Cruiser Auxiliary badge arrived!!

[Giel VW]

Hi guys,

In the previous threads you could see some very fuzzy pics of this badge. It arrived today, and I would love to hear some further opinions. In my opinion this badge is a nice wartime, the pin catch hinge are so typical Schwerin, not even mentioning the front On the badge you can see clearly it's made of two pieces attached with a rivet.
Please tell me what you think of this one

Thanks,

Giel

[Giel VW]

The reverse. The catch and hinge seem to be resoldered but aren't.

[Giel VW]

hinge

[Giel VW]

Last one...

[Philippe DB]

Hi Giel,

Well at first I just wanted to write "congrats with a lovely new addition to your collection" but after looking a little closer I wonder.

The badge is original no problem but is the finish

If you compare the wear on the globe with the rest of the badge there is a huge difference. Also the extensive scratch marks under the paint in combination with the missing rivet head for me are indications that maybe somebody did a little upgrading here.

Would love to hear other opinions.

KR
Philippe

[Giel VW]

Hi Philippe,

Thanks I also wondered about that. Anyway, the badge doesn't look so so bright like on the pics, the contrast between the globe and the wreath is really much better in real life. I had to put a light on it to make pics, which the gold reflected and the globe didn't... further opinions are welcome ofcourse
I'll make some better pics soon if I get my dad's camera in my hands

Hi Giel,

Well at first I just wanted to write "congrats with a lovely new addition to your collection" but after looking a little closer I wonder.

The badge is original no problem but is the finish

If you compare the wear on the globe with the rest of the badge there is a huge difference. Also the extensive scratch marks under the paint in combination with the missing rivet head for me are indications that maybe somebody did a little upgrading here.

Would love to hear other opinions.

KR
Philippe

[Al P]

It appears as if the globe has come from another badge. Look at the waves off the bow all of the detail has been filed off.

Is the globe zinc?

Al

[Philippe DB]

It appears as if the globe has come from another badge. Look at the waves off the bow all of the detail has been filed off.

Is the globe zinc?

Al

For sure possible, with such damage to the waves you would expect to see at least some scratches on the boat too but that isn't the case. On the right side of the sail there also apears to be a fingerprint in the paint.

KR
Philippe

[skip]

I would´nt be happy with that at all. Looks heavily messed with, also looks like somebody took the hinge pin out at some time. Strange looking badge all over and explains why the seller used such fuzzy pics.
In your place I would return it.

Skip

[mrg]

Hi Geil would agree with the other comments, a very messed with award. Before i came to the comments i had my doubts wether it was originl or not. Dont care for the globe at all. if it were me and it cost big bucks i would return it if at all possible. sorry. All the best

[Peter J.]

Could someone please explain the technique for attachment of the globe.

KR
Peter

[Giel VW]

@Skip, don't mind the fuzzy pics, I know the guy, and he already offered me very very good stuff in the past, also with fuzzy pics

@Peter, it might be glue, who know, it might be done under the globe...

[Peter J.]

Hi Giel,

I believe I've figured it out by looking at this LW badge and I assume the technique is the same. A hole is drilled in the wreath and a conic rivet with a head is inserted. Another hole is then drilled in the other object and the rivet pressed into it, with some addition of solder-material. This can be seen on the enclosed image. I don't believe there would be any need for soldering on the reverse (rivet-head side).

The "rivet" on your badge doesn't make any sense to me, given my assumptions are correct that is. Firstly, if the head on the rivet broke off, would it leave a pattern that seems to be the same as the badge itself? And what's with the raised circle, solder residue? Perhaps you can get a close up of the rivet.

KR
Peter

[Frank Heukemes]

Original, but messed with. The pin on a Tombak Schwerin is always gunblue when mint, silvery when worn. It is only golden on the zinc examples. The finish on the Tombak examples has to be fire gilding, this finsih does not look like fire gilding. It would be more "lemon" in color with burnished highlights. Also the scratch marks are really strange, as if somebody polished it heavily before the refinishing.
The globe is made from Aluminium which ages easily when strored in bad conditions, this could explain the difference in condition. While the globe was removed and just crudely cleaned (filed?), the rest of the badge was refinished and the globe was attached again, probably with glue.

[Giel VW]

Peter, thanks for your illustration, tomorrow I'll get my hands on my dads cam and I make some great shots of the badge and the rivit.

Frank, thank you for your expenation and I think you are completely right! I still can't understand why someone can mess with a beautiful badge like this, no matter in which condition it was before

But anyhow, do you guys think this badge is worth the keeping? I really didn't pay much for it (200 euro) but I can return it as well, makes me have a little dilemma...