I asked Gordon Williamson if he could summarize the different techniques with the German die-cast and die-struck methods a while back. He responded as follows and many thanks to Gordon:
"Die struck badges are generally stamped from a strip of sheet metal, using two tools. e.g. a U-Boat Badge, first a blanking die tool stamps out the basic part which will still have a "flashing" of metal around the edges and has a "solid" centre. This is then put into a finishing tool which crops off the excess metal around the edge and voids out the centre. This second operation is what gives the shear lines or striations around the edges.
Cast badges using similar die tools (not moulds) but instead of being stamped, molten metal is forced into the die under pressure. This allows parts like the hinge, retaining hook etc to be formed integrally with the badge. Again there will be a "flashing" of surplus metal around the edges and in the centre which is cropped off using a finishing tool.
In both cases, die stamped or die cast there will be striations around the edge, but not a casting line like you see on cast fakes, which are low volume production pieces in which the metal is poured into a mould.
This planchette for a U-Boat clasp will show you what I mean re the flashing of excess metal which has to be cropped off."
His book Torpedo Los also has a section on the making of these badges. Image courtesy of Gordon Williamson.
John
"Die struck badges are generally stamped from a strip of sheet metal, using two tools. e.g. a U-Boat Badge, first a blanking die tool stamps out the basic part which will still have a "flashing" of metal around the edges and has a "solid" centre. This is then put into a finishing tool which crops off the excess metal around the edge and voids out the centre. This second operation is what gives the shear lines or striations around the edges.
Cast badges using similar die tools (not moulds) but instead of being stamped, molten metal is forced into the die under pressure. This allows parts like the hinge, retaining hook etc to be formed integrally with the badge. Again there will be a "flashing" of surplus metal around the edges and in the centre which is cropped off using a finishing tool.
In both cases, die stamped or die cast there will be striations around the edge, but not a casting line like you see on cast fakes, which are low volume production pieces in which the metal is poured into a mould.
This planchette for a U-Boat clasp will show you what I mean re the flashing of excess metal which has to be cropped off."
His book Torpedo Los also has a section on the making of these badges. Image courtesy of Gordon Williamson.
John
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