The anatomy of a fake (The Alteste)

[NTZ]

I hope this look at the Alteste construction helps out our fellow collectors in looking for traits found on visors for sale and determining if indeed they were produced by Dr. Breuer

[enorepap]

Hi NTZ

Great informative thread ...and a damned good forensic work

You really ripped that poor visor open !!!

best regards. enorepap

[stonemint]

Great forensics, Nick, and Bob, thanks for sacrificing this hat to further our knowledge base. Also note how the cheesecloth is white--if you look at your wartime cheesecloths, they will have yellowed, due to a lack of synthetic materials and brighteners.

[Lenny W]

thank you good stuff to know

[DougB]

Great stuff, thanks a lot, learned a lot!!!

[MattS]

This is the kind of valuable information that makes this forum great!
How many of us would rather see more threads like this rather than simple "It's fake" comments? I'm guessing pretty much everybody! Super job Nick!
Question, the two staples holding in the stiffener behind where the TK would be, is that an Alteste trait or do others have that too?

[stonemint]

Nick--I forgot to ask--did you do a burn test on any of the threads? I was just curious as to whether they were using polyester back then.

[NTZ]

Nick--I forgot to ask--did you do a burn test on any of the threads? I was just curious as to whether they were using polyester back then.

I will check it in a bit

[Kreager]

Outstanding examination Nick Very helpful and we all thank you. Also to Bob, thanks for donating the subject for todays lesson

[Bob Hritz]

Sadly, the easiest thing was to donate the hat. I have a box of fake hats, accumulated over the poast 4 decades. I only get sad when I think of my cost!

If fakes can save us a few future mistakes, I believe I will see the lost value regained!

Bob Hritz

[NTZ]

Well guys I did the burn test on five different threads from the visor. There were no synthetic fibers present.

[sturmbannfuhrer]

Great Autopsy Nick,

Are you available for the Quincy remake???