Ballon observerbadge Help!

[Gunner II]

hello guy's
I came this one accros a search on the internet. This balloon observerbadge in silver looks very nice to me. The detailing on the front is very nicely tooled, but it is the back that makes my heart pound. Hollow pressed, round pin, C catch, good looking hinge.
But.....it all sound to good to me. I've seen some real ones and for some reason the eagle is mostly a bit distorted on the head and beak. This one is very sharp.

Thus for me a hestitation to place a bid. what do you think
Much obliged:Peter


http://www.militariaweb.com/files/full/245/2457732.jpg

http://www.militariaweb.com/files/full/245/2457744.jpg

http://www.militariaweb.com/files/full/245/2457746.jpg

[Grant Broadhurst]

Hello Peter ,

Yes it looks like a "real" one with a hollow back , but i,mno expert on these . The thing that has always struck me as odd about these badges is why were they made with good quality metal so late in the war and not zinc like everything else ? Even the Partisan badges were made from zinc .

Regards

Grant

[Thomas Durante]

Hi Gunner,

These are VERY controversial badges. Even with that being said, I wouldn't pay more than $20 on ANYTHING based on these pictures alone. They are horrible and impossible to make any type of educated evaluation of the badge, but maybe that is what the seller was going for.

Tom D.

[Frank Heukemes]

Tom´s 20.- USD would be a generous price for that badge!

Do not waste your money on ANY of those badges, unless you fell in love with the looks of that terrible design with that ugly eagle. Then 20.- USD might be justified.

[upbeek]

balloon badge

hi there
check out thirdreichmedals.com
jamie cross has the known fake for sale at about £3000 i think
regards chay

[McCulloh]

1970's fake.

[upbeek]

balloon

according to detlev niemanns new book 2004 the balloon observers badge was never produced but awarded on paper only

[WARLORD]

The controversey rages. The main point that Bill Stump used was that Dr K stated that there was only one matrix. But later he wrote that a number were produced. These were produce in a small firm in Dresden. The ones I have come across were all made by the same man. They were produced from the same material and as one batch. I am more than happy to buy a silver as the type I have seen and would be prepared to pay £350.00.

[upbeek]

baloon

sorry warlord
that is not fact its rubbish dn has it in black and white no arguements,no nothing

[WARLORD]

I have Dr Ks article. This is illistrated. Possibly you could cheque the records and you will find it.

[upbeek]

balloon

who is dr k ,i dont believe this badge was ever made

[WARLORD]

Who is Dr K? HE WAS THE SPECIALIST IN GERMAN AWARDS. He wrote most of the informative books on the subject. I could go on. He was also during the war working with Dohle.

[Frank Heukemes]

It is dangerous not to question what ANY man wrote black on white either way without real proof produced. I think with these badges it will always be what one chooses to believe or not. I personally am not a believer, did that show?

[upbeek]

balloon

im not interested in some old has been ,the modern facts state it was never made and for me and most collectors all examples in circulation are FAKE

[upbeek]

balloon

sorry frank,i did not mean you are a has been ,i was replying to warlorp and the silly dr k thing