Schwerin Berlin Aux. Cruiser

[skip]

Well they do say you can never have enough examples to compare so heres mine as well.

Skip

[skip]

rev

[skip]

I´m not to sure were your going on the Pennent John. They look pretty similar to me.

Skip

[John R.]

ac

Well, I thought I saw something, but probably not. No question in my mind it is original, but seemed like there was enough of a difference to conclude there were more than one die for this badge. Maybe not.

Nice badge you posted.

That all said, your image is great. It is clear to me that the badge on the left, my badge has been polished, very different from the other three when lined up like you have done.

John

[rhudspith]

Hi Skip,

Not sure but the pennant on Johns badge looks more downswept to me, but perhaps its just the photo, in hand it maybe different. Having said that the badge looks to good to be a fake and I tend to agree it is original. If it did eventually proove to be a fake then we are all in a lot of trouble.

Can not explain the lack of gilding to the front, don't think this has been polished off as the detail on the wreath and acorns is still too sharp for this.

The globe would originally had a very thin matt silver/grey finish applied to it, this is easily worn off but you would usually find some traces of this in the recesses and edges. Also they used to apply some sort of darkening around parts of the coastline. Have not quite worked out what this is yet.

Could the badge have been chemically cleaned on the front only? I always thought that fire gilding was very durable and would not have been able to be removed in this manner?

[Steve Mezey]

mine

Here is my example. It came in it's original cardboard carton with tissue paper. The original laquer is still on the pin.

[Steve Mezey]

reverse

reverse

[Jeff V]

Hi Steve, I guess I would give you 50 bucks for it. Just kidding, fantastic piece! best wishes,
jeff

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Steve, that's an amazing badge!

John, I think I can still see traces of fire-gilding on your example (hence my earlier NEAR-100% comment), but only in some recesses - which are usually darker areas. Between the swas arms, between the eagle's legs, inside the flag pennant, inside the semi-circular loops of the mast sail - all these areas to me are brighter and lighter and imo probably fire-gilt.

I understand it was not uncommon for some sailors to regularly polish their tombak badges, so buffing off the fire-gilt rough matt finish would be possible during the war imo. It seems to be fairly common on earlier Minesweeper Badges in my experience.

Regards
Mike

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi John. I believe your badge is 100% authentic. From the reverse it looks absolutely good. From the front it is hard to tell if it has been polished.. .but SO WHAT???

Schwerin Aux badges are PRIMO ...but they are very rare and hard to find and I think you have a winner!

[rhudspith]

Steve,

wow, what a badge, I thought the one I have was tops but yours is just amazing.