2 new additions

[jayhawkhenry]

The postman stopped by today. These are my 2 new editions one unmarked BWB and a Silver 26, B.H. Mayer.
Please allow me to apologize for the poor photos, the battery in my camera died before I could adjust things. I wanted to get everyone’s opinion of the damage to the face of the SWB and your guesstimate of what caused it.

Thanks to all.
Henry

[jayhawkhenry]

Back

[jayhawkhenry]

damage to swb

Ouch!

[jayhawkhenry]

A bit closer... I look forward to reading what you all think.

[MauserKar98k]

The black one looks nice, but (I hate to say it) that is definately a large chunk out of the silver. I am just as interesed as you to find out what cause that damage. Let's see what the other guys think.

[fugpaw]

Henry, nice pair of WB's - the BWB cleaned up really well.

The damage on the SWB looks to severe and the wrong type of damage to be the zinc pest. It looks like possibly impact damage, or the SWB may have been in the ground.

Mike

[jayhawkhenry]

I agree Mike, the first thing I thought of was impact damage. The problem is, I would expect to see some metal compression or at least scaring on the back side and there is none. It is like someone used a scoop on a carton of ice cream.

There is also some spatter on the front, look at the right hand sword blade. This may be a manufacture flaw, but I would think that quality control would be better than that even late in the war. Maybe not.

[MauserKar98k]

This may be a manufacture flaw, but I would think that quality control would be better than that even late in the war. Maybe not.

This is probably the most likely explination. If the damage was impact-related, the whole badge would likely be bent by the bullet strike.

[fugpaw]

This is probably the most likely explination. If the damage was impact-related, the whole badge would likely be bent by the bullet strike.

MauserKar98k - I wasn't thinking of a bullet strike, more likely some other form of impact and possibly/probably not during wear - especially considering the marks on the helmet, swords and missing bubbles between the hilts. It was possibly left in a toolbox or some other box and had items dropped on it?

Mike

[don]

Being in production.I also think it is a manufacture flaw.Something was not set right.Maybe down the road that spot let go or hit.Weak spot in that area.Just my opinion
don....Still a nice item for the collection

[jayhawkhenry]

The process

I would like to know more about the manufacture process for WB's. I know they were die struck, but how were the blanks made? Cast, cut, rolled & punched etc.

Is there a good reference book on WB's?

Henry

[fugpaw]

I would like to know more about the manufacture process for WB's. I know they were die struck, but how were the blanks made? Cast, cut, rolled & punched etc.

Is there a good reference book on WB's?

Henry

There is a very good article on the GCA forum on the manufacture of WBs written by Basti -

http://www.germancombatawards.com/th...tuser=0&page=1

As for books, there's not much out there - there is the Hammelmann book if you can get hold of it - it is a bit out of date but does give some good technical stuff.

Mike

[jayhawkhenry]

Thanks Mike, the article was helpful. Hopefully my German was good enough. BWBs were stamped and cut from a sheet, attachment set up was applied by hard soldered, then I think it said an acid bath? followed by being electoplated black, then varnished and baked.

Does that sound right to you?

So were the zinc silver & gold badges cast and plated?

[fugpaw]

Thanks Mike, the article was helpful. Hopefully my German was good enough. BWBs were stamped and cut from a sheet, attachment set up was applied by hard soldered, then I think it said an acid bath? followed by being electoplated black, then varnished and baked.

Does that sound right to you?

So were the zinc silver & gold badges cast and plated?

I should really have mentioned - if you go to page 2 of the thread then there is an English tanslation. http://www.germancombatawards.com/th...tuser=0&page=2

Mike

[jayhawkhenry]

Thanks Mike. My German is not all bad after all (only poor). Great article.