Hi guys,
Here is a recent purchase I just made. Silver FLL CCCs are hard to come by because they lose their finish quite easily. This one has a nice silver plating that was frosted. The frosting has worn off on the highlights, but you can still see much of it on the reverse and on the outside edges.
What is so interesting about this FLL is that it received a think layer of tombak undercoating and probably why the silver finish has survived so well. A closeup of the bayonet area shows this tombak underlayment. This FLL is the closest thing I think we will ever find of a tombak or nickel silver CCC. Some may argue that this is indeed a tombak CCC as there is no place where I can find any zinc peeping out of the finish. Well, I think the weight of the badge will dispell any notion that this is a true tombak CCC.
Weight of my bronze sunken in hinge CCC = 33.6 grams
Weight of my bronze & silver flush hinge CCC = 34.2 grams
Weight of this new silver CCC with tombak base coat = 33.4 grams!
Given the mass of the CCCC, surely if this badge was made from tombak it would be a bit heavier than its zinc counterparts. The difference between the weights of zinc and tombak PABs are about 15 - 20% and you would see the same thing with CCCs. The difference in weight between Juncker zinc CCCs and the Tombak CCC presentation clasp is also about 10 - 15%.
Although period documentation leads us to believe the possibility of tombak and nickel silver CCCs exist, IMO this was implemented too late in the war and no maker followed the order. IMO, this tombak coated CCC is the closest we will come to finding a tombak or nickel silver CCC.
Tom
Here is a recent purchase I just made. Silver FLL CCCs are hard to come by because they lose their finish quite easily. This one has a nice silver plating that was frosted. The frosting has worn off on the highlights, but you can still see much of it on the reverse and on the outside edges.
What is so interesting about this FLL is that it received a think layer of tombak undercoating and probably why the silver finish has survived so well. A closeup of the bayonet area shows this tombak underlayment. This FLL is the closest thing I think we will ever find of a tombak or nickel silver CCC. Some may argue that this is indeed a tombak CCC as there is no place where I can find any zinc peeping out of the finish. Well, I think the weight of the badge will dispell any notion that this is a true tombak CCC.
Weight of my bronze sunken in hinge CCC = 33.6 grams
Weight of my bronze & silver flush hinge CCC = 34.2 grams
Weight of this new silver CCC with tombak base coat = 33.4 grams!
Given the mass of the CCCC, surely if this badge was made from tombak it would be a bit heavier than its zinc counterparts. The difference between the weights of zinc and tombak PABs are about 15 - 20% and you would see the same thing with CCCs. The difference in weight between Juncker zinc CCCs and the Tombak CCC presentation clasp is also about 10 - 15%.
Although period documentation leads us to believe the possibility of tombak and nickel silver CCCs exist, IMO this was implemented too late in the war and no maker followed the order. IMO, this tombak coated CCC is the closest we will come to finding a tombak or nickel silver CCC.
Tom
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