Gentleman I recently bought a so-called late war economy Erel form another member. Personally I have no strong reason to doubt the existence of them but never owned one so as they say curiosity killed the cat. I started this thread to get the opinions of other collectors regarding their feelings on these. I would love to hear any thoughts that can prove or disprove the legitimacy of the economy Erel. I would also love to hear from dealers that have sold them like Gerard and PVL. In fact I think Gerard has one on his site right now. So far out of everyone I talked to it is about a 50/50 split on their felling of authenticity. Well after a careful hands-on and a comparison to other Erel’s in my collection here are my findings along with some photos. Let’s discuss! This could be the rounder of the visor world, lol.
Exterior:
Cap Material: Trikot, similar weave and texture of mid to later war Erels. The color is just a bit more on the greener side similar to mid to late war Officers’ tunics.
Piping: not a tight as weave as early war Erel’s but consistent with later war caps. The attachment and the butting of the ends consistent with war time production.
Badge cloth: Identical to earlier Erel’s.
The Visor: What appears to be pressed paper not vulcanfiber. Painted all black.
Weight: substantially less that other Erel’s and all other wartime visors I have handled for that matter. This is due to the fact that it has much less padding than earlier Erel’s or other war time visors.
Sweatband: Hart to tell the material for sure but I believe it might be pigskin. The attachment is the standard fold over type with the ends connected with the standard x stitch. The sweatband is not sewn like early Erel’s nor does it have the oilcloth in-between the sweatband and the cap base.
Interior:
Lining: It has the standard later war Erel lining. The lining has the proper folds and the ends or edges are the unfinished type. The lining also contains the quadrant markings in what appears to be red grease pencil with the size located on the rear. Under the lining is the proper cheesecloth between the lining and the cap.
Sweat Shield: The sweat shield is with out a doubt made of celluloid and is the proper thickness. It is identical to all other Erel’s except the fact that the logo imprint on the lining either was never foiled or has disappeared with age. The impression is clear on the lining of the cap and in regards to this cap is an Extra.
Padding: The cap lacks most of the padding found on other Erel examples. The padding seems to be all around the overhang but little to none in the peak. I was not about to destroy the cap to compare material used for the padding but by feel appears to be the same type used on earlier Erel’s.
Peak stiffener: The peak stiffener is the standard hardened cheesecloth type and is consistent with wartime production.
Internal wire stiffener: None.
Paste board: This to me was one of the most positive signs on the cap. It is identical to the pasteboard found on all other Erel’s I have examined. It is the black hardened type commonly found in Erel’s.
Chin cord buttons: These are the prong types with brass inner ring in a silver pebbled finish.
Finally basic construction methods: I can find no significant different in method of construction over earlier Erel’s, i.e. stitching methods, quality of workmanship and so on.
Exterior:
Cap Material: Trikot, similar weave and texture of mid to later war Erels. The color is just a bit more on the greener side similar to mid to late war Officers’ tunics.
Piping: not a tight as weave as early war Erel’s but consistent with later war caps. The attachment and the butting of the ends consistent with war time production.
Badge cloth: Identical to earlier Erel’s.
The Visor: What appears to be pressed paper not vulcanfiber. Painted all black.
Weight: substantially less that other Erel’s and all other wartime visors I have handled for that matter. This is due to the fact that it has much less padding than earlier Erel’s or other war time visors.
Sweatband: Hart to tell the material for sure but I believe it might be pigskin. The attachment is the standard fold over type with the ends connected with the standard x stitch. The sweatband is not sewn like early Erel’s nor does it have the oilcloth in-between the sweatband and the cap base.
Interior:
Lining: It has the standard later war Erel lining. The lining has the proper folds and the ends or edges are the unfinished type. The lining also contains the quadrant markings in what appears to be red grease pencil with the size located on the rear. Under the lining is the proper cheesecloth between the lining and the cap.
Sweat Shield: The sweat shield is with out a doubt made of celluloid and is the proper thickness. It is identical to all other Erel’s except the fact that the logo imprint on the lining either was never foiled or has disappeared with age. The impression is clear on the lining of the cap and in regards to this cap is an Extra.
Padding: The cap lacks most of the padding found on other Erel examples. The padding seems to be all around the overhang but little to none in the peak. I was not about to destroy the cap to compare material used for the padding but by feel appears to be the same type used on earlier Erel’s.
Peak stiffener: The peak stiffener is the standard hardened cheesecloth type and is consistent with wartime production.
Internal wire stiffener: None.
Paste board: This to me was one of the most positive signs on the cap. It is identical to the pasteboard found on all other Erel’s I have examined. It is the black hardened type commonly found in Erel’s.
Chin cord buttons: These are the prong types with brass inner ring in a silver pebbled finish.
Finally basic construction methods: I can find no significant different in method of construction over earlier Erel’s, i.e. stitching methods, quality of workmanship and so on.
We do have three no votes with no explanation though. 
I hope the nay’s speak up too.
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