GAB Opinions?

[Luft62]

Here is a GAB I received recently - it is die-struck zinc with magnetic hinge/pin/clasp combo. The scan makes it appear much brighter than what it actually is.
Any comments - either good or bad most welcome.

[Philippe DB]

Hi Tim,

Always a little difficult with these unmarked GAB's but I would give this one tumbs up.

Badge show's good detail, eagle looks verry good also, and hinge and catch setup is very nicely done. On top of that good quality finish and in mint condition.

KR
Philippe

[Anthony]

Hi Tim,

On this one I am not so sure.

1 The oakleaves do not seem to show good defintion in the leaves, could be the scan

2 The Acorns do not seem to have good cross hatching for a mint badge.

3 The scratches on the back are interesting, why are they there?

4 The pin set up is the same as some of the flat back Tank badges that have been appearing lately which is unusual?

5 The double line on the top left hand oakleaf, what is that?

Just some more thought needed on this one maybe.

Regards,

Anthony

[Philippe DB]

Hi Anthony,

Found this one in my files. Saved it from Winkler's site, hope he doesn't mind me using it here for educational purposes.

Quit a close match don't you think. Also has the stripes on the back, the double vein in the top left oakleave and a simmilar hinge and catch setup.

Like I said, difficult to access these unmarked GAB's

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

GAB reverse

[Luft62]

Hi Anthony,
The definition to the oakleaves is good as is the crosshatching on the acorns, it is just that the reflections in the scan mask these features.

The scratches on the back have also got me wondering as I have seen them before on cast badges that have been ground back to hide evidence of pitting on the reverse, but this one shows definite marks of being die-struck on the inside cut-outs - also there is no pitting on the front even in the deepest of the recesses. Perhaps the back has been "tidied up" with a quick file?

I have seen one of the "new" PABs with the similar hinge/clasp arrangement but the clasp on it was not as robust as the one on this one. I really tried my best to bend it by hand and only came away with a bruised thrumb.

The double lines on the top left oakleaf is an illusion of the scan as the centre detail on the left oakleaf is no different from that of the others.

The main thing that impresses me with this badge is the detail and sharpness of the eagle - really excellent.
I tried to scan the eagle at high-res but the scan does the eagle no justice as the flares and reflections of the scanner mask the detail.

The scratches on the reverse are the main thing that have me wondering.

In about 1987 I bought a pair of badges - a PAB and a GAB - both in silver and both came wrapped in brown paper and looked like they were made last week.
On the lower left side of the reverse of both of these badges they had a little "w" with 5 dots above it. Owing to their condition I thought they were fake and later sold them as such (pre-WWW days) - with a friend aquiring them some time later. Now I am jealous of his mint Herman Weinstein PAB (he sold off the GAB) and kick myself each time I think about how I got rid of it.
Now I am extremely careful with badges that are real "minty" and look like this one!

[Luft62]

Philippe,

That is exactly the same! - right down the "smile" on the eagle and lines between the swastikas arms.

[johnrtse]

I like it!

That eagle is very proud!

Another similarity between Luft's badge and Kai/Phillippe's is that the top acorn on the right hand side (as you look at it) has a very slight downward tilt, while the top left acorn is straight. I think it is legit.

I also believe that those marks on the reverse of the badge are simply grinding or file marks from when the badge was in the finishing process. When a metal object is cast or pressure-formed (stamped), there will be extra metal left over, called "flash", that has to be removed (either by hand filing, or mechanical grinding). Those marks tend to be very visible because obviously a very coarse grit sanding wheel or file was used to grind the casting flash quickly in production.

I have a zinc tinnie that has similar grinding marks on the rear.

Just my 2 cents!