A Little Help?

[Mr. Atoz]

Hi, I'm brand new here. Please be gentle with me.

I have a small collection of medals and other militaria, and I can't quite put my finger on one of them. I have a Faithful Service Decoration, but instead of the standard blue ribbon, it has a Green/White/Black ribbon attached with a chain. There are 4 metal clasps on the ribbon, one at the fold where the chain to the medal is attached, one at each tag end, and one that slides between the tag ends and the fold. The sliding fold has what looks like a personal inscription. All tags are stamped with an "800".

Any idea what this might be? Thanks in advance.

[Erich B.]

medals/badges

It sounds like a watch fob with a Faithful Service decoration attached.
Erich

Hi, I'm brand new here. Please be gentle with me.

I have a small collection of medals and other militaria, and I can't quite put my finger on one of them. I have a Faithful Service Decoration, but instead of the standard blue ribbon, it has a Green/White/Black ribbon attached with a chain. There are 4 metal clasps on the ribbon, one at the fold where the chain to the medal is attached, one at each tag end, and one that slides between the tag ends and the fold. The sliding fold has what looks like a personal inscription. All tags are stamped with an "800".

Any idea what this might be? Thanks in advance.

[Mike Pinkus]

I agree with Erich

It sounds like a watch fob with a Faithful Service decoration attached.
Erich

[Mr. Atoz]

Thanks guys. I've been told that by another source as well. I've also been told that the Green/White/Black color scheme of the ribbon is that of a WWI vet ribbon. Is that true as well?

I also have another medal which I have am having a devil of a time identifing. It was in the same box as the other medals, but it has no obvious markings. It probably isn't even German. It is two crossed swords behind a shield which is about the size of a dime. The shield has a vaguely floral pattern. In between the sword points and handles is a starburst pattern, very much like that found on the Mother's Cross, making the entire medal roughly circular and about the size of a half-dollar. The reverse is blank, and a little concave. It is one piece, stamped, silver in color. I guess it would be called a tinnie?

There is also a ribbon attached. It is a bright green with two vertical white stripes on either side, making the color scheme from left to right; thin green, thin white, wide green, thin white, thin green.

Any ideas? I can e-mail a photo if anyone is interested.

Thanks again.

Jim

[James Noble]

Posted for Mr, Atoz.

[James Noble]

Here's his watch fob

[Mike Pinkus]

the medal is an eastern peoples bravery award with swords...worth about 80.00 or so...the ribbon i am not sure of...as the ones i am familiar with are solid green...
mike

Here's his watch fob

[Mike Dunn]

The ribbon--ie--watch fob on the Faithful Service medal looks like a Students ribbon, pre WWII. I have been told, but don't know for sure that the Students fob ribbons like this had something to do with pubs at that time. Could be that the Student kept the ribbon from school and put it on his medal. Not 100% on the ribbon, but the colors and style sure look like the student ribbons I have. Mike

[VerKuilen Ager]

The ribbon on the Ostvolk Medal is correct (silver class). The solid green ribbon was for the bronze class. These were almost always zinc and these days are often oxidized so much that they can look pretty much the same color.

[Mr. Atoz]

The ribbon on the Ostvolk Medal is correct (silver class). The solid green ribbon was for the bronze class. These were almost always zinc and these days are often oxidized so much that they can look pretty much the same color.

Wow guys! Great stuff. Thanks for the help, especially jnoble for posting the pictures. I'll be ponying up the $20 association fee shortly so I can post my own pictures. I have a bunch of other stuff I'd like you guys to take a look at. I'll post them in the appropriate forums of course, unless I don't know what it is.

Jim

[Mr. Atoz]

Wow guys! Great stuff. Thanks for the help, especially jnoble for posting the pictures. I'll be ponying up the $20 association fee shortly so I can post my own pictures. I have a bunch of other stuff I'd like you guys to take a look at. I'll post them in the appropriate forums of course, unless I don't know what it is.

Jim

Also, anyone have any opinion on the value of the Fob, decoration combo?

[Erich B.]

items

The Faithful Service cross without a ribbon is probably worth about $20-25.00, the watch fob (a pocket watch should be connected to the clip rather than the cross) about $30.00 or so depending on the engraving (Mike's right--these are generally for University students' associations/duelling clubs).
I don't know about the Eastern Peoples' medal--never collected them myself.
Erich

Also, anyone have any opinion on the value of the Fob, decoration combo?

[Kurt Doench]

The fob is indeed what is called a "Weinzipfel" from a student fraternity member. These were presented by/to frat. members as a sign of friendship or to commemorate some special occasion. Might be pre- or post-WWII, even contemporary. There should be an engraving on the reverse of the silver bits, something like "Name" (followed by fraternity cypher) s./lb. (seinem lieben) "Name" (again followed by frat. cypher) and a date, something like "W.S." (Winter semester = winter term) or "S.S." (Sommer-Semester" = summer term; NOT Schutzstaffel) and an intertwined cypher.

Regards,

Schleppfux