German Sports Badges 1913-1945

[Richard]

OK, I have a real concern here. As the badges are supposed to be sequentially numbered, I am wondering about the badges that I am being offered in a lot. There are two DRL badges, one in bronze and one in silver. Both are numbered 33918. There is one DRL wounded badge without swastica unmarked and unnumbered. There are 4 DRL with swastica badges and all are numbered 35269. In all cases the number is raised and matches the lettering of the manufacturer. Is it then possible that the dies were altered for each single badge to engrave the number in each die (which seems unlikely) so they would appear as a raised number on each of these badges? It seems if they were numbered sequentially they would have engraved numbers. I'll try to make scans of the reverse of the badges to show on this thread.
Richard V

[Rick Research]

No no no-- that is the DESIGN copyright number. The NATIONAL Sports Badges were numbered on the award PAPERWORK, not on the badge! The SA Sports Badges' serial numbers were stamped on each badge, into the third type, as well as numbered in the paperwork. Second copy purchased duplicates and most 3rd type (wartime) SA badges were NOT serial numbered on the badges.

War wounded etc couldn't say. Jabve never seen any paperwork on either type, nor a badge of either I thought was original.

[Richard]

OK, now that makes a little more sense as all of the badges I was viewing shared the same number! Thanks for clearing this up Rick.
Richard V

[J Temple-West]

Here's a little accoutrement to the sports badge, that you may find interesting... It's as big as a medium sized fingernail..(Tech speak)













Best regards .... John

[J Temple-West]

Back... stamped 800.

[Rick Research]

Oho! THAT is a nice little jewel! NEVER seen one of those in silver-gilt before-- must have been a custom private purchase job, since it does not bear the abbreviated maker's marking--

I like this "true" mini sports badges with a pin on back like this, rather than the normal long straight stickpin.

The last one I had, I forget which version-- DRA, DRL, or DRL with Swastika, but it was a bronze, and I think had just enough space for "Wernstein Jena" or something like that on back--maybe only the name.

[Richard]

All the DRA and DRL with swastica badges I have seen are cut out. The DRL badges without swastica I have seen are not cut out. Is this normal?
Richard V

[Rick Research]

DRLs without swastikas are cut out too... but you're right, the only variety that seem to have the solid letters are of that issue.

The ones I have seen have also had no maker mark on the back: I guess these were "cheapo" period wearing copies (a second badge could be bought from the Sports Authority, along with mini, cloth version etc) from the time of the Berlin Olympics when sports enthusiasm was outstripping demand.

Not cutting out the letters seems an obvious time/expense saver, but wasn't done wartime. That's why I guess it was the backlog of 1935-36 when the awards just poured out in a flood that led to that shortcut. Before and after the numbers just flowed along routinely.

[Richard]

Are all Marcus DRA badges from 1913-1914 or did he also manufacture badges from 1919 on? The reason I ask is that I just obtained a Marcus Badge in gold (sadly some damage to the finish). I would really like to know if it may be one of the first issued or merely one of the fairly large lot of 4,200. It is not of gold plated silver composition and it is not marked with a 900. It appears to be brass with a gold finish applied.
Richard V

[Rick Research]

Wups, just realized my early scans from our pre-direct posting days have gone poof with my old image hosting site.

Here we go again, DRA in silver-gilt by Marcus, obverse--

[Rick Research]

the reverse, showing maker's mark--

[Rick Research]

As I recall, what I assume are the "1919" type Marcus pieces don't say Court Jeweler, but rather have the design number. What has yours got on back?

Here's the closeup of the silver hallmark

[Richard]

Rick, mine is marked exactly like yours but does not have the silver fineness stamp. It appears to be bronze with a gold finish and has seen some deterioration to the finish. It also appears the pin was replaced at some time. If I can find some time this weekend, I'll try to make a scan.
Richard V

[Richard]

Rick, finally found the time to do a scan. The badge is gold colored with a fast gold wash and has some loss of color in places where the finish is completely gone down to the bronze core. The areas of finish loss also have had some pvc damage. The pin appears to have been replaced at some time. It appears to be an original piece but I am wondering why, if only 118 were ever awarded, there would be 900 silver ones and ones with a bronze core. I actually purchased this on Ebay for $25. The seller assumed that this was a normal version.
Richard V

[Richard]

Probably would help to add the scans!






Richard V