Legion Condor Tank badge

[Mike Kenny]

..

[mmiller]

Alikn,

Here is a dumb question... How many troops were qualified to receive the CLTB? I am only playing devil's advocate. But with such a small number of CLT badges produced (relatively speaking), would the die wear out that rapidly, and significantly?

Glad you are peresuing this CLTB mystery.

Regards,
Mark

[Robin Lumsden]

With such a small number of CLT badges produced (relatively speaking), would the die wear out that rapidly, and significantly?

I think the suggestion is that the die is post-war, and has been worn out by the process of making all the various repro CLT Badges now in circulation!

[Don D.]

Alikn,

Here is a dumb question... How many troops were qualified to receive the CLTB? I am only playing devil's advocate. But with such a small number of CLT badges produced (relatively speaking), would the die wear out that rapidly, and significantly?

Glad you are peresuing this CLTB mystery.

Regards,
Mark

I would play advocate to the devel's advocate and say look at the die problems with RKs and how many of them were made by any given company? The LCTB may have been awarded to only approx 548 guys but it was in wear for a long time. How many badges would one guy go through in a year? If you worn it every day getting in and out of tanks..... Plus, how many shop display pieces are there? And patriotic displays in museums etc....

[mmiller]

I think the suggestion is that the die is post-war, and has been worn out by the process of making all the various repro CLT Badges now in circulation!

Robin,

Thanks for clarifying. I guess I have read too many CLTB threads, going back to Herr Stump days.

I would play advocate to the devel's advocate and say look at the die problems with RKs and how many of them were made by any given company? The LCTB may have been awarded to only approx 548 guys but it was in wear for a long time. How many badges would one guy go through in a year? If you worn it every day getting in and out of tanks..... Plus, how many shop display pieces are there? And patriotic displays in museums etc....

HI Don,

You make some sense. But even if each awardee had 10 badges (I don't think so), we're roughly talking ~ 5000 stampings. And with such a thin badge, I would think the die would last longer than with a 'solid' or 'massive' style badge.

Not sure if this perspective makes me an advocate or counter-advocate to the advocate of the devil's advocate?


ALL,

So then, are we still in agreement that the Portuguese and (1 or 2) German style (s) are the accepted types?

Regards,
Mark

[AlikN]

I think the suggestion is that the die is post-war, and has been worn out by the process of making all the various repro CLT Badges now in circulation!

...exactly what I mean,
from 50's to '60's or '70s (not sure how long after the war Souval was in business)
in 10 -15 or 20 years of making souvenirs, die got worse.

[Richard]

So would the badges made from the dies be considered genuine? Even though not made pre 1945, they were made from the orignal dies. Reminds me of the 1913 nickle or the 1804 Silver dollar.
Richard V

[AlikN]

So would the badges made from the dies be considered genuine? Even though not made pre 1945, they were made from the orignal dies. Reminds me of the 1913 nickle or the 1804 Silver dollar.
Richard V

They are all post war copies, some from 50's, some from 60's or later,
So not genuine, ...just like Souval RK's

[Robin Lumsden]

Just to complicate the matter, though...............

The Condor Legion Tank Badge did not have a swastika, so could legitimately be made after 1945 for purchase and wear by badge holders.

Just like the PLM being produced after 1918 for replacement purposes.

I have never yet seen a very clear photo of the CLTB with the 'stick' bones being worn pre-'45.

However, at least one has been posted over the years with a direct provenance to the holder.

The question is, did he get it pre-'45 or did he buy it as a replacement after '45?

I don't suppose we'll ever know.

The fact remains that some of these 'stick bone' badges are of exceptionally good quality (much better than the usual Souval products) and are old.

I can live quite happily with mine, whatever it is!