Late war Destroyer Badge maker?

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello to all,
Does anyone know anything about, or have an opinion on this type of Destroyer Badge? This piece has been in my collection for 20+ years. I have always liked this badge, and I am convinced that it is an original. I have never seen another one exactly like this though. Does anyone have a Destroyer Badge like this in their collection? Any idea at all on a maker of this badge? I have compared this badge to originals made by Schwerin, Steinhauer & Lück, Friedrich Orth, S.H.u.Co., Rudolf Souval, and W.Hobachter, and the die characteristics do not match any of these. Any opinions or help would be appreciated.
Thank you and best regards! Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

Here is the reverse. The badge is zinc, and the wreath is silvered. There are no traces of gold wash left on the badge. The badge has a nice quality hinge and pin.

[Tom Yanacek]

Pin, hinge and catch.

[Tom Yanacek]

A few more pictures...

[Tom Yanacek]

Notice how there are no catch and top hook plates. The catch and top hook are simply round wire stock that has been struck flat on the bottom, attachment ends. This allowed for a larger and better soldering surface so that the catch and top hook could be soldered directly to the badge. All soldering points on this piece are quite sound.

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Tom. Check this link and tell me if this is the same badge. I believe that they are the same, although mine is tombak. Note the cross-hatched eagle.

http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/files/destbrass.JPG

Now, check Mike Tuckers book on pages 338-339. He shows the identical tombak badge with the same pin assembly as yours, and his is stamped "L/21" for Foerster and Barth.

Now check this link for a zinc L/21 badge that I have. It is different from the badges shown, but has the typical stamped in pin assembly for F&B.

http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/files/destsl21x.JPG

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Lorenzo,

Thanks for responding and for all that great information. Your two Destroyer Badges are terriffic. Other than the hinge and pin, my badge is a spot on match to your tombak, unmarked Destroyer Badge. They were obviously made off the same die. The pin and hinge on yours kind of looks B.H.Mayer-ish to me. I like the look of your L/21 Destroyer Badge, but it was obviously made off an entirely different die. Unfortunately, I do not own the new Tucker Book yet, so I do not have access to the badge you are referring to from the book. What is your opinion of the badge shown in the Tucker Book? Where is this badge marked? Does the marking on the badge look original to you? Thanks for all your help and best regards! Tom

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Tom. Here are pictures of Tuckers badge. I think it is definitely good and appears to be the same as yours and mine, although neither of ours are marked and mine has a completely different hinge/pin assembly. They all have the flattened top hooks and catches. Note the stamped in mark in a rectangle. The pin seems to be the correct style used by F&B.

[Lorenzo Brown]

Reverse

[Lorenzo Brown]

Details

[Lorenzo Brown]

So, my question is: If these are Foerster & Barth...what is my zinker with the maker mark stamped-in pin?

[Frank Heukemes]

@Lorenzo: I think your zinc L/21 marked badge is the "common" & textbook Foerster & Barth destroyer. I have seen it numerous times by now, always with that design and peculiar reverse. This does not mean the Tucker one is fake, but somehow unusual (the fact that it is stamped L/21).

@Tom: You suggest the pins are "Mayereque". True, but L/18 marked destroyers have yet another, completely different design.

[Lorenzo Brown]

This does not mean the Tucker one is fake, but somehow unusual (the fact that it is stamped L/21).

Hi Frank. Those were also my thoughts.

Does anybody have an example of an L/21 badge in tombak? (other than the one in this thread?) I don't think I have ever seen one.

[Frank Heukemes]

All the ones I saw and have on file are zinc.

[Tom Yanacek]

@Tom: You suggest the pins are "Mayereque". True, but L/18 marked destroyers have yet another, completely different design.

Hello Frank,
Yes, I was just saying that the pin and hinge looked of B.H.Mayer, and not the badge itself.
Best regards! Tom