SA Treffen 1931

[Steve Mezey]

Hi All
Is this one a good piece? I am not to well versed in these.
Thank you
Steve

[Thomas Bendixen]

Hi Steve, IMO an original.

Kr. Thomas

[Gregorio Torres]

You´ll find a lot of discussions about this 1st model with raised lettering if you search in this forum.

[Military]

The only ones shown in period photos are those with recessed text; and as such are the only ones recognised by some members to be legit. Here's mine to compare:



Mil

[ErichS]

Agree with Mil that the only one I feel comfortable with is the one like he has posted.

[Richard]

I prefer the type which Mil has posted with the incuse lettering which I have been seeking for some time now without success. I'd feel most comfortable with that type as it is photographically documented.
Richard V

[Thomas Bendixen]

Hi guys, I understand where your comming from but has this model ever been discussed in depth? My guess is that with 100.000 attendes at this rally there would have been atleast a two - three makers, like we see with other of thee rally badges from this period.

What I like about the reverse of Steves badge is how the silvering is better preserved.

Kr. Thomas

[Br. James]

As I understand it, there were at least two clearly different event badge designs produced for the huge Brunswick SA rally of 1931, both of which were die-stuck and hollow-backed: a round-shaped badge such as those Steve and Mil show us in this thread, and also an oval-shaped badge. (There was yet a third piece, oval in shape similar to the second event badge mentioned above but solid-backed and bearing an RZM license number, produced years later, which became an honor badge in the future.) While the round-shaped badge is usually found -- when one can find one -- without a maker's mark on the pin plate or elsewhere on the reverse, the oval-shaped badge does often bear a maker's mark. My thinking as to why there were two different designs and probably several different manufacturers involved in producing this event badge is that the Brunswick rally was not originally seen by the planners to have the potential to attract so many attendees and the badges initially produced (to be sold for the benefit of the SA, of course) were far less than eventually needed. When it finally became clear that many thousands of people would turn out for this event, practical heads saw the need for many more event badges and sent out orders to other manufacturers who could promise quick delivery. Perhaps the original badge design needed to be modified by these additional manufacturers in order to protect the first producer's legal rights...??

But Mil raises another point as to the stamped lettering on the round-shaped badge -- recessed or in relief? While I have no answer to his observation, it may be that the original manufacturer did respond to the SA's call for additional badges and created a second run of the round design...but with a different method of lettering? It will be interesting to read further opinions here.

Cheers, friends,

Br. James

[Gregorio Torres]

Thank you Br. James for your contribution but...
1. could you show to us the oval version made for the event? I´ve never heard about this item.
2. The only one 1st model badge found in pictures dated during the TR is the one with incused lettering.
3. The right on the badges included tinnies were property of the organiser not of the maker.
4. No evidence of any other variation of the 1st model has been shown at the moment, but we have still the mind open just in case somebody could show us some proof of the existence of another one.
This is the one hundred time that we talk about this question, and the conclusion is always the same.
Regards

[Br. James]

Hi Gregorio,

As I've said many times before, I have neither the technology or the aptitude to produce photos to post on these threads, and I do continue to apologize for those two situations.

As for the oval-shaped hollow-stamped Brunswick event badge, I personally do not have an example of that piece in my own collection, but I believe it exists in photos on dealer websites. I have known of it for many years.

I also apologize if I have touched on an area that has been 'discussed to death' over the years on WAF or other forums; I have no intention to bring up matters that have already been laid to rest...even though I hadn't known about it.

Br. James

[Gregorio Torres]

Please my friend. You mustn´t apoligize for anything. Any coment from friends as kind as you are welcome for me always, of course.
Just a question: if you can, please, post a link to the site where the "oval variant" of this 1st model can be seen.
Very best regards

[Br. James]

Thank you, Gregorio, for your thoughtful note. I am really at a loss at this moment to think of where I may have seen one of these hollow-backed oval Brunswick badges recently. Both the round and the oval hollow-backs are rare nowadays; one normally sees the solid oval version on dealers' websites. Having been a collector for 50+ years, sometimes it is difficult to recall where I last saw a particular piece, but I'll try and keep an eye out and, when I see another one, I'll let you know.

I'm afraid that's the best I can do, for now. I trust to your understanding, and again, thanks for your response.

Br. James

[sgstandard]

SA=Treffen

The 2nd pattern badge came in a hollow-back also. It is the best-looking of all the treffen badges, and they have an antique, silver-plated appearance.

[Br. James]

Thanks for your note, Sgstandard; the badge you refer to must be the one I described as oval-shaped and hollow-stamped. Do you know this badge to be from the 1931 event itself, also called the 2nd pattern Brunswick badge?

Br. James

[sgstandard]

SA-Treffen

There are others on the Forum with more knowledge than myself on this subject, but IMO, the ROUND SA-Treffen 1931 badge was worn during the event itself. HOWEVER......As I understand, in the early days, some badges were considered "traditional", and thus, they were worn longer than the event.
The 1933 Reichsparteitag Nurnberg badge was listed as a "traditions award" early on, but by 1935, this particular badge was NOT included in the official list of Party awards. IMO, the later, OVAL-shaped Treffen badges probably appeared once the award was made official.
SIDE NOTE: A lot of collectors spice up their brownshirt with a handsome 1931 SA Treffen badge, but it seems that the badge would only be appropriate on a brownshirt with an Old Fighter's Chevron or silver cuff-stripes.