JFS destroyer- variant hinge!

[Patrick W]

Here is an interesting badge I picked up recently. Everything about it appears to be an original JFS destroyer but it has a sheet metal hinge as opposed to the usual ball type with crimping. Having looked at it closely this is not a repair- there is no evidence of grinding down a broken crimp and the finish on the hinge is the same toned gilding as on the reverse of the badge.

I found one single other example which was assessed as a repaired original with the exact same type of pin setup, again this one shows no obvious signs of actual repair

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...fs+sheet+hinge

As such I think we can conclude that this is a legitimate albeit very rare variant and that at some point very late on either

1. The crimping device for the hinge failed (as we see on RS&S luft clasps, round crimp PABs etc)

2. They ran out of ball hinges so utilised sheet metal for a short run.

Here it is....

[Patrick W]

,,

[Patrick W]

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[Thomas Durante]

Hi Patrick,

I think the badge you show and the one in that other thread, are the exact same badge! Notice many of the same exact nicks and dings on both badges. But there are some differences such as the condition of the pin (yours is quite rusty, but yet on the other picture its neat and clean, which is weird). And the finish doesn't look like an exact match, but that could just be due to the different lighting.

At a minimum, I think both pictures are of the exact same badge. Even the circular cut on the base of the hinge is the same, so I think we are looking at one and the same badge here.

To me, that would deflate the "variant hinge" theory. You can see evidence of heating around the hinge which would suggest a replacement IMO. If this was something done at the factory, you would expect the gold finish to cover this soldering and the hinge and pin, etc. Just like it does with the catch, but this isn't what I see.

Tom

[Patrick W]

Hi Tom- great eye! hadn't noticed those same marks, now I'm scratching my head! I don't think they are the same badge as there are many marks on Jimmy's badge that aren't on mine and noticeable differences to the wear and loss of finish etc- look at the inner edge of the antenna on Jimmys and there is an overspill of zinc which mine doesn't have.

Jimmy- do you still have that badge?

It doesn't show any casting seam so maybe damages to the reverse die? Jimmy's badge was only posted a couple of months back so I don't know how we could be dealing with the same badge with such changes... new fake???

[TerryK]

Hi

I have this same maker badge. It has the exact same pits and marks as shown on
both above badges. Also hinge and catch are the same. I thought these were proven to be fakes?

Terry

[Thomas Durante]

Hi guys,

Patrick, take a look at this thread. The JFS has the same type of hinge and also all the same dings and pock marks as your badge (and Jimmy's), not a good sign I'm afraid:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...+jfs+destroyer

Tom

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

Tom's astute observations are re-inventing the wheel! Here's the older thread from 2005 with Lorenzo Brown's good data on these fakes. They're very well done.

JFS Destroyer Badge

Best regards,
---Norm

[TerryK]

Hi Guys,

Tom's astute observations are re-inventing the wheel! Here's the older thread from 2005 with Lorenzo Brown's good data on these fakes. They're very well done.

JFS Destroyer Badge

Best regards,
---Norm

Hi Norm

That is the thread where I found out mine was bad. Thanks for listing it.

Terry

[Patrick W]

Well that nails it then- thanks guys and great observations Tom. Into the fakes box it goes!

[Bob Hritz]

These were made by the late Phil Weber of Saxony House from Mokena, Illinois.

Bob Hritz

[Norm F]

These were made by the late Phil Weber of Saxony House from Mokena, Illinois.

Bob Hritz

Very interesting Bob. Thanks for that. Do you know of any other products by this particular "maker"?

Best regards,
---Norm

[Bob Hritz]

Very interesting Bob. Thanks for that. Do you know of any other products by this particular "maker"?

Best regards,
---Norm

Phil made hundreds of types of medals, badges and awards. I will dig around and see if I have any of his old catalogues.

Bob Hritz