Auxillary cruiser badges and the "Level 3" Schwerin

[Tiger 1]

Hi guys....

Here's some auxillary cruiser badges. Any and all comments welcome. Especially on the one that looks like an S&L.

Thanks in advance.

Tony

[Tiger 1]

Close up of Schwerin mark.

[Tiger 1]

L/21

[Tiger 1]

Close up.

[Tiger 1]

Lastly. Is this a legit S&L?

[Tiger 1]

With pin open.

[Tiger 1]

Thanks again.

Tony

[BubbaZ]

Hi Tony,
F&B, L/21 marked is a real beauty
S&L is original but post-war I am afraid since it features postwar type 2 globe and a postwar rivet. So at least postwar assembled award from wartime leftover wreath and postwar globe which is also possible for this maker.
I do not know what to make out of the Schwerin zincer... I would wait for Martin's opinion in this case.
Cheers,
Hubert

[Tiger 1]

Thanks Hubert. I appreciate your reply.

Tony

[Martin W]

Hi Tony,
F&B, L/21 marked is a real beauty
S&L is original but post-war I am afraid since it features postwar type 2 globe and a postwar rivet. So at least postwar assembled award from wartime leftover wreath and postwar globe which is also possible for this maker.
Cheers,
Hubert

Hi Tony,

I have to agree with Hubert'scomments.

And yes,the Foerster & Barth L/21 marked piece is a beauty.

I am still looking to add one of these marked examples to my collection.

Anyway,in regards to the Schwerin.

I would not write this badge off as a fake at this point.It lacks certain detail when i compare it with the two Schwerin zincers that i have but this could be due to the fact that it is a late war piece and was struck from worn dies?

Could you possibly take a close up image of the obverse sail area,as there is a very distinct flaw that can be seen many Schwerin originals.

Also,i would like to see a close up of the hinge.

Thanks and regards,Martin.

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

There have been a lot of Schwerin Auxiliary Cruiser badges posted here over the years but I'm not sure that there's been a discussion about variants before?

As I look through the treasure trove of past postings, it seems to me that the zincers fall into three categories which are best spotted by the position of the maker mark.

Here are the three levels of maker mark on zinc badges arranged from what appears to be the earliest to the latest (as far as I can tell). Level 1 (the lowest position) is like the Tombak version, Level 2 seems to be the most common zinc variant posted and Level 3 (the highest position and shifted to the left) is like Tony's.

Best regards,
---Norm

[Norm F]

Here's the Level 1 maker mark in both Tombak and zinc. (Zinc example previously posted by Tom Y.) Aside from being most like the Tombak version in position, this zinc variant has the dome-head hinge pin which also suggests it's the earliest zinc variant. It has the aluminum globe like the Tombak variants.

[Norm F]

Two more examples of the Level 1 zincers with aluminum globe and dome-head hinge pins.

[Norm F]

Now here are the Level 2 examples with the slightly higher mark. They no longer have dome-head hinge pins but still have nicely detailed aluminum globes.

[Norm F]

Two more Level 2 examples, both owned by Martin W. I believe.