Monster Pab!

[Philippe DB]

Hi Guys,

Wanted to share this one with you.

Since I already have some nice zinc sc Zimmermans I my collection I only bought the badge from a dealers side because the price was right and I thought it would be nice to keep it and trade it for an other PAB when the opportunity arised.

When it arrived this week I almost fell of my chair. This wasn't the normal PAB I expected but somekind of monster PAB.

This sc Zimmerman puts an incredible 39,5 grams on the scale compared to the 30 grams of one of his brothers. It just pulverises the weight record of the heaviest PAB I had in my collection untill now the massive Wurster PAB with it's 34,5 grams.

I know that weight variance is quit normal on most awards but this weight differnce is so huge that I find it difficult to explain.

I'll first post the obverse and reverse of the badge and than a profile scan next to his normal brother. That last scan gives you a good idea of how bulky this PAB really is.

KR
Philippe

[Philippe DB]

Reverse

[Philippe DB]

Comparison

[Don D.]

Beautiful badge Philippe. The thickness is incredible. What do you think, an early model? Perhaps just as they switched over to zinc?
Don

[Frank Heukemes]

Very, very nice, Philippe!

Cheers, Frank

[Pieter Verbruggen]

...be carefull with overweight....or you will have to join the weight-watchers club...

Pieter

[Philippe DB]

Beautiful badge Philippe. The thickness is incredible. What do you think, an early model? Perhaps just as they switched over to zinc?
Don

Hi Don,

I wish it was that easy.

But when you take in to account the catch evolution on the early zinckers than this badge only would be the third in line (left one being the earliest setup with round catchplate) as you can see on the comparison below. Makes it that more difficult to find an explanation for the weight difference, it's just to big to be an accident.

Or maybe these were special issues for Panther and Tiger crews, the only panzers able to carry the weight of these badges

KR
Philippe

[Don D.]

Good one Philippe.

Don

[Greg]

Or maybe these were special issues for Panther and Tiger crews, the only panzers able to carry the weight of these badges

KR
Philippe

With what that thing looks like, must have been meant for the Königstiger crews! Very nice and interesting PAB, Philippe, congrats!

Regards,
Greg

[Sal Williams]

Hi Philippe,
Everyone seems pretty sure that it is real. With the huge weight difference why is it so certain? Is it that the features are a perfect match? Well it looks nice and real to me. Could it be a mistake of some sort? Perhaps a badge struck over another or something?
Best, Sal

[Pascal H.]

Very interesting PAB .

Congrats Philippe.

Pascal

[Philippe DB]

Hi Philippe,
Everyone seems pretty sure that it is real. With the huge weight difference why is it so certain? Is it that the features are a perfect match? Well it looks nice and real to me. Could it be a mistake of some sort? Perhaps a badge struck over another or something?
Best, Sal

Hi Sal,

The weight difference in fact is the only strange thing about this otherwise perfect PAB. It is a perfect match to all known originals, not only design wise but also taken in to account the accepted hinge and catch evolution. Next to that you have the typical die flaw on the reverse under the turret that also puts it further on the line in a production timeframe (early zinkers don't show the die flaw) and is consitent with the later setup.

And finaly you have the frosted finish, also very uncommon on sc zimmermann PAB's, but a sure signe of originality. I still have to find the first fake with a perfect frosted finish. And I guess one other good point is the detailing in the grass area. It's also a match to other zimmermans but if you compare it you will notice that on this badge the grass area is much sharper and more detailed.

KR
Philippe

[Anthony]

Hi Philippe,
A very nice badge. IMO this could be an early Zink one, it is the first one from Zimmermann that I have seen that has the Silver plate finish that has then been frosted, this could explain the extra weight.

I posted a pic of my KW in Silver on another thread, this has the same sort of finish and is 4g heavier than they normally are, and just slightly less than your badge in this thread.

Regards,

Anthony

[skip]

Wow, my frosted Zimmermann only weighs in at 29,6grms, which is a whole 10grms lighter than this monster PAB.
It could mearly be a "one off" production mistake.

Skip

[Philippe DB]

Hi Skipy,


I guess your right, a production mistake seems the only logical explanation for this monster.

"common guys lets see how much zinc we can pour in to the die before it explodes"

KR
Philippe