Frank & Reif PAB, opinions please.

[Robert P.]

Hello, gentlemen.

Opinions please on this PAB. I just recently posted a thread on a PAB without a maker mark. It turned out to be a Frank & Reif. As you can see this new badge has that maker. From what I can tell they both look identical with the exception of the maker mark. The badge I posted in the earlier thread also had a pin assembly that was still silver with frosting, the badge being in near mint condition. Does this mark look good for a Frank & Reif badge? Pin assembly look right?

This piece is currently running on eBay.

Thank you.



Robert

[Robert P.]

the reverse....

[Robert P.]

the maker mark...

[Philippe DB]

Hi Robert,

Can't see anything wrong with this one, besides that it probably lost most of his finish an shows some wear on the left track.

Good F&R in my opinion

KR
Philippe

[Robert P.]

Thanks!

Thanks again, Philippie. We appreciate your help.

Robert

[David R.]

HI this is the same badge I posted sat. I bid on it but the price is going out of sight!

[Robert P.]

Yes, it's gone higher than what I was willing to pay. Someone will have a nice Panzer badge.

Robert

[Lorenzo Brown]

What is your opinion on this one? Same obverse with semi-hollowback reverse.
Earlier or later?

[Robert P.]

Hello, Lorenzo.

Very nice badge. The only real difference being the catch and it's base plate. As to which is the earliest I could only guess. This is only my thinking but I have a thought that perhaps the '?' proved unstable which gave way to the 'C' catch and rectangular base plate. Here is the reverse of another F&R PAB without maker mark. Notice the catch and base plate are the same as the badge I posted in the beginning of this thread. Only it appears to have had a repair to the catch. Perhaps the newer rectangular base plate replaced the earlier plate and '?'...????? I know this is a shot in the dark, it's just a guess.

Robert

[Lorenzo Brown]

Just to compare...here are two F&R General Assault badges with identical obverses. The first is sem-hollowback and the second is solid. Notice that the first one has the same "?" style catch as the semi-hollowback panzer, and the second has the same "C"-catch on the oval base as the solid panzer.

My guess is the semi-hollows are earlier, and they changed to the solid back with the "C"-catches because they were more efficient to make.
Semi-hollowback GAB
Solid GAB

[Robert P.]

Thanks, Lorenzo, for the education. I appreciate it. Those are both fantastic badges, especially the earliest silver plated example. Beautiful piece. I really like the earlier badges whether they are IAB's or Luftwaffe flight badges.

Robert

[Lorenzo Brown]

"...especially the earliest silver plated example."

It's not really silver plated. I think it's a zinc alloy of sorts, but different and less porous than the kind seen on the typical zinc cast badges.. I read someplace that the "Frank & Reif" company was initially a "metal fabricator" rather than a badge or medal maker, as were the other makers. This might explain their less sophisticated, more "industrial" looking logo.?? Just a thought.

[Anthony]

Hi Lorenzo,

The semi hollow back Tank badge is very interesting, this is the first one like this that I have seen, it looks a nice piece to.

Regards,

Anthony

[Philippe DB]

Hi Lorenzo,

In my opinion your F&R is a perfectly good badge. If I remember correctly I think Frank H also owns one that shows the same maker mark positioning.

I think for my the most typical feature for these F&R PAB's is the distinctive look on the eagles head. Even on an unmarked and also on an early hollow badge the eagles always show that exact same look.

KR
Philippe