Hello:
Here for all to see are two U-Boot badges in my collection. I will outline from my research what I believe to be relevant about each of them, but I would appreciate opinions, please, regarding maker and originality.
Badge #1 (left): The first is zinc with a gilt wash, much of which has gone leaving the badge a gray colour. The dimensions are 49.1 x 40.1mm. I believe it to possibly be made by Hermann Wernstein. The reason for this being that the numerals "17" are stamped into the metal on the reverse in the middle of the submarine (but no "L" nor maker's icon). Also, the hinge attachment appears to me of the kind which that firm used, although there is no scalloped edge to the portion soldered to the back of the wreath. The flatwire retaining clasp is soldered directly to the badge, not mounted on a disc base, which I believe Wernstein used. This retaining clasp is soldered to the bottom of the wreath, versus in the middle of the U-Boot (where the numerals "17" appear). The eagle's feet as well as the body and feathers, especially on the legs, are consistent with those pictured in Tucker's latest book on page 274. The swastika is cut-out, and the pin is a tapering needle one 34.5mm long. No parts are magnetic and there are no markings other than the numerals.
Badge #2 (right): I believe this badge to also be zinc and manufactured by the French firm of Bacqueville. The badge details are almost identical to that shown on pages 276-77 of Tucker's latest book (eagle's head and short body, leaf veins, squared-off lower portion of the U-Boot, large waterline groove, flag) and also appears the same as that shown by Jamie Cross on the W-A site. The dimensions are 48.2 x 38.7mm and the thickness of the wreath is 2.5mm. The hinge and the flatwire retaining clasp are both mounted to round discs which are soldered to the wreath. The hinge has a bolt-like hinge pin. The "coke-bottle" pin measures 35.5mm long. No maker or other markings.
Are these originals and who are the makers? Pictures follow.
Here for all to see are two U-Boot badges in my collection. I will outline from my research what I believe to be relevant about each of them, but I would appreciate opinions, please, regarding maker and originality.
Badge #1 (left): The first is zinc with a gilt wash, much of which has gone leaving the badge a gray colour. The dimensions are 49.1 x 40.1mm. I believe it to possibly be made by Hermann Wernstein. The reason for this being that the numerals "17" are stamped into the metal on the reverse in the middle of the submarine (but no "L" nor maker's icon). Also, the hinge attachment appears to me of the kind which that firm used, although there is no scalloped edge to the portion soldered to the back of the wreath. The flatwire retaining clasp is soldered directly to the badge, not mounted on a disc base, which I believe Wernstein used. This retaining clasp is soldered to the bottom of the wreath, versus in the middle of the U-Boot (where the numerals "17" appear). The eagle's feet as well as the body and feathers, especially on the legs, are consistent with those pictured in Tucker's latest book on page 274. The swastika is cut-out, and the pin is a tapering needle one 34.5mm long. No parts are magnetic and there are no markings other than the numerals.
Badge #2 (right): I believe this badge to also be zinc and manufactured by the French firm of Bacqueville. The badge details are almost identical to that shown on pages 276-77 of Tucker's latest book (eagle's head and short body, leaf veins, squared-off lower portion of the U-Boot, large waterline groove, flag) and also appears the same as that shown by Jamie Cross on the W-A site. The dimensions are 48.2 x 38.7mm and the thickness of the wreath is 2.5mm. The hinge and the flatwire retaining clasp are both mounted to round discs which are soldered to the wreath. The hinge has a bolt-like hinge pin. The "coke-bottle" pin measures 35.5mm long. No maker or other markings.
Are these originals and who are the makers? Pictures follow.
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