Stamped IAB in bronze by Mayer.

[Sniper 1987]

Yes - I have spoken to Tom at SOS the past several years, and he is always the patient gentleman with folks like me.

[Dave_B]

Hello Matt,



if you look closely on your first picture, you can still see traces of the silvering beneath the arms of the swaz. It shows the same discolouring as I would expect on a silver piece. So I would agree with the first comments, that this piece indeed started his life as an assault badge in silver.


Regards,


Daniel

I guess it's my inexperienced eye, but I cannot for the life of me see any silver that some are seeing on the badge in question. I do however see a bronze color with a copper color base metal on some of the high points like Matt says.

Just my opnion.

Dave

[Nordmark]

[Sniper 1987]

What looks "silver" to you in a photo is actually light bronze plating when examined in hand.

[Nordmark]

What looks "bronze" to you are actually the remnants of the patinized silvering.

[Panzercracker]

Bottom line is this: Based on these pics, an advanced collector would not, in his right mind, go on this as a bronze Mayer IAB. Even if it can be deemed a bronze "in hand" the price will not reach a premium. BTW, this type of advert could coax some to going on a bronze. Too many scams out there using crap scans/pics -and I'm being nice! No matter whether bronze or silver -price based on condition. Bla.. Bla.. Bla..

--Rgds, Ken

[Sniper 1987]

Please refer again to the photos in posts #5, #8, and #9 and honestly ask yourself if you see silver on the IAB in the areas where you placed arrows. That is bronze. Only oxidation was removed when I dipped this IAB, not any plating, and the areas where your arrows are placed not only remain on the badge, but remain bronze.

I posted the photos of my other three brass-based badges, two PAB's and an IAB, for side-by-side comparison purposes regarding the coloration. You should see two silver badges and two bronze badges. If you still see silver on the IAB in the lower left of #9, I recommend consulting with an opthamologist soon.

[Sniper 1987]

I believe this thread has devolved to a point where I am going to have to discipline myself and make no further comments until I consult with the "advanced collectors" at the Show of Shows in Louisville in a couple weeks. I will post a constructive comment thereafter. I hope to locate several WAF members whose opinions are respected, and I will gladly admit if my assessment of this badge is incorrect and post the details here.

Matt

[Graeme]

I believe this thread has devolved to a point where I am going to have to discipline myself and make no further comments until I consult with the "advanced collectors" at the Show of Shows in Louisville in a couple weeks. I will post a constructive comment thereafter. I hope to locate several WAF members whose opinions are respected, and I will gladly admit if my assessment of this badge is incorrect and post the details here.

Matt

Hi Matt

You post a badge here for comment. Members take the time to evaluate your badge and offer their thoughts. They have nothing to gain, and imo comment fairly. In your second posting you mention "negative" assessments of your badge. This is far from the truth. No one has slated your badge, they have just made judgements on whether it is bronze or silver. And because comments are made which you do not want to hear you mention taking it to "advanced collectors" at the sos and to search out respected WAF members.

I think your last post is very disrespectful to all who have commented in this thread. There was no need for you to make such a comment

The badge John posted, looks a bronze to me.

I will not post again in this thread, but I will tidy up the few posts which went off topic.

best regards
Graeme

[Sniper 1987]

Graeme,

I did allow myself to become frustrated, which is wrong. I apologize for that, and hopefully you noted that I recognized the thread was becoming counterproductive.

My last post, which you reference, was only an attempt to put things on hold until I attend the Show of Shows. I did not mean any disrespect to WAF members in that post. I only repeated the phrase "advanced collectors" because a previous poster in this thread used it to imply that my IAB is not worth anything. I did not repeat it to imply there are no knowledgable collectors on WAF, only that I intend to take this IAB to the Show of Shows and allow WAF members, who are recognized as trusted experts (i.e. Tom Durante) on badges, to examine the item in hand. Anyone else who I meet at SOS and who is a WAF member is welcome to handle this IAB and make an assessment. Thereafter, I will post a final reply with the results - good or bad. That is only fair to everyone who has taken the time to post their opinions. Thanks.

Matt

[Panzercracker]

If everyone were to strip the finish off the silver Mayers, then artificially age them, we'd see more collectors getting screwed. It's bad enough that some already know how to manipulate scans and pics to enhance, or hide, the actual "look" of the badges they sell for unreasonable prices! And who said it's worthless? I said she's not going to realize the same price compared to one that has atleast a fair bit of finish left, whether bronze or silver. --Further, based on all your pics Matt, I wouldn't, and neither would a lot of collectors, "go" on yours as being a bronze grade. You should be so fortunate to have a few die-hards willing enough to put their honest 2 cents in too!

--Ken

[Graeme]

Graeme,

I did allow myself to become frustrated, which is wrong. I apologize for that, and hopefully you noted that I recognized the thread was becoming counterproductive.

My last post, which you reference, was only an attempt to put things on hold until I attend the Show of Shows. I did not mean any disrespect to WAF members in that post. I only repeated the phrase "advanced collectors" because a previous poster in this thread used it to imply that my IAB is not worth anything. I did not repeat it to imply there are no knowledgable collectors on WAF, only that I intend to take this IAB to the Show of Shows and allow WAF members, who are recognized as trusted experts (i.e. Tom Durante) on badges, to examine the item in hand. Anyone else who I meet at SOS and who is a WAF member is welcome to handle this IAB and make an assessment. Thereafter, I will post a final reply with the results - good or bad. That is only fair to everyone who has taken the time to post their opinions. Thanks.

Matt

Hi Matt

No problems, thanks for your reply. I look forward to hearing what the in hand inspections consensus is. Always better to inspect under a loupe or similar.

On a general note, with no individuals in mind, remember that many "trusted experts" are very good at promoting themselves. They also make mistakes, like the rest of us.

Hope you find a few other badges for your collection while you are there

best regards
Graeme