No Marked P.o.badge

[Shawn Southern]

P/O Badge

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[Shawn Southern]

P/O Badge

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[Shawn Southern]

P/O Badge

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[Shawn Southern]

P/O Badge

Perhaps a little better pic of the catch.

[Marc Garlasco]

Very nice badge. Interesting variation on a theme. The catch is so similar to the "elephant nose" FLL catch - I think this one was just shaped differently when made - if it had been bent down it is an exact likeness. The rest of the features are superb.
Thanks for sharing!
Marc

[Shawn Southern]

P/O Badge

Thanks for taking a look, Marc!

Best Regards,

Shawn

[mmiller]

Shawn,

I posted a reply in the other thread (running concurrently). My comment was that both your badge and my badge have the polished swaz, tops of the wings, and top of the eagle's head. The catch is 'ever so slightly' different, but still shows design of the 'elephant's nose', as Marc indicated.

Nice one.

Regards,
Mark

[Shawn Southern]

Unmarked P/O Badge

Hi Mark. Thanks for taking a look. I was really pleased when I got the package and opened it up! Does your badge also have the barrel hinge and similar catch?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[Shawn Southern]

Unmarked P/O Badge

Mark:

Oops....Re: the catch - guess I should have a second cup of coffee!

Best Regards,

Shawn

[spectre]

Very nice looking badge Shawn, apart from the hinge being different from whats expected, I see nothing wrong with it.

I'm a little surprised no one has made any remark about my (somewhat plausible) theory in post #18 here.

Alan

[mmiller]

Shawn,

My badge has the block hinge and similar catch. Check the link:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=215142

Posts 4, 5, 15 and beyond.

Regards,
Mark

Hi Mark. Thanks for taking a look. I was really pleased when I got the package and opened it up! Does your badge also have the barrel hinge and similar catch?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[Shawn Southern]

Unknown Maker

Mark:

Thanks, yes - I finally had my second cup of coffee and got things mentally sorted out. Some point-by-point wreath and eagle photo-comparisons of Pilot/Pilot-Observer badges by the "unknown maker/FL would sure be interesting and educational. I just got Photoshop...perhaps I'll take this badge series on as a learning project.

There does seem to be a difference in the quality of the wreaths on the tombak badges. Perhaps Alan is right that the barrel-hinged varieties were earlier production. It would sure be nice to have some additional examples of these to look at! You suppose anyone is faking Luft badges by this maker?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[mmiller]

Shawn,

Funny you mention that. And I'm not saying ANY of the posted badges are fake, but I am overly suspicious these days. The question is are there too many 'unmarked/ unknown maker' badges on the streets these days? I'm still not sure about all the Luft Para A L/64 marked badges.

Regards,
Mark

Mark:

You suppose anyone is faking Luft badges by this maker?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[Shawn Southern]

Unmarked P/O Badge

Mark:

I agree. Collecting anything TR warrants one being instilled with a healthy dose of "situational awareness" .... it's twin brother paranoia" or, at the very least, it's second cousin "Skepticism!"

I have compared my badge to every photo of an "accepted" Unknown Maker Pilot/PO badge that I can find and it seems to me to totally conform...except the variation hinge and the blueing on the pin. When in hand, the badge just speaks "quality." Such fantastic detail and finishing. I do wish I had perfect, high resolution photos from other Unknown Maker/FFL (tombak) badges so as to compare the fine details....but you know - you take what you can get! I do think I''ll contact Silvano and see if he can post additional photos of his badge, since it has a like hinge, showing additional detail. If only we knew more about the manufacturing/production specifics of the unknown maker/ FLL with regard to the Pilot and P/O badges (use of subcontractors, etc.)....

Best Regards,

Shawn

[mmiller]

Hi Alan,

I assume this is the theorum you are referring to? It is very plausable and highly likely you are correct. Since FLL made many other 3R badges, it would make sense that they would want to consolidate materials, such as hinges. They earliest Luft badges may have had the barrel hinges, but as time and production grew, they made the transition to ALL block hinges. Barrels surely take more time and skill to install correctly.

Your P/O looks way too good to be a repro. The finish (frosting and polished highlights) and all the rest of the details are 'spot on'.

Regards,
Mark

.............I think both of these are very early badges by this maker (unknown/FLL). Since we all know how sloppy they got later it would make sense that they would abandon the extra effort involved with a barrel hinge and go to the simplier, single solder point for a block hinge.



Alan