Buntmetal Air Gunner BSW

[skip]

Hi all,

heres a rather interesting airgunner badge from BSW in what appears to be buntmetal. Yes, I know the pics are titchy but they come from the seller.

Would welcome any comments from the members.

thanks, Skip


pics are´nt loading, I will attach them later. Sorry

[Philippe DB]

Here they are Skipy

[Philippe DB]

reverse

[skip]

Thanks very much Phil.

So guys, what do you all think. Difficult one eh?
Some things look correct but there are a few points that don´t seem to quiet fit.

Skip

[Yuri D.]

I don't like the finish on this badge. It reminds me of badges being sold on Tucker's site a while ago, with that strange white frosting. Also the catch is strange for an early Tombak badge.

Yuri

[skip]

Hi Yuri,

the white frosting does´nt bother me that much, I´ve seen mint badges with that sort of frosting. The catch is also disturbing for me, I would have expected a ? catch. That said, the wreath is very good, looks typical BSW also the small rivits and long hinge are typical BSW.
So what do we all think. Top copy or variant BSW?

Skip

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Skip,

I´d say have it sent to you and handle it, then you will know.

[mmiller]

BSW Radio Op/ Air Gunner

Hi Skip,

Just for comparison, here some images of a BSW Radio Operator/ Air Gunner. Sorry my scanner didn't do any better. You can still see, though, the 'accepted' style catch.

Regards,
Mark

[IVAN]

Hi Mark,

catch is inside on the wreath or attached ?

thanks

[mmiller]

Hi Ivan,

Catch is '?' style, and is soldered to wreath. The scan does give the impression that the catch is like an R.K. or JFS style, 'inside wreath', but is soldered to surface of reverse.

Mark

[Lorenzo Brown]

Here's a scan of mine. The catch looks like it is soldered "into" a countersunk hole the wreath. (Scroll down the scan to see the catch.)
http://lbmilitaria.homestead.com/files/radioBSW.jpg

[IVAN]

Mark,
nice piece, reverse side of your badge has all right characteristics of BSW badges.

[Lorenzo Brown]

Here's one I have in my files. It shows a "flat-wire" catch similar to Skip's.

[IVAN]

Hi Lorenzo,

yes, it looks nice original classic tombak piece ,

about the piece showed from Philippe, it doesn't convice me.

[mmiller]

Okay, okay

Hi Ivan,

As much as I hate to give Lorenzo credit (hehehe), his description of catch attachment is better than mine. The catch on my badge is like Lorenzo's badge (from his site) and is attached as he describes. The hole is countersunk and the catch is soldered.

Interesting to note, on my hinge and on Lorenzo's (again, the one on his site), both badges show the actual hinge pivot pin extending a mm or so to the left of the hinge barrel. I guess the same guy must have made them early on a Monday morning. Or maybe on a Friday afternoon, in a rush to 'happy hour'....

Mark