Police Officer M-43 Question

[Bob Hritz]

Today, I was shown a police oficer M-43 cap. It was the correct material, had two piece machine zig-zag sewn flatwire insignia. The maker was Willi Springfiel (spelling????).

Not having any exspertise with police M-43 caps made me most leery. Does anyone have any helpful information to guide me?

Thank you,
Bob Hritz

[Lenny W]

Bob are we talking about Willy Sprengpfeil ? On a m- 43 cap?

[Bob Hritz]

Yes, Lenny, stamped in a rectangle on an police officer M-43 cap. I was suspicious, but did not have the camera with me.

Bob Hritz

[Lenny W]

Its a heavely faked maker and as far as i know bob they did not produce m-43 caps

[Bob Hritz]

Thanks, Lenny. All I had to go on was Wilkins' book which shows a supposedly original stamp in a M-43 cap. If that maker is heavily faked, I am best served by not taking an expensive gamble. Thank you for your timely and sage advice.

Best regards,
Bob

[BPA-Paul]

Its a heavely faked maker and as far as i know bob they did not produce m-43 caps

Bob,

I would have to agree with Lenny , I have not seen this maker on M43 caps, visor and side caps ..yes, but if that spelling of maker is what you say it is that be a red flag right there.

If you can get hold of it with some photos can you please post, thanks Bob.

Paul.

[John Huff]

Was this it?

[John Huff]

next

[John Huff]

last

[Richard P]

Stewarts has a good reputation, but the maker and zig zag sewing of the cockade would give me pause. The zig zag on the Po emblem is O.K., but I have always seen the cockades hand sewn. Further scrutiny of the cap itself would be called for too, but you never know, it could be the only M-43 Willy made.

Richard

[John Huff]

Great dealer IMO also but no one knows all about everything.. Technically, it's not an M43. Earlier vintage, if original (I don't know but the stamp looks good!)

[90th Light]

The question remains however, did Willly Sprengfeil use only one version or font of stamp throughout the entire war

Other manufactures such as Carl Halfar did not so why Sprengfeil ? Halfar's have small diffences in stamps for the years 1940, 41, 42 & 43. They also applied slightly different styles to different types of caps. For example, a tropical M40 verses an Org. Todt M43

When one encounters the Panzer black version of a sidecap made by Willy Sprengfeil, it always has a slightly different but consistent version of the stamp.

One of the factors which I feel is misunderstood by collectors today, is the use of sub-contractors by big brand cap makers in Germany at this time. There is clear evidence that to meet some large orders. Some of the work or component parts were sub-contracted out to meet the the dead-line. Just recently, this was discussed concerning the differences in the placement of a soutache on two Carl Halfar tropical M40's. These two caps were 101% correct in every way but just a bit different from each other in regard to how the soutache was attached at the bottom of the cap. The answer, use of sub-contractors or cottage industry components.

One more thing which needs to be considered when looking at a Sprengfeil cap. In 1939 Willy Sprengpfeil was in financial difficulty. They entered into a cooperative partnership with Gloy and and began licencing some of their production to reduce their fixed operations. This could also be a reason that just not one stamp was used. In this regard there is some sort of joint venture with "Opolka & Muller" and other manufacturers in Hamburg,

Chris

[djpool]

I'm sure Willly Sprengfeil used several styles of fonts in fact I know it. The fakers also use different fonts. I attached a sample of fakes and original stamps compared to the Police stamp. Nothing that proves the subject stamp is good or bad. The sample of originals is too small. The two originals did share one thing in common they are both dated. However I'm sure there are originals without a date. Did Willly Sprengfeil make M43's? I didn't find an example, but they produced a wide variety of caps and hats, so it wouldn't be a stretch to believe they producec M43s. Wilkins laid down a good foundation for further resarch on hat manufacturers but its hardly complete.

Jim