Gab Trio

[anguspm]

@Frank,

"covers all makers (known and unknown) with all of their variations"

Very bold claim, Good luck!

Seriously though it will be good to see this badge receiving some attention and at least I´ll know who to blame when the prices go up

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Angus,

Darrel asked and got a reply. I am never bold unless I can back it up. The book is 80% done at this moment. But I will only release it when I am 100% satisfied. But it looks as if I will hit Q1 2005.

[anguspm]

Hi Frank,

Maybe the joke doesn´t translate too well or is a little obscure, so for clarity its laughing at the fact new variations/badges appear every so often in this hobby therefore I would say its impossible to include every single badge in the book.

No offence intended

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Angus,

I didn´t take it as an offense. Of course it is practically impossible, but it is exactly the goal. And I think nobody will hold it against me if a new catch is found for type 5 of maker X.
So let´s say for the first time 98% of all GAB types will be shown in one book, each with 5 detailed pictures.

[Philippe DB]

Hi Angus,


I would agree with Frank that based upon what we know by now it is very feasible to start such a project.

IMO Frank took the right decision to start with the GAB, from the 3 most common assault badges it is the most manageable in terms of designs and variants.

When it comes to GAB's, PAB's and IAB's I can honestly say that I didn't discover previous unknown designs in the last two years (Tom's semi hollow marked Zimmermann with Wernstein design PAB, being the exception). You can still discover a set-up variants, attribute a maker because all of a sudden you find a marked example, or discover a production variant, hollow/solid, zink/cupal/alu/Buntmetall but all these badges can be traced back to known examples.

I think Frank's timing is perfect and even if he misses one or two, this work will be invaluable and absolutely unique in it's kind. It will be a reference for decades to come and unlike anything ever seen before in this hobby. What Frank is trying to accomplish is without a doubt the future of our hobby in the sense that it will make the life of the bad guys incredibly difficult.

Hang in there Frank, you're doing the work of a missionary and I'm sure you'll pull it off

KR
Philippe

[Marc Garlasco]

Frank,

What will the markup be for autographed copies? And can I get one with an original Rommel signature and a well-worn look?

Seriously folks, after visiting Frank and seeing the blood, sweat and tears he has put into this I think we will all be very impressed with the final work.

No pressure my friend!
Marc

[Darrell]

@Darrell:

The book is about the GAB and covers all makers (known and unknown) with all of their variations, which are sometimes up to 5-6 per maker. Numbered GABs are also covered in that way.

It will be available in Q1 2005 in English language if it proceeds as planned. If you keep visiting here, you won´t miss it.

Well that's good news .... after purchasing Detlev's Vol 2 Catalog, the Tucker/Previtera "Combat Badges Vol 1", Gordon's "Iron Cross of 1939" AND the Previtera's "Iron Time" ... the wife has dreaded mail day

Now Frank (GAB Book) and Gordon's KVK book coming ... I may need to create another mailing address so they arrive in a more descreet manner

That is if Laurence doesn't order all the KVK books for himself

[Laurence Strong]

Well that's good news .... after purchasing Detlev's Vol 2 Catalog, the Tucker/Previtera "Combat Badges Vol 1", Gordon's "Iron Cross of 1939" AND the Previtera's "Iron Time" ... the wife has dreaded mail day

Now Frank (GAB Book) and Gordon's KVK book coming ... I may need to create another mailing address so they arrive in a more descreet manner

That is if Laurence doesn't order all the KVK books for himself

Send them to my place and the wife won't know you ordered them

[Frank Heukemes]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Philippe, I am sure I will have at least one design (maker) of GAB that you haven´t seen before. In addition (like with everything else one turns extreme attention to), some small differences which you have not noticed before, suddenly become apparent and make you realize the usage of either a different die or the existence of even another unknown maker. Believe it or not, there actually were some things left to discover and some "new" makers to be found. I am not so vain to assume nobody ever saw or realized them before me, but at least I have not seen any documentation of it in books.

About two to three years ago, I made a cautious assumption that the small "W" might be a maker mark of Karl Wurster, who usually marked his badges KWM in a circle. First comparison pictures were posted. Soon all was evident, by comparing the designs, reverse setups, so that today there is no more doubt about who is the maker of the small W marked badges.

I also remember that three years ago, we did not even know that the hollow Tombak PABs by Wurster are actually made by Wurster. I am happy that way of looking at badges has spread and has found more followers on this forum by now. We have come a long way since then.

Btw, I did not choose the GAB because it is the most easy one to catalogue. I chose it because it is the most neglected of the war badges and because it has not been catalogued/catagorized properly yet. With other war badges, at least an attempt has been made to get all known makers categorized.

Actually, the GAB is the HARDEST to catalogue in my eyes, because the majority of GABs are not marked.

[Darrell]

Thank you all for your kind words.

Btw, I did not choose the GAB because it is the most easy one to catalogue. I chose it because it is the most neglected of the war badges and because it has not been catalogued/catagorized properly yet. With other war badges, at least an attempt has been made to get all known makers categorized.

Frank.

If we order an advance copy, will we all receive a free GAB (unique one) as a gift?

[Anthony]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the resizing link, so here goes with GAB pics

Regards,

Anthony

[Anthony]

And the reverse.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Anthony,

From left to right, first row:

1) unknown maker, made only hollow badges in Tombak and zink
2) unknown maker, made also massive badges
3) same maker as 1)

Second row:

4) in all likeliness a GAB made by Rudolf Karneth
5) Tombak Karl Wurster

Cheers,

Frank

[Anthony]

Hi Frank,

Thanks for the info, I do like these a lot.

Regards,

Anthony