Wilkins headgear book....Mohr & Speyer??

[keifer kahn]

Hi,

I recently purchased Gary Wilkins "THE COLLECTORS GUIDE TO CLOTH THIRD REICH MILTARY HEADGEAR" and found no reference anywhere in the book to maker "Mohr & Speyer".

I thought this was a fairly well known quality maker and found it strange how a book like this could have zero references to the company.

[billbert]

You must understand even his best efforts had huge gaps of information in the time since it was written and present day..Every day new facts are uncovered.. If I remember correctly he had a website after the book was published that had an addendum with many ommitted makers..Collectors should view most EVERY book as a guide and assistant rather than the BIBLE to what was correct ,original ,common practice and true to the times..Never will be an all encompassing all correct reference book..JMHO
Billbert

Just cause its written doesn t mean its WORD...

[Karl S.]

Addendum is on a semi-permanent "shelf freeze."

http://www.germancaps.com/Addendum.html

[sturmbannfuhrer]

I've got my money ready for when it comes out, great book the first ed.

J T

[stonemint]

Hi,

I recently purchased Gary Wilkins "THE COLLECTORS GUIDE TO CLOTH THIRD REICH MILTARY HEADGEAR" and found no reference anywhere in the book to maker "Mohr & Speyer".

I thought this was a fairly well known quality maker and found it strange how a book like this could have zero references to the company.

Mohr & Speyer was much more profligate in terms of production during the Kaiserreich than the TR. It is rare to find M/S marked items during the TR, but they are around. IMHO, M/S was primarily a tailor/effekten distributor.

During the KR, they were a supplier to the Official Court of the King, as evidenced by this hat:

[stonemint]

Here are some TR logos:

[stonemint]

This one was on the sweatband of a LW cap:

[stonemint]

Addendum is on a semi-permanent "shelf freeze."

http://www.germancaps.com/Addendum.html

Yes, but this forum was inspired by the book, and in many ways, is a continuation of it.

[derek]

I believe Stonemint to be correct in his opinion that Mohr and Speyer were military outfitters. I have never come across them being mentioned in any of the lists of manufacturers. You will also find their name engraved on blades.
Based on the diamond in the hat on the right in post 6 I would hazard a guess that particular cap was supplied to them by Clemens Wagner.
D.

[BrianK]

Is the book worth buying?

As a novice cloth headgear collector - should I buy this book? What's the consensus of posters on this forum?

[JasonA]

Hi Brian,

You should definitely purchase the book if you want to collect cloth headgear. It begins by giving you an overview of the traditions and hallmarks of the cap making industry, and this sense of craftsmanship pervades the rest of the book.

You'll get a good education on details of cap construction, as well as further overviews of each type of cap, and differences between caps produced for different branches.

It's a worthwhile purchase for any cloth headgear collector.

Best regards,

Jason

[stonemint]

As a novice cloth headgear collector - should I buy this book? What's the consensus of posters on this forum?

Most definately. Also get the 4-volume set "Headgear of Hitler's Germany" by Wim Saris.

The forum is still your best resource--read all the pinned threads, and go from there.

[BrianK]

Thanks guys - I'll definitely pick up a copy. Cloth headgear takes a lot of study - but that's what makes it so interesting.

[notton]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=209466

[stonemint]

7 convenient locations throughout the Reich with which to meet all your Effekten needs....