IAB / ISA original or not?

[jabnus]

Hi,

A friend came to me with this IAB and asked if it was a good one, since im a political collector i haven't got the slightest idea of what variations all exist.
Does it have any chance?

best regards,
Gaston

[Graeme]

Hi Gaston

It looks like an original one to me

regards
Graeme

[jabnus]

Hi Graeme,

Thanks, thats good news!

Would it be possible to attribute it to a certain maker perhaps?

best regards,
Gaston

[schwelch]

Hello Gaston,

this zinc IAB is considered to be madey by to B.H. Mayer, because there are some tombak IABs with a L/18 maker mark on the needle in a similiar design. As far as I know it's not finally proofen if it was really B.H.Mayer who made this IABs, because there are no maker marked examples with exactely the same design.

Best regards
Sven

[jabnus]

Hi Sven,

Always good to see a reply from you. Thanks for the information regarding B.H. Mayer.

When the IAB visited my house yesterday i thought at first it was smaller than the one i got from you, but side by side they are the same size and i now think this comes because it is slightly rounded (gewölbt).

best regards,
Gaston

[Norm F]

Hi Gaston,

You can see Sven's posting of his wonderful rare L/18 stamped Tombak variants of this badge along with the L/18 stamped "P&L-like" IAB here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t=Schickle+IAB

If you run a search on "Schickle IAB" you'll also find significant discussions suggesting this is a Schickle product - even the zincers - and that Mayer simply acquired some of Schickle's sell-out stock in 1941. The case is at least as strong for Schickle as for Mayer so those on the fence may prefer the term "Schickle/Mayer-type" which covers all the bases.

Best regards,
---Norm

[schwelch]

Hi Norm,

thanks for the information! I thought the connection to Schickle was just made for the tombak badges? Do you think Schickle has maybe also produced the zinc badges? I thought that they already were out of business when the production of zinc badges has started.
@Gaston: Here you can find my L/18 marked tombak IAB in Mayer / Schickle Design:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=658784

BR
Sven

[Norm F]

Hi Norm,

I thought that they already were out of business when the production of zinc badges has started.

BR
Sven

Hi Sven,

That's a common assumption but without proof whereas we know zinc was used in 1941 and that Schickle use zinc in his marked EK cores and attributed wound badges. As far as I'm concerned zinc production in Pforzheim likely began in early 1941. This is all debated in this thread from post #45 through to the end for the brave of heart :

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...98#post5957498

Best regards,
---Norm

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Gaston,

I can only agree with the others, a fine original Schickle. Not too much finish remaining unfortunately, but that is common for these zinkers.

Tom

[jabnus]

Hi,

Many thanks for the replies, im learning more with every new post.

Sven, your two L/18's are stunning. Im starting to understand what you meant when you told me about the IAB collecting bug a few months ago. I think i may now need a bronze IAB and a buntmetal hollow one too. These are indeed a lot of fun to collect.

What surprises me the most however is the very big difference in quality beween these IAB's. I put this one from my friend next to my 4-rivet IAB and it's a world of difference, almost like two different awards. I never looked much after the zinc badges but they do have a certain kind of "beauty" in their uglyness (dont know if this makes sense but it feels like this). Maybe i'll go and try to trade this badge with my friend as he wants something from me and is normally not a collector of military awards too.

Thanks all for taking the time to educate me, it's very much appreciated.

best regards,
Gaston