GB 25 PAB in Bronze

[Skipper Greenwade]

Larry, could I have pics of the shear marks on the sides. Thanks, Ed

Ed, et. al.,

The badge is "staying" with me for the moment...hope this is helpful. That is a tough shot to take!

[Warren O]

The fit, finish,and detail look fine to me but the recent comments have made me look harder. There appears to be a defect on the tracks of the viewers left side. The reverse does have the defects that I like to see on the the eagles left and right wings. I think it would be difficult to reproduce these in a casting. The diemensions on mine are overall height 60.96mm, overall width 46.40mm, wreath 44.90, numbered box 7.60mm. Sorry I don't have the weight. I haven't seen the photos that this badge has been compared to but it doesn't look much different from the 25 posted by Ed's link.

[emaroli]

I like the true shear marks. ~Ed

[emaroli]

The high quality fakes were hand cast by a talented jeweler, made along the lines of the fake 'daisey' PAB but with alot of skill and time taken to remove the casting marks. I do not like the GBs that have to much hand working on the rim. ~ED

[Bob Hritz]

I am hoping to help clear the issue, not cloud it. These two were brought back by the same soldier. They are slightly different in that the periods after the GB mark are not visiable on the bronze example and are clearly visiable on the silver. The silver has lost most of the bright finish and the bronze badge has badly fading finish and some light oxidation..


Measurements:

Silver: Height 62.17 mm
Wreath width 44.65 mm
Overall width 47.73 mm

Bronze: Height 61.10
Wreath width 44.75 mm
Overall width 46.34 mm

The shear marks are more clear on the silver badge as the external flare is greater. The bronze example has very clear shear marks on the eagle and number box frame, but the edges appear to be lightly ground or filed.

This is for your information and observation.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Verso

[Skipper Greenwade]

The reverse does have the defects that I like to see on the the eagles left and right wings. I think it would be difficult to reproduce these in a casting.

Warren,

This is a shot of the badge in question (left) alongside Larry's GB 25 PAB (right). I assume this is the area in question:

[Warren O]

Hi Skip,
Thats the area, from what I've studied this appears on original badges. There is also a straight raised line on the inside right wing. The first photo posted of the badge under exam shows a defect on the tracks but I don't know if this is the photo or the badge.

[Skipper Greenwade]

Warren,

The badge does indeed have the raised line in the reverse right wing.

I blew up the photo from the first post to better illustrate the 'booger' on the tank tread:

[Warren O]

I guess the blob is a matter of opinion, can such a thing have happened on an original badge? I would think on a badge that has been cast from an original the size is going to be smaller because of shrinkage from the mold material and the molten metal cooling. I know casting material can pick up a lot of detail but will it be as sharp as an original. I think comparison with a known original badge, both in hand may be the best way to verify this badge.

[Tom Yanacek]

I believe that the "blob" area on the tank tread can be found on some original badges. Looks to me like that occurred due to a damaged die, over the course of time. A chip in the die at that point would allow metal to form into the chipped area when the badge was struck, leaving a raised blemish on the piece. Ed Maroli has a G.B. 25 Tank Assault in Silver that has this same flaw. I have examined Ed's badge, and I am convinced that it is genuine.
Best regards! Tom

[IVAN]

Warren,

This is a shot of the badge in question (left) alongside Larry's GB 25 PAB (right). I assume this is the area in question:

Hi Skip,

did you think is identical in comparison ?

for me are not.....

of course must be for the relief for the other side !

.....and look the zinc quality, have you seen again in G.B. pab zinc like this one ?

[emaroli]

If you look at the two badges from the link I posted in reply #14. Note how the second badge has the die flaw first appearing as a tiny blemish on the one track link. The first badge from that link does not.~Ed

[emaroli]

.