Hollowback PABs Help

[mmiller]

I've had these two Hollowback PABs for a couple of years. Since I haven't followed all the threads on these unmarked badges, can someone please tell me who the makers are?

Thanks again,
Mark

BRONZE PAB



SILVER PAB

[Philippe DB]

Hello Mister Miller

Your kidding me I supose


KR
Philippe

PS. If your interested in a trade I have some nice Pilot badges to spare

[mmiller]

Philippe,

I know I'm dumb. Everybody reminds me all the time. As for these badges, I don't even know if they are real. I mean, they look real, they feel real, and they even smell real. Someone gave me the impression that hollowbacks are the earlier PABs, and are a bit scarcer than zinkers.

But I'm serious as sin! Who are the makers?

Mark

Hmmmmm - Trades? Now I'm getting that collector frenzy

[Philippe DB]

Hi Mark,

So you were seriously living on an other planet for the last two years or so
Does the name "Porsche PAB" ring any bells?

To start with, no Porsche wasn't a PAB maker but if you do a search on "Porsche PAB" you should be able to catch up easely.

What you have here my friend is a nickel silver (the only one) PAB by an unknown maker. However based upon everythng I found out I'm convinced that these were the first PAB's ever awarded. The nickel silver didn't last very long and these badges continued their early existance as buntmetall badges.

Your bronze example is by that same unknown maker but only the second (not counting Andre's example) buntmetall bronze grade I have ever seen. For a very long time I thought these badges never existed as early buntmetall bronze versions, that was untill I stumbled over my example last year in Stuttgart.

When you look at the set-up it's clear that these badges were produced at a later stage than the nickel silver examples. The set-up on the bronze grade is identical to the setup on the later buntmetal examples.

This badge for me is the archetype of the PAB and the Bronze buntmetall variant is without a doubt one of the rarest PAB's ever made.

So with only two hollow PAB's in your collection you must be the luckiest collector in the universe.

Besides the two early hollow versions this PAB was also made as a hollow zinker and as very rare flatback Cupal and a solid zink variants. As far as I know this also is unique because no other PAB exists in 5 different variants

Hope this helps you on your way

KR
Philippe

[Don D.]

Beautiful badges Mark, if they ever need a new home......
Don

[Philippe DB]

Say Mark, would it be a problem for you to scratch the bronze one a little

After looking at the pics again I'm not sure that this is indeed a buntmetall variant. Could be a mint zinker. Difficult to tell from the pics, the finish for sure is different from mine and more consistent with the zinkers.

KR
Philippe

[Frank Heukemes]

I would also say the bronze one is definitely a ZINC P-P-P... badge.

[Mike Pinkus]

i can only echo Philippe here...if these are your only two panzer badges you did quite well...the silver one is very rare....i agree with Frank that the bronze is zinc but still extremely desireable.....you need to hang out more on this forum mark as these were discussed extensively...who knows what other treasures you have lurking in the bottom orf your desk

mike
http://tankbadges.homestead.com

I would also say the bronze one is definitely a ZINC P-P-P... badge.

[mmiller]

Well, even if my presidential candidate doesn't win, and more importantly, I've got good news at the 'Forum Polls' !

So, I finally have a Porsche! I always liked the 356 myself, or the later 911Turbo, but I guess I should be happy.

These are the only two (unnumbered) PABs I have. Purchased without any knowledge of scarcity, or the like. Gailen said that I would be happy, though.

Weight:
Bronze - 16.4
Silver - 16.2

Regards,
Mark