S S by Assmann

[David North]

The classic 1939 SS by Assmann.

Regards,

David

[David North]

02

[David North]

03

[David North]

04

[David North]

05

[Kevin Rea]

Hello,
There seem to be two versions of the 39 Assmann, concerning the marking (the shape of the 39) and the placement of the catch. Any comments on this?
Cheers,
Kevin

[David North]

"A" SS

Kevin

The other "example" that you refer to is clearly shown on page 221 of the publication by James Nash.

To be perfectly honest, had not really thought an awful lot about it and had assumed merely, a different tool.

Do you feel that there is any significance ?

J P - any comments and also, would appreciate any new remarks about the earlier posted "variation" SS.

Regards,

David

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

Kevin

The other "example" that you refer to is clearly shown on page 221 of the publication by James Nash.

To be perfectly honest, had not really thought an awful lot about it and had assumed merely, a different tool.

Do you feel that there is any significance ?

J P - any comments and also, would appreciate any new remarks about the earlier posted "variation" SS.

Regards,

David

Kevin is indeed very right since there is two totally different SS EM 155/39 in aluminum. Those two variants have even different width (one be slighest shorter than the other) but exact same length and eagle wingspan.
The variant Type 1 has a rounded 9, part of the rope visible in front of the catch, several straight lines inside the wing above the catch, and is the one longer.
The variant Type 2 is the one you are showing. Strike is deeper than variant Type 1, the 9 is straight, there is no rope visible (flat surface) in front of the catch, no straight lines inside the wing above the catch, and is the shorter one.
Post, post sleeve and prongs are remaining the same for both variants.
So far I don't know even one 155/39 variant Type 1 with tag in collection, but know some of the variant Type 2 with one in my collection. So, I still don't know which one was the first been produced (even if we cannot rely 100% on tag's digits it gives sometimes some info).

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

[QUOTE=Jean Pierre Redeuilh]The variant Type 1 has a rounded 9, part of the rope visible in front of the catch, several straight lines inside the wing above the catch, and is the one longer.
QUOTE]

Type 1

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

The variant Type 2 is the one you are showing. Strike is deeper than variant Type 1, the 9 is straight, there is no rope visible (flat surface) in front of the catch, no straight lines inside the wing above the catch, and is the shorter one.

Type 2

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

J P - would appreciate any new remarks about the earlier posted "variation" SS.

If you are referring to the "Mystery" buckle, nothing new. Still working on it since new finds but unfortunately no definitive call.

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

[QUOTE=Jean Pierre Redeuilh]The variant Type 1 has a rounded 9, part of the rope visible in front of the catch, several straight lines inside the wing above the catch, and is the one longer.
QUOTE]

Its Front

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

Type 2 Front

[David North]

Thanks for the information Jean Pierre

Assume that the buckle was only produced in 1939 and I was wondering, do you have any thoughts as to why two distinct tools should be used for such a short lived production. Also, is one type seen more than the other ?

Regards,

David

[Jean Pierre Redeuilh]

Thanks for the information Jean Pierre

Assume that the buckle was only produced in 1939 and I was wondering, do you have any thoughts as to why two distinct tools should be used for such a short lived production.

There is also several variants in other years / other makers. By 1937 (and there was less SS men than by 1939), C.T Dicke (#822 & #257) already produced 822/37 SS EM buckles with two very distinct dies and by 1938 his production increased to 3 differents!
Another SS EM buckle in aluminum which was even shorter living was the Overhoff (#36) made by 1940. For those also we have two very different variants: to be short with differences let's say one is with single ring around SS runes, the other (more common) with two. Even with Assmann (#155) SS EM buckles made of aluminum in 1940 (155/40) there is maybe also two variants. I am waiting to receive the one I bought last week to compare it to others I already have. But on the photo something was somehow different.

I guess change of die was only due to wear on the previous die. As reported by Christian U. (Wickie - who is in constant friendship relation with many surviving familly members of buckle makers) makers were not waiting the slimest lack of details on their production before changing die. They had enough indicators to tell them the die was finished and it was time to change over before loosing quality. If working with aluminum is easier or harder on the die than working with nickel silver or steel (where also several dies are used for many of such buckles - including RODO's), you should also ask Christian U. (Wickie) since he is also the only one I know to have been (and still) in contact with a former aluminum buckles worker during the Third Reich. Christian already brought to the collecting world first hand evidence how those aluminum buckles were die stamped (and not cast as some previousely believed) and if one could tell us more he is certainly the one.

Also, is one type seen more than the other ?

I honestly cannot say one is scarcer than the other (but a dealer will certainly find something to sell you a variant higher than the other).