KdF Volkswagen Foundation Badge Real vs Fake

[Geof]

Guys

these badges have a lot of interest, both to period collectors and VW enthusiasts. Unfortunately what comes with that is a terrible amount of faking.

Here is a quick guide to telling the difference.

1. Is it made of metal? If yes, go to "run away".
2. Is it marked on the rear GES GESCH? If yes, go to "run away".

Also note that the pin on the rear is different (longer). Note the pin is crimped into the bakelite, not melted.

These are made of very light bakelite material and were originally silver in color. But this wears away over time, as it has in my original shown below along with the two most common fake types.

Being so thin and made to be given away not that many have survived. Oddly enough the fakes are even more detailed than the originals with deeper impressing and more defined detail to the interior of the Kdfwagen. The manufacturer was B.H. Mayer of Pforzheim. Some examples have this name on the rear and some are blank.

[Wood]

Guys
Here is a quick guide to telling the difference.

1. Is it made of metal? If yes, go to "run away".

Sorry you are wrong. It is metal (lightweight zinc). Read the many threads on this particular badge.
Crimping is ridiculous on a plastic or Bakelite badge. The pin is either moulded in on Bakelite badge or melted into a plastic badge.
All three shown in your picture are, in my opinion, copies.
Regards,
Pete

[Geof]

You may be right, if it's an alloy, it's very light though. I always thought it was bakelite because of that. I showed this to Simon Mitchell over on the VW forums and he says it's good. That's good enough for me. It weighs only a couple of grams as it should and is entirely consistent with this one here as well as the one from burgerhaus posted on WAF here. Funnily enough Robert Gilmore's article says bakelite.

So what's it made of? Well I am not burning mine to find out. Is mine a fake? Well the great thing about opinions, everyone gets to have one.

[Wood]

I will modify my statement, as I thought that you said that yours was definitely made of plastic and say that it looks OK. Is the shine on the reverse the result of Vaseline treatment? It makes it look very like plastic. Please post larger pics.
Regards,
Pete

[Geof]

The shine on the back is due to a ****ty lamp and an iphone. I'll find some daylight as well tomorrow. I actually took a pin and scratched the back of mine. I know, but science has a price eh? Well the bottom of the scratch is shiny like you'd expect from a metal. But these other experten are saying bakelite.

I'll update this tomorrow. Thanks for the reply btw.

[Martin Harding]

Sorry you are wrong. It is metal (lightweight zinc). Read the many threads on this particular badge.
Crimping is ridiculous on a plastic or Bakelite badge. The pin is either moulded in on Bakelite badge or melted into a plastic badge.
All three shown in your picture are, in my opinion, copies.
Regards,
Pete

Yes I am afraid I have to agree with what Pete has stated ....... Period original examples of this particualr design are Zinc............. there are other forum members who have made the same mistake by declaring originals are Bakelite. I believe this mistake has been made due to the fact that period examples are incredibly light.
Regards Martin

[Martin Harding]

Hello Geof, one way to test if your Badge is zinc without damaging your Badge is to expose it in a cold temperature then press the Badge against your lips .................I often kiss my tinnies Goodnight this way Joking aside I am been serious as zinc will be colder.
Originals show the exact same age characteristics as "DRITTE REICH MAI TAG ABZEICHENS" this is why I posted an example of an entirley different Zinc Badge on an earlier thread for comparrison. Although there was certain individual on that thread who could not comprehend why I had done so............
Zinc can tend to go dark/Blackish if exposed to DW40 etc having said that I am not comfortable stating any of the three posted are original. Infact Nathan Hogle above and beyond the call of duty sent me his fake so to enable me to compare with one of my originals. The example he sent me compares with the Badge in the centre.
Originals are scarce to find and realistically usually sell for approx 250 euros. I can recall Helmut Weitz selling an example for something in that price region and also described as zinc. I will post pictures Tommorow..................as it is after 1.00 am here now hence time for me to log off.
Regards Martin

[Geof]

Hi Martin

I have a piece of bakelite here and this badge so I'll leave it out tonight in the Canadian winter and try your test tomorrow. I only hope no-one sees me

I didn't know what it was made of, simply so light. So I googled it and the first few hits said bakelite. Since so many of the WHW badges I have are plastic, I just accepted that.

But since Peter's post, I did summon the courage to make a short scratch in the back and it does indeed shine at the bottom.

More after badge kissing. Later I will take the badge out for supper and drinks, maybe back to my place for badge fondling.

Geof

[Martin Harding]

Hi Martin

I have a piece of bakelite here and this badge so I'll leave it out tonight in the Canadian winter and try your test tomorrow. I only hope no-one sees me
Geof

Hello Geoff
Don't worry about been seen I often brush my lips up against tinnies in this way.................infact it is such a great way to kill 2 Birds with one stone...... not just to determine if a badge is zinc but also to get rid of a Girl friend once the Honey Moon period is over...............this really does get them running to the Hills

[Martin Harding]

Hi Martin

I have a piece of bakelite here and this badge so I'll leave it out tonight in the Canadian winter and try your test tomorrow. I only hope no-one sees me

I didn't know what it was made of, simply so light. So I googled it and the first few hits said bakelite. Since so many of the WHW badges I have are plastic, I just accepted that.

But since Peter's post, I did summon the courage to make a short scratch in the back and it does indeed shine at the bottom.

More after badge kissing. Later I will take the badge out for supper and drinks, maybe back to my place for badge fondling.

Geof

[Martin Harding]

Hello Geof, as promised below I have posted three examples of the Badge.
Only the Badge to the top of the Picture is a genuine Period example (the two Badges pictured below it are fakes)
Regards Martin

[Martin Harding]

Reverse

NB: Only the Badge to the top of the Picture is a Genuine Period example.