Hi guys,
I really like Patrick's observation about the heat signature around the hinge and catch, and the fact that it affects the black finish. I think he is exactly right in that this is something I would expect to see when the hardware and solder is still warm when the finish was applied, giving it a different look than the rest of the badge. I don't think we would see that if the badge was painted after it left the factory (or 70 years later to make a regular AG into an UQAG).
With that said, I still can't get my head around the black finish on the rivets. I just happen to believe strongly that the eagle was put on as the absolute last step. This is supported by the vast majority of Juncker products we see, from prewar years up until the end with both Luftwaffe and Heer awards. Even on their late war #PABs and #GABs, there is never any finish on the rivets. This makes logical sense because their Luftwaffe eagles and wreaths were two different colors and finishes, so it only makes sense that they were finished separately then rivetted together as the final step.
If the eagles were rivetted on first, then finished as Patrick has theorized, then I think we would see examples where the black finish got on the back of the eagle. Think about how careful Juncker would have to be to make sure only the black finish got on the wreath, but didn't get any on the eagle. And vice versa, they had to make sure that the silver finish only got on the eagle, but not a trace on the wreath. Think about how tightly they fit together, I think it is impossible to not get any overspray on the other! I just don't think that is practical. The rivetting must have been done as the last step IMO.
So where does that leave us? We like the black finish on the wreath, seems legitimate with the tide mark and the fact that it is pretty consistent on the few known examples. I also like the look of the silver finish on the eagle on most of these (excluding Brian's, since I feel his is refinished). So really the only issue to resolve is the black finish on the rivets. Is it possible that the dark we are seeing on the rivets is not finish at all? Maybe it is just some discoloration of the rivet itself that turns black. If the rivets have the same silver finish as the eagle, then perhaps it is the silver finish tarnishing?
Tom
I really like Patrick's observation about the heat signature around the hinge and catch, and the fact that it affects the black finish. I think he is exactly right in that this is something I would expect to see when the hardware and solder is still warm when the finish was applied, giving it a different look than the rest of the badge. I don't think we would see that if the badge was painted after it left the factory (or 70 years later to make a regular AG into an UQAG).
With that said, I still can't get my head around the black finish on the rivets. I just happen to believe strongly that the eagle was put on as the absolute last step. This is supported by the vast majority of Juncker products we see, from prewar years up until the end with both Luftwaffe and Heer awards. Even on their late war #PABs and #GABs, there is never any finish on the rivets. This makes logical sense because their Luftwaffe eagles and wreaths were two different colors and finishes, so it only makes sense that they were finished separately then rivetted together as the final step.
If the eagles were rivetted on first, then finished as Patrick has theorized, then I think we would see examples where the black finish got on the back of the eagle. Think about how careful Juncker would have to be to make sure only the black finish got on the wreath, but didn't get any on the eagle. And vice versa, they had to make sure that the silver finish only got on the eagle, but not a trace on the wreath. Think about how tightly they fit together, I think it is impossible to not get any overspray on the other! I just don't think that is practical. The rivetting must have been done as the last step IMO.
So where does that leave us? We like the black finish on the wreath, seems legitimate with the tide mark and the fact that it is pretty consistent on the few known examples. I also like the look of the silver finish on the eagle on most of these (excluding Brian's, since I feel his is refinished). So really the only issue to resolve is the black finish on the rivets. Is it possible that the dark we are seeing on the rivets is not finish at all? Maybe it is just some discoloration of the rivet itself that turns black. If the rivets have the same silver finish as the eagle, then perhaps it is the silver finish tarnishing?
Tom
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