D.R. Champagne bucket for review

[Dante Gambino]

Hello guys,
I've come across this impressive item in a collection but am un sure of it due to the lack of information out there on DR dinnerware. From what I gather he stamps indicate it was on the "B" train and car 212? I also realize alpaca is basically German silver with no actual silver content. I would like to get some other opinions on this piece and possibly what fair retail would be.

[Dante Gambino]

.

[Br. James]

Hi Dante,

There is a reference book that you would find of interest: "The Special Trains of Hitler, Göring et al," by James A. Yannes (Outskirtspress, 2015). Jim Yannes informs us that the maker's mark of a "B" and a long train locomotive was the mark of the famous Bruckmann firm, the same firm that produced Hitler's Formal and Informal silverware. The number "212" is the carriage designation for which pieces of silverware/tableware were assigned to which particular train car -- and each car on these "Sonderzug" -- special trains assigned to government and military personnel -- carried it's own specific number. On p.103 we see: "Some further additional comments by Mr. Nestvogel shed further light on the Sonderzug: "Perhaps some pieces with marks 210, 211 and 212 also exist. The tableware and silverware of these three cars was delivered and used as replacement for lost equipment of other cars."" [Mr. Jens Nestvogel was a consultant on portions of the text presented by Jim Yannes.]

So, according to Yannes, this champagne bucket would have been part of the reserve stock used to replace missing or damaged pieces on other carriages of these special trains. I would also add that there is no direct reference to such champagne bucket in Yannes' book, though the markings appear to accurately represent such tableware.

Hope this is helpful. A very Happy New Year to you and yours,

Br. James

[Dante Gambino]

Hi Dante,

There is a reference book that you would find of interest: "The Special Trains of Hitler, Göring et al," by James A. Yannes (Outskirtspress, 2015). Jim Yannes informs us that the maker's mark of a "B" and a long train locomotive was the mark of the famous Bruckmann firm, the same firm that produced Hitler's Formal and Informal silverware. The number "212" is the carriage designation for which pieces of silverware/tableware were assigned to which particular train car -- and each car on these "Sonderzug" -- special trains assigned to government and military personnel -- carried it's own specific number. On p.103 we see: "Some further additional comments by Mr. Nestvogel shed further light on the Sonderzug: "Perhaps some pieces with marks 210, 211 and 212 also exist. The tableware and silverware of these three cars was delivered and used as replacement for lost equipment of other cars."" [Mr. Jens Nestvogel was a consultant on portions of the text presented by Jim Yannes.]

So, according to Yannes, this champagne bucket would have been part of the reserve stock used to replace missing or damaged pieces on other carriages of these special trains. I would also add that there is no direct reference to such champagne bucket in Yannes' book, though the markings appear to accurately represent such tableware.

Hope this is helpful. A very Happy New Year to you and yours,

Br. James

Thank you very much! Fascinating stuff.