The 'needle' pin is (what would be the word?) "scarce"! I have seen this set-up before.
Quite a few years back I'd say! We mostly see the stretched 'coke bottle' pin & the 'fluted' long pin on these.
I believe your 'Transport' is okay & that the 'needle' pin is original to it & would probably be
1 of this pattern to every 10 of the other patterns coming-up. I think this is only the 3rd one
I've seen of this pattern since 1981, so, that's 30-years!
This is the first I have seen with the round wire pin, never seen another one like it. Like RKC says, it seems perfectly original to the badge. The sheetmetal hinge is typical of these type of clasps, but what is remarkable is that the cutout for the pin in the hinge is very narrow and seems perfect for a round wire pin like this. That leads me to believe it left the factory like this and is not some type of repair.
Also, the tool mark on the pin near the hinge is typical of FLL products and seen on many of their other badges with needle pins like this, so another reason to believe it left the factory like this and not some type of field repair.
I like it, a fine original IMO and quite a rare variation IMO.
Tom
p.s. RKC, do you happen to have any pics of the other badges you have seen like this with round wire pin? Would love to see another one like it.
Thanks
Tom
If it doesn't have a hinge and catch, I'm not interested......well, maybe a little
New Book - The German Close Combat Clasp of World War II
No, not a single photo available! I know exactly where I saw the last one though. It was at the "Wars of the World" Show in Chicago [many moons ago], & a dealer from South Carolina had
it on his table for sale. I didn't go after it because I was into 'headgear' at the time.
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