eagle pin

[Kojima]

Hello,
I'm looking for some information about this pin ? ( maker, fake, use... )

thank you for your help

[Jean-Claude]

Bonsoir Kojima,

Your bird is original

This type of bird was worn on the right breast of white summer uniforms by officers. There is a silver version (for Heer officers & KM beamte officers) and a gold one (KM officers & Heer generals). It is removable to facilitate uniform cleaning.

The specimen you show is made of zink and looks to be silver but it could also be a gold specimen with the finish absorbed as is often the case for this variant as there appears to be a few gold spots that could be remnants of the original finish. The maker of this variant (these were produced by many makers using different designs/dies) is not known but some collectors beleive it was made in France

Salut

JC

[Kojima]

Thank you for these explanations

[e-maus]

Hello Jean-Claude, I agree with your opinion as to the originality.
But I just wanted to ask what you base the opinion that it is made of zinc. If so, should the base of the catch not be soldered on the pad ?. I appreciate your knowledge, but I just like to know
greetings
Jacek

[Kojima]

[Jean-Claude]

Hello Jean-Claude, I agree with your opinion as to the originality.
But I just wanted to ask what you base the opinion that it is made of zinc. If so, should the base of the catch not be soldered on the pad ?. I appreciate your knowledge, but I just like to know
greetings
Jacek

Hi Jacek,

I have over 50 of these "summer birdies" and I understand where you are coming from...Typically tombac/brass birds have the hardware (hinge, catch and lower clasp when applicable) welded directly onto the back of the eagle, aluminum birds are crimped and cupal eagles either use crimped hardware like the aluminum ones or have mounting plates. Zinkers normally also use mounting plates for the hardware to facilate welding (dissipate the heat over a larger surface?) so what is a zink eagle doing without mounting plates right?

You have a point and there may be tombac specimens out there but I have never seen this variation eagle (I call it the "4 feather type and its the only summer eagle I have seen with 4 intermediate feathers in both wings: most have 4 on one side & 5 on the other side or 5 intermediate feathers on both sides) in any other metal than zink so far. I suspect that plates are not required here because the hinge, catch and lower clasp have enough "welding surface" to be welded directly without plates because they are flat. You also see other zink birds using mounting plates for the hinge & catch that dont have plates for the lower clasp if its made of flat stock similar the one discussed here.

Attached you will find (what I beleive to be) an earlier version of the same identical bird with an usually good finish for this type but you do see them now & then in gold: possibly copper coated zink like some zink badges/medals (GAB, Ostfront etc) prior to final gilt finish to "seal" the finish but still a zink bird IMO judging from the typical zink residue (black stuff) seeping through the gilt on the back. In this version the hinge is mounted on an additional plate that was later discarded but the catch is just an unusually long round stock to facilitate proper welding to zink and the (flat) lower clasp is identical to the one shown here: both without mounting plates...

I may well be full of ... it happened often enough that I wouldnt be surprized but, if so, I would really like to see picts of a "non zink" specimen of this variation

Take care my friend

JC

[e-maus]

Hi JC
Thanks my friend for the long and logical lecture
cheers, along with HOG South chapter Poland
Jacek