.

BTW. If anyone should wish to object to the unauthorised use of their images, then please feel free to do so and I will remove them.

[J C Gray]

Here are another two variations which, although not textbook, could well be original...

[J C Gray]

I have put together this rogues gallery of 'SS=Service Award' ribbons that I believe are absolutely not original...note that, apart from one example, all are embroidered (poorly) on 35mm ribbon...

[Freiwilliger]

The SS=Service Award 1st. & 2nd. class was normally issued with a 39mm wide, cornflower blue, moire rayon ribbon, onto which gold or silver bullion runes measuring approximately 16mm in height were directly embroidered. The unusually wide dimensions of this ribbon was to allow the medal to be neatly court mounted, without the need to apply a separate runic device, such as the type that can be seen on some Polizei medal bars.
The runes on these ribbons generally appeared in either of two slightly differing forms, suggesting that different manufacturers using different unterlagen were employed in their production. One type of embroidery utilised for the SS=Service Award is quite sharp with well defined angles and cross-strokes, whilst the other known style is quite spindly with less defined, almost rounded features. Both styles of Sigrunen are, however, embroidered with the down-strokes perpendicular to the weft of the ribbon, in order to give an overall harmonious appearance to the mounted medal.
A trial run of 35mm ribbon with the runes woven into it in a light blue was also manufactured in 1939 by Karl Loy of Munich, but was never issued, presumably as it lacked the elegance of a hand embroidered version.
Although normally discredited by collectors, the ribbon for the SS=Service Award was also manufactured (complete with bullion embroidery) in the more usual 35mm width as is shown by the photograph below. This photo apears in the 1939 publication "Orden und Ehrenzeichen im Dritten Reich" by Heinrich Doehle and also shows the use of vertical runes. Another interesting obsevation in this book is the utilisation of the circular suspension ring on this medal...another feature that is usually instantly discredited by collectors when authenticating these awards.

Do you can show photo of 8 years SS medal of this book ?

[J C Gray]

Do you can show photo of 8 years SS medal of this book ?

This is the best that I can do at the moment...Maybe someone else has a better scan.