No Marked P.o.badge

[spectre]

Yes, Mark, that's it.

I did look at Shawn's badge very close and compared it to Lorenzo's "unknown maker" P/O here,
http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/files/pounmkd2.jpg
As I said, I don't see anything of concern.

I agree with Mark that the quality is way to high for a repro.

There was something else I wanted to throw in here, I don't think we have seen every possible style of original badge that is out there, a majority, yes, but not all. Considering how much is out there and how far and wide it has been scattered, some rare pieces are just now coming to light, an A L/64 marked P/O for instance or Gorings grand cross award doc, nobody knew where that was for decades

Alan

[Shawn Southern]

Not to go off the deep end with minutae, but....

If operating under the presumption that the barrel-hinged P/O badges represent the earliest badges from this maker, why would they, at some point, switch to the block hinge? Some possibilities...

1.) As, I believe Alan alluded to - perhaps attachment of the block hinge was easier/quicker from a manufacturing standpoint. As the number of badges awarded increased, did efficiency in the manufacturing process demand the change. As a unit manufacturing step, iwould in fact, attachment of the block hinge be easier/quicker/cheaper? This is the old "The Engineers changed their minds, again!" theory!

2.) Was the block hinge material more readily available from suppliers?

3.) A more substantial attachment...less likelihood of the hinge separating from the badge because of greater adhesion area? Use of the barrel hinge early on resulted in an unacceptable failure rate? as expressed by separation of the hinge from the badge? This is a fairly substantial badge, weight wise.

4.) Block hinge thought to be a "better mousetrap?" I don't have a block hinged badge in hand, but ....does the top "block" of material, combined with the curvature/attachment of the pin, preclude the pin from rotating through a complete 180 degree arc? If it limits the arc to approximately 90 degrees (" give or take"), would this not ease holding and placing the badge through the tunic loops? Prevent the pin from getting inadvertently bent? Maybe it was felt this was a product improvement?!

5.) Do all other FLL badges (assuming this is, in fact the maker) utilize the block hinge? If so.....maybe they just decided to "standardize" on the block hinge, thus streamlining the process for all badges holistically? If all they're doing is block hinges, folks on the floor ought to get efficient at attachment of the same.

6.) Some combination of above factors?


I've also noticed that, with a significant number of the later block-hinged badges from this manufacturer, the block is "skewed/cockeyed" in it's position on the badge. This is interesting.....

Just some idle "train of thought" mental machinations......OK...back to work.

Best Regards,

Shawn

[Bob Hritz]

This is a worn and used example of the PO badge, with block hinge. The badge is tombak. if you will notice that the swastils is already 'growing' the fat right leg (viewer's right), I would think this is a later tombak version, just before the zinc type.

The hinge is skewed slightly and the pin has a most unusual bend.

I p[ost this because we normally see only mint-unissued examples of this badge.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Verso

[Bob Hritz]

Note right arm of swastika is already thicker.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Catch typical for this maker.

Bob Hritz

[Shawn Southern]

Unknown Maker

Bob:

Thanks for posting this! Very nice badge. Interesting in that the cut-outs between the left wing feathers on yours seem to be deeper than those on mine, but the die details on the eagle seem to conform very closely. I wonder if these cut-outs were hand-finished, and this could account for the difference? Bob - would you mind posting a detailed shot of the left wing tip area (as viewed from the front of the badge) when time allows?

Best Regards,

Shawn

[Bob Hritz]

I am at your service, Shawn.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Verso of cut outs on wing.

Bob Hritz

[Shawn Southern]

Left Wing

Hmmmmm...Thanks, Bob. A photo of my left wing tip for comparison (I've GOT to learn Photoshop so that I can composite images!) I assume that these cut-outs were hand finished and the variability in the depth is attributable to individual technique...

[SILVANO STORTIN]

Thanks

I thanks all You for the great commets.

Silvano