Couple of new additions - GABs

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Was able to add 2 new GABs to the collection recently. The first one is a nice Vienna Design with semi-hollow bayonet reverse. The obverse is a perfect match to Friedrich Orth GABs, but not sure if there is any other info out there to tie these GABs to this maker. One has been found marked with "11" on the reverse, which would point to Grossmann, however the mark is very weak and the numerals don't match other wartime Grossmann products so its likely a spurious postwar mark and these GABs likely have nothing to do with Grossmann IMO.

Really nicely preserved finish on this one, so I snapped it up when I saw it as I had been missing this exact variant in the collection.

Thanks for looking, hope you like it as much as I do.

Tom

[rbminis]

Lovely condition Tom!
Congrats on adding this one to your collection!
Ralph.

[Thomas Durante]

My other pick up was this nicely preserved unmarked GAB by Funcke & Bruninghaus. Also another one that has happened to have eluded me all these years, despite being lucky enough to pick up his rarer Cupal brother last year at the SOS. I really like the obverse design of these F&BLs, especially the stippling to the oakleaves, really nicely done and gives these unique GABs a great look IMO.

Hope you like this one as much as I do.

Thanks

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

Lovely condition Tom!
Congrats on adding this one to your collection!
Ralph.

Thanks much Ralph, I appreciate it bud!

Tom

[rbminis]

Another lovely example!
Not very many makers utilized this type of catch and plate.
Ralph.

[Jelle M.]

Hi Tom,

two very fine general assault badges.
They are both in an excellent condition.
Well done!

[Arctic War]

Hi Tom,

Two beautiful GABs you got there!
Very nice.

Kind regards,

AW

[schwelch]

Hi Tom,

two really nice GABs!!! Congrats my friend!

BR
Sven

[chrisje110]

Tom they look like two excellent pieces ! Great finish on both as well !

[Job Lunter]

Hi Tom,

Some great additions there. The F&BL has always been one of the more detailed ones, we see this with their IAB as well. Sadly its still not accepted by everyone as F&BL, but the same thing goes for the obvious Egghead IABs produced by Gustav Brehmer.

Have to say that I like these hollow Hobachers, but also cannot remember why we gave Hobacher the win over FO even though it has 2 cut outs. All thought I think there a small difference and I just have to refresh the mind there.
I did wrote a post about the three different setups for the scooped out Hobacher a while back on gca. I do think the scooped out back fits in the hobacher production line when we look at their end product the hollow Hobacher.

Best Regards, Job

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys, thanks very much for the great replies, I appreciate it. Very glad you like them.

Job, thanks for the info on Hobacher. I went back through my files and compared all the Vienna Design GABs we know of, and I think you are right that Hobacher is the best match.

Not an exact match, definately used a different die cutter to trim out the center of mine compared with other Hobacher variants. But the firm link to me is this raised dimple under the right-most acorn, we see this feature on only 1 other Vienna Design GAB which is the very rare, semi-hollow reverse Hobachers. So I think that is a good connection point to this maker.

If you have any more info, would love to see it if you don't mind posting. I know you have quite a nice GAB collection yourself, hope you can post some eye candy for us

Tom

[Job Lunter]

Thank you for refreshing my mind Tom and the nice words about my GAB collection. That spot comes across as familiar to me and must be the reason it was put under Hobacher some years ago.

I am not a paying member here yet...Have always decided against that because of the problems with the owner and forum that are going here. But that is my personal decision, all though I feel like sharing he knowledge is more important...
I will think about it for a bit and will post if I do decide to become a paying member after all.

Another maker that comes across as very similar with both cut-outs is the Kerbach GAB, that is virtually impossible to acquire(Still looking for that one). But also this die does not have the dot at the spot you pointed out. I find the Vienna design badges, to be very good looking and interesting due to the small differences between them.

The hobacher serie is quite unclear, but here is what I have on it.

Solid Zink variants
Semi Hollow Zink
Scooped out variants
Hollow or very semi hollow Hobacher (very rare)
Dotted solid Hobacher (I know of one)

The Scooped out variant has two sheet hinge types, both very similar.
A round wire question mark catch on base plate, round catch plate like yours and there is a variant with a rectangle catch plate.

The Dotted Hobacher is something special, because its a solid zink variant with a different acorn pattern and both cut-outs.

My apologies for the lack of pictures.

[rbminis]

My apologies for the lack of pictures.

You do not have to be a paying member to upload photos anymore.
Ralph.

[Job Lunter]

Thank you for clarifying that Ralph. I will have a look and try to figure it out.

Best regards
Job

[Job Lunter]

Here are the pictures of the scooped out Hobachers with the setup variants.
Also note the difference in how the back was scooped out and the possibility of two different dies due to the lack of the dots below the acorns(both sides).