There are a few points to consider. First, comparing badges badges made before 1940, particularly the Luftwaffe qualification badges, there are more marked differences in the designs used by different factories. In 1940, the OKW assigned development of new badges to Juncker and required Juncker to make drawings, data, samples, etc., available to any new contractors. The designs became much more consistent during the years 1941-5.
It would seem logical that parts such as wire, flat pins, hinges, tubing and hinge pins would have been bought from a general supply company. One company could make all the hinges needed. A box of 1000 hinges would fit in your hand.
It is plausible that some of the companies did not make any or all of the dies that they used but instead bought them from another contractor. Particularly during the years 1942-5 when rationalization (streamlining) was absolutely demanded, it would seem logical that the Government, which issued contracts and made the decisions about quantities and contractors, could require one contractor to make die sets available for other producers. This would account for the close similarities for companies located hundreds of miles apart (Lüdenscheid is roughly in the Ruhr area in northwest Germany, Gablonz in what was then eastern Germany along the border with what is now Poland, Stuttgart in southwest Germany and Munich in southeast Germany) having similar designs and fittings.
It helps to know the size of the companies and what kind of business they normally did. Juncker, Deschler and others made fine quality items (basically jewelry for men) while Assmann basically made uniform hardware and buttons and SHuCo made cast toys and parts. A company like SHuCo would be large scale and probably be accustomed to making dies, as would Assmann. The others might do less of the basic work and more of the high quality finishing (solid silver and gold work, enamel). In addition, there were at least 2 consortiums of small shops, one the gold workers of Hanau and the other, larger AGMuK Gablonz (Consortium of Metal and Synthetic Material Manufacturers at Gablonz) which probably had at least 3 members and maybe more who likely shared time on heavy machinery and possibly dies.
I studied pocket knife manufacture in Sheffield, and it was made up of world reknowned big companies, middle sized companies and small mom-and-pop (little mesters) companies. The big companies bought out working or defunct small companies and sometimes used the old marks. The big companies often bought small run items (gold and silver or pearl fancy knives or lock back stag handle knives) from little mesters and had their name put on them. One company in Sheffield at that time supplied most of the trade with parts. Only the big companies made their own parts. Blades also were forged by a forger, ground by a grinder and finished off by the actual manufacturer (or assembler). Most of the small shops could not afford to invest in the stamping and forming presses. One company in Sheffield, Richards, founded by a German, made tons of really cheap souvenir knives and they had all the tooling since they produced such large quantities.
Measured by quantity, most of the wartime badges were probably produced by large firms like SHuCo or Assmann when compared to companies like Juncker and Deschler. It would be interesting to see what the companies were like. Someone living in Germany could do the research very easily by just visiting the local museums, archives and companies. The companies are sensitive about Third Reich items for legal and other reasons and usually you get the Sgt. Schulz response. But if you go to the Lüdenscheid Museum, you will see Third Reich medals produced after the War for the Museum. Only Berlin and Dresden makers suffered bombing damage to the best of my knowledge. And there should still be living some of the people who made the stuff. I am sure the plunderers and fake marketers have been there.
Anyway, just some food for thought.
Hugh
It would seem logical that parts such as wire, flat pins, hinges, tubing and hinge pins would have been bought from a general supply company. One company could make all the hinges needed. A box of 1000 hinges would fit in your hand.
It is plausible that some of the companies did not make any or all of the dies that they used but instead bought them from another contractor. Particularly during the years 1942-5 when rationalization (streamlining) was absolutely demanded, it would seem logical that the Government, which issued contracts and made the decisions about quantities and contractors, could require one contractor to make die sets available for other producers. This would account for the close similarities for companies located hundreds of miles apart (Lüdenscheid is roughly in the Ruhr area in northwest Germany, Gablonz in what was then eastern Germany along the border with what is now Poland, Stuttgart in southwest Germany and Munich in southeast Germany) having similar designs and fittings.
It helps to know the size of the companies and what kind of business they normally did. Juncker, Deschler and others made fine quality items (basically jewelry for men) while Assmann basically made uniform hardware and buttons and SHuCo made cast toys and parts. A company like SHuCo would be large scale and probably be accustomed to making dies, as would Assmann. The others might do less of the basic work and more of the high quality finishing (solid silver and gold work, enamel). In addition, there were at least 2 consortiums of small shops, one the gold workers of Hanau and the other, larger AGMuK Gablonz (Consortium of Metal and Synthetic Material Manufacturers at Gablonz) which probably had at least 3 members and maybe more who likely shared time on heavy machinery and possibly dies.
I studied pocket knife manufacture in Sheffield, and it was made up of world reknowned big companies, middle sized companies and small mom-and-pop (little mesters) companies. The big companies bought out working or defunct small companies and sometimes used the old marks. The big companies often bought small run items (gold and silver or pearl fancy knives or lock back stag handle knives) from little mesters and had their name put on them. One company in Sheffield at that time supplied most of the trade with parts. Only the big companies made their own parts. Blades also were forged by a forger, ground by a grinder and finished off by the actual manufacturer (or assembler). Most of the small shops could not afford to invest in the stamping and forming presses. One company in Sheffield, Richards, founded by a German, made tons of really cheap souvenir knives and they had all the tooling since they produced such large quantities.
Measured by quantity, most of the wartime badges were probably produced by large firms like SHuCo or Assmann when compared to companies like Juncker and Deschler. It would be interesting to see what the companies were like. Someone living in Germany could do the research very easily by just visiting the local museums, archives and companies. The companies are sensitive about Third Reich items for legal and other reasons and usually you get the Sgt. Schulz response. But if you go to the Lüdenscheid Museum, you will see Third Reich medals produced after the War for the Museum. Only Berlin and Dresden makers suffered bombing damage to the best of my knowledge. And there should still be living some of the people who made the stuff. I am sure the plunderers and fake marketers have been there.
Anyway, just some food for thought.
Hugh
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