"Alteste Berliner"--A Primer

[stonemint]

Here is another that just popped up on Ebay (as original pre-45, of course). Piping is too "mylar-y" and the wreath is pathetic:

[stonemint]

On most Altestes, the logo is on the plastic s/s, and wears off easy. On this one, it is stamped onto the lining. Note the treated pasteboard, and the machine-stitching to the upper pasteboard. What is also rare is the hand-stitching of the leather s/b:

[stonemint]

For the sake of continuity, here is the one posted by hcliffe a while back:

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Bullion is better thant the ebay example:

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Logo on the above:

[stonemint]

Posting the "new" W-SS Genl's posted today. Check out the shape of the skull--it has a slight point to the curvature of the skull. When removed, this outline remains, and is a dead giveaway:

[stonemint]

Reed used for piping:

[stonemint]

Under the hood--cork and gauze. These things are really starting to show their age.

[stonemint]

The block-letter logo imprinted on the exterior of the S/S:

[stonemint]

BTW, there are Franky-Altestes floating around. They use the body, but replace the lining, usually with an Erel .

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Another ebay "original":

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Textbook fake pumpkinhead skull:

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Celluloid sweatdiamond:

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Overview:

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Coated oilcloth s/b: