If Tinnies Could Only Talk

[Martin Harding]

Hello, they say that little things please little minds weill if that is the case my latest Tinnie discovery certainly pleases mine If only Tinnies could talk ...the reason I say that is because the Tinnie is attached to a Ost Medaille Ribbon...very strange
Has anybody encountered this Tinnie before

[Gerdan]

The portrait shows Friedrich Friesen (* 1784 + 1813) a famous gym instructor and even a fighter for freedom against Napoleon. He died during the campaing 1813. His grave is in Berlin on the Invalidenfriedhof near Scharnhorst's grave.

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

I should add that often German gym clubs had the name "Friesen" to honor that man, so "Friesen Wattens" as the tinnie says.

Gerdan

[Martin Harding]

Hello Gerdan, nice to hear from you and hope you are well. How utterly fascinating the History is behind some of the Badges. I am leaving the Ost medaille Ribbon attached to the Badge and guess we will never know why it was put there. In hand the quality of this Badge is breathtaking. Gerdan have you ever encountered this particular Badge before
Bester Respekt Martin

[Martin Harding]

The following two Tinnies came with the Badge from the same collection

[Martin Harding]

1930

[Gerdan]

Hi Martin, nice to see some more of your famous collection. Sorry, I have never seen this badge before.
It is interesting that all badges seem to come from the same area, mostly from Austria.

Frastanz is a village near Feldkirch in the Austria region/area (Bundesland) Voralberg, today about 6500 inhabitants. The old Turnverein seems not to be exiting any more.

Wattens is a village in the Austrian Bundesland Tirol near Innsbruck, today 7600 inhabitants. In this village you find the famous glass factory Swarovski
but not any more the old Turnverein.

Schaan is a village belonging to the principality of Liechtenstein, today 5700 inhabitants.

In general all towns are located not too far away from each other.

Best regards
Gerdan

[Martin Harding]

Hi Martin, nice to see some more of your famous collection. Sorry, I have never seen this badge before.
It is interesting that all badges seem to come from the same area, mostly from Austria.

Frastanz is a village near Feldkirch in the Austria region/area (Bundesland) Voralberg, today about 6500 inhabitants. The old Turnverein seems not to be exiting any more.

Wattens is a village in the Austrian Bundesland Tirol near Innsbruck, today 7600 inhabitants. In this village you find the famous glass factory Swarovski
but not any more the old Turnverein.

Schaan is a village belonging to the principality of Liechtenstein, today 5700 inhabitants.

In general all towns are located not too far away from each other.

Best regards
Gerdan

Hello Gerdan, Once again I am in total awe of your knowledge and as always appreciate your meticulous precise information.
Yes all the Badges were Austrian, I bought a large private collection that had ended up in America - Key Largo of all places. Utterly amazing considering key Largo was the location used for the Humprey Bogart & Edward G. Robinson Film.
I never realised the Swarovski Glass Factory was based near Innsbruck... how fascinating. Thank you again Gerdan it is always a pleasure and a privelage to hear from you.
Best regards Martin

[Gerdan]

Hello Martin

thank you very much for the compliments.

Starting your thread with the wish "if tinnies could only talk" you gave the members of this forum Tinnies and Badges a good advice how to do research on the old pieces of their collection.

Most of the badges have their own interesting background dealing with their origin, with persons, locations, towns or villages or the producers or the occasion why they have been made - the background.

These should be the main questions to be illuminated by a collector. The answers make collecting exciting and this should be one of the reasons to collect badges/tinnies.

Whenever I have the occasion to see a badge I try to work/figure out the small history of the badge - sometimes combined with the "great history".
I think you do it in the same way, this I esteem.
With best regards
Gerdan

[Martin Harding]

Hello Gerdan, as you know my main occupation has always been Antiques, however researching the historical background of Abzeichens has literally become a full time addiction and yes I agree with what you said 100% regarding researching the Badges.
Regarding the Friedrich Friesen Tinnie as I am sure you agree the Badge is unique from the historical importance aspect and the same can sometimes be said of Antiques certain objects just have that magical quality charismatic presence and appeal.
I appreciate all the help you have given me more than you can imagine and even more so considering how like myself you are inundated with the presures of work.
Best Regards Martin