Another E stander for review

[vonStubben]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=388791

Gentlemen,

Weight: 26 gr

Hight: 21 cm

Width: 41/41.5 cm

Material: zinc

[vonStubben]

reverse

[vonStubben]

makers mark

[vonStubben]

hinge

[vonStubben]

hardware

[vonStubben]

catch

[vonStubben]

parts

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for posting this badge and its dimensions. I specifically asked for the dimensions because I have had a lot of experience with this type of badge and knew they would reveal that it is a casting of an original Meybauer badge. The dimensions of an original Meybauer badge should be

H = 53.5 mm
W = 42.4 mm
Wt. = 36 grams

As you can see, your Meybauer is a good bit smaller than originals. That is only the 1st red flag. Notice that the silver finish to the wreath is uncharacteristic of the vast majority of para badges (should be black), and definately for Meybauers. Meybauer wreaths are extremely dark, with a thick black brennlack finish. The weird hinge and catch are also unlike originals Meybauers and the rivets are not the typical shape or material found on originals. If you would care to post a good closeup of the eagle, you will see that it is very soft and muted compared to originals. Here is a closeup of the eagle of one of my Meybauers for you.

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

Here is an overall of another good Meybauer to show the hardware and finish of an original.

Tom

[Thomas Durante]

r

[Thomas Durante]

These fake Meybauer wreaths are actually quite common, and can be found on many fakes, carrying many different maker marks. Someone definately got ahold of an original wreath and copied it to perfection, and then used it ALOT. If anyone would like to see some examples of these other fakes, I would be happy to post them but didn't want to make the thread longer than it needed to be. Just ask and I will post if interested.

Tom

[RadarZ]

I agree that this one is unfortunately no good.

In addition to what Tom has mentioned, the Swaz on the suspected fake is much lower than an original, almost touching the wreath.
The wreath itself, especially on the left side, suffers from an obvious lack of detail, as can be appreciated looking at them side by side.

[vonStubben]

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for posting this badge and its dimensions. I specifically asked for the dimensions because I have had a lot of experience with this type of badge and knew they would reveal that it is a casting of an original Meybauer badge. The dimensions of an original Meybauer badge should be

H = 53.5 mm
W = 42.4 mm
Wt. = 36 grams

As you can see, your Meybauer is a good bit smaller than originals. That is only the 1st red flag. Notice that the silver finish to the wreath is uncharacteristic of the vast majority of para badges (should be black), and definately for Meybauers. Meybauer wreaths are extremely dark, with a thick black brennlack finish. The weird hinge and catch are also unlike originals Meybauers and the rivets are not the typical shape or material found on originals. If you would care to post a good closeup of the eagle, you will see that it is very soft and muted compared to originals. Here is a closeup of the eagle of one of my Meybauers for you.

Tom

Tom,

I just realized that I got the weight and dimentions wrong. I was using inches and not cm. The measurements are exactly like the ones you quote. The weight is different however and actually weighs 28 grams, not 26.

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Chuck,

That still doesn't make sense, so why not post the correct dimensions (the conversion still doesn't work out at all).

Don't be fooled by the dimensions though, its only one aspect of many with this reproduction. Look at the rivets, hardware, finish and soft details and you will see enough to know that its a casting of an original.

I have handled 2 of these that were of the same type as yours, and had people send me dimensions of a few others. ALL had the same smaller dims in addition to all the other "questionable" aspects.

Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

I agree that the badge that started this thread is a cast reproduction. It looks convincing in many respects, but it still falls short of what the originals look like. One of the first things I noticed, besides the soft detailing, was the way that the hinge is constructed: As far as I know, original hinges were milled from solid stock. This example, however, was cleverly fashioned from sheet metal, made to look like it is a solid block hinge. Look closely at the end face of the hinge in the picture below. You can clearly see the demarcation lines that prove this is formed sheet metal and not a solid block. I remember when I first started collecting in the 70s and was told by some of the badge experts back then that this type of hinge was a sure sign of a fake. I am still very inclined to believe that to this day.

Best regards,
Tom