Juncker L/W Flak Badge opinions please

[Brian S]

I have one just like for sale on the eStand. Same pitting on the back.

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Mike,

Interesting to hear about your suspicion that the wreaths could very well be die cast as opposed to being struck. I have always held that suspicion as well. The wreath on mine does not seem to have the shear marks consistent with being struck in a die. The tooling marks appear to be more consistent with hand filing/finishing marks possibly to remove casting flash. You have brought up some very good points. Thanks for your response.
Best regards! Tom Yanacek

[Brian S]

Yes Mike, good point. I agree with you on the die cast thoughts. No shear marks evident on mine.

[Philippe DB]

Thanks Philippe!

you are also the of badge information in general.
Best regards! Tom Yanacek

Hi Tom,

Thats really to much honnor. Although I feel quite confident in my abilities to distinguish between a good and a bad TR badge I have no problem admitting that I have more blanc spots then I feel comfortable with when it comes to production techniques.

Like I wrote in my reply the info I provided was given to me by people who's knowledge on production techniques is far greater then mine.

However I have been looking for an explanation on these unusual Junckers characteristics for a while and some time ago started this thread were there was some thinking along the same line as Mike if I'm not mistaken:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...t=holes+wreath

Although I'm trying to follow all these explanations I'm still dreaming of a thread were somebody not only describes all the different production steps but also is able to visualize them by means of a picture of each step of a die casting and die forging process.

KR
Philippe

[Frank Heukemes]

It is good to hear the die CASTING theory find more support. I offered this opinion on SOME Juncker pilot´s badges wreathes AND eagles about 1 1/2 years ago and my opinion was not popular. I hade a J3 and a air gunner/radio operator by Juncker which showed the reverse "pitting" and signs of (die) castings and were 100% original.

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

Philippe and Frank, it seems I've missed more than one thread - the joys of working away for half the time! Thanks for the link to the earlier thread Philippe - interesting reading with some more good points/observations.

I didn't realise I was rehashing someone elses prior observations when I posted above. I think if several relatively experienced collectors have come up with the same thoughts/suspicions independentally then, although maybe not correct (we'll probably never know for sure), it's certainly worth keeping these challenges/alternates to conventional thinking in mind.

Maybe I should keep quiet on my thoughts about (some - ?most?) Pilot/PO Badge eagles being struck/cast relatively flat and then vaulted?

Regards
Mike K

[Lorenzo Brown]

I think there are definitely some buntmetal badges/wreaths that were cast...and some zinc badges that were die-forged. Buntmetal CAN BE die-cast, and zinc CAN BE die forged from a planchet, so it wouldn't surprize me to see some makers using these options. Not the general rule but I think some exceptions exist. What comes to mind is the common unmarked Luft Flak badge that is made in both buntmetal and zinc. I think the buntmetal version of that badge was die-cast.

[Frank Heukemes]

Please elaborate your thoughts on the eagles, Mike, it would be interesting to hear your theory there.