SS 4 Year Service Medal

[CurtD]

Here's my latest SS 4 year medal that I believe is genuine. I certainly welcome opinions and discussion. This medal is a bit different than some I have seen in this forum. For example, the jump ring is a taller and thinner. The stippling is a bit different as well.

Does anyone have an idea who made this medal?

Thanks!

[CurtD]

Reverse

[CurtD]

Closeup

[CurtD]

It came with this bag. My Assmann catalog does not show any SS medals. I'm not sure what it is made of, but it does not seem to be 60 years old. Has anyone seen a bag like this?

[John T]

CurtD...I can not say anything about the medal...these 4 years have always stumped me...but I believe the bag is a repro...I am seeing a lot of these pop up with fake mini pole-tops...I do not know if the bag is a copy of an actual piece though...have you black lit it?

JT

[Gaspare]

bag is from the repro SS and SA small pennant tops. , G.

[Raym']

OK....the bag is wrong but the medal! I havnt seen one quite like it before and while I would be wary of it myself, I think I would be inclined to go for it as my instinct is that its OK......but I have been known to be wrong.

[CurtD]

It seems to me to be identical to my other recent aquisition -- a parade mounted version:

[CurtD]

Reverse.

I think these 2 are from the same manufacturer. Craig Goodwin has posted his in previous threads. It seems to be from a different maker.

There is not a lot of information available on these 4 year medals. I would like to determine how many manufacturers made them and their individual characteristics. And maybe make a webpage with this info.

Thanks!

[Steve T]

There is not a lot of information available on these 4 year medals. I would like to determine how many manufacturers made them and their individual characteristics. And maybe make a webpage with this info.
Thanks!

Curt,

If you are a member of GD.com have a read there too. Steve and Keifer Kahn have done a lot of research on 4/8 year medals. Documentation exists for two manufacturers. Quoting Steve K: "The two manufacturers i know of are Deschler of Munich and Petz and Lorenz of Unterreichenbach.I havent come across any other documented makers but that doesent mean they didnt exist."

All the ones I've owned have been exactly similar and I believe they are Deschler. ( a pair pictured) I've not come across one with that thick black finnish you post above.

[Steve T]

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[Steve T]

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[CurtD]

I'm developing a theory:

It appears that there are 2 known manufacturers for the SS 4 year and 8 year medals: Deschler & P&L.

Deschler used the same jump rings for both. They are the smaller and fatter than P&L. The Deschler stippling is also finer -- more like a finger print.

P&L also used the same jump rings for both. They are the taller, thinner version. The stippling on the P&L is more defined than the Deschler. You can see this on both the 8 & 4 year medals.