A study of Kriegsmarine tropical M40 caps

[90th Light]

Excellent to see renewed interest in this very under valued area of collecting German tropical caps

And to PaulW, great example of one of the nicer shaped makers of these. I like "HPC" because they are very close in shape to the aesthetic look of certain WH tropical caps. Plus they zip and flip way they applied the eagle with a zig-zag applied cockade,

Chris

[PaulW]

Andy, Chris - thank-you!

Continuing this subject, and in other threads on this subject reference has been made to a well known German dealer who has a nice selection of original examples. My own cap came form this dealer, however as soon as I bought the cap, the pictures disappeared as they often do. I contacted them and asked permission to use their caps in a historical study (before the pictures disappear over time as they are sold) and they did not object as long as the pictures used showed their watermark clearly. I will also include the links.

So, for posterity, here goes!

1) hpc 58cm, almost identical to mine but with a variant "hpc" logo - hollow letters, no circle. It can just be made out from the pictures I hope (see next post).

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/88/...n__263888.html

[PaulW]

The interior etc.

[PaulW]

2) hpc 55cm, with simplified insignia application and standard stamps, but in white.

I'm just guessing at later in 1942 perhaps for this one? The insignia application is simplified, but it is prior to the use of RB numbers (introduced in stages during 1942 I believe).

https://www.weitze.net/militaria/89/...n__263889.html

[PaulW]

Interior.

[PaulW]

3) hpc 61cm, 1943. This has the simplified insignia, but now has an RB number. Interestingly, the stamps are also in white, as in the (later 1942 ?) produced non-RB numbered 55cm cap above.

[PaulW]

Rear and interior.

[PaulW]

4) hpc 58cm (1943 RB numbered). This is more or less the twin of the above cap. It has the simplified insignia, with the RB number, as well as the stamps in white.

I don't have permission to show the pictures, so the link will have to do:-

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Krieg...s/K010673.html

It appears a darker tan colour than the example above, but from taking pictures of my cap in various types of light (flash, daylight etc) I can say that the apparent shade changes quite a lot, so I wouldn't take too much notice of that.

[PaulW]

5) Heinrich Balke "Mutzenfabrik Bremen" 1942 dated, size 58cm.

This has a straight machine stitched roundel/ cockade, with a hand-stitched eagle. I believe that some collectors have noted (from looking at old posts on the WAF) that the lining is more of a grey-green colour in these?

[PaulW]

More pictures.

[PaulW]

Stamps. (The spelling is definitely Balke, not Balki. This can be seen clearly on the stamps on other surviving caps.)

[PaulW]

6) Heinrich Balke "Mutzenfabrik Bremen" 1942 dated, size 61cm.

I don't have permission to post pictures of this one, so will just post the link:-

https://www.lux-military-antiques.co...ap-size-61.htm

Note that the dealer describes the lining colour as "blue-green", so perhaps there is a slight colour difference when it comes to the linings of Balke caps compared to hpc's?

Note that this example has an excellent clear stamp, dispelling notions of the maker being called 'Balki' as seen elsewhere.

Also note, that this example has a hand-sewn cockade, in addition to the eagle, and that this differs from the previous Balke example with a straight machine stitched cockade. However, I can say that I have recently seen pictures of a Balke cap in the personal collection (not for sale) of Mike Davis of Virtual Grenadier (I don't have permission to post). The insignia is hand sewn in a style that appears identical to the hand-sewing on this cap (e.g the stitch spacing on the cockade).

I would assume (IMHO) that this is just a manufacturer variation, or perhaps the fully hand-sewn examples slightly pre-date the partially machine-sewn example above.

Again, note that these caps by Balke both have two widely spaced reinforcing stitch lines under the peak, unlike the hpc's, that have none.

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[PaulW]

Lux Militaria also currently has two French made examples for sale. These caps all seem to have the same gold-yellow silk-type lining. I will post the links:-

1) With German Bevo eagle, 58.5cm (similar to the example in post #10):-

https://www.lux-military-antiques.co...rench-made.htm

2) With embroidered eagle, also 58.5cm, and with a clearer example of the manufacturer stamp found in all of these caps:-

https://www.lux-military-antiques.co...production.htm

I believe that the stamps for these caps, of which several examples have been posted on WAF over the years, reads:-

"Chapellerie Parisienne, Paris" (roughly translating as 'The Parisian Hat shop' I think?)

I wonder if it is possible that this manufacturer still exists today? On this website link below (at 4, rue Lafayette, Grenoble - not based in Paris anymore?), they proudly state that their business is "more than a Century old" so could it perhaps be the same manufacturer that was contracted (or organized the contract) to make these caps for the Kriegsmarine in the 1940's?

Looks like everyone was wearing a hat 'back in the day'.

http://www.chapellerie-laparisienne.fr/

Regards, Paul

[PaulW]

Apologies for the last post! The manufacturer stamp actually reads:-

"Chapeliere Parisienne, Paris"

Here is a thread with a good clear stamp:-

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=833500

[PaulW]

After the previous 'Red Herring' (apologies for that), I think I might have tracked this manufacturer of KM tropical caps down!

I think that on some of the (more clear) stamps on French made KM caps you can just make out what looks like it might be an "S", or two, at the top, which seems to correspond with the stamp below.

This is in a WW1 kepi on E-bay at the moment:-

"Société chapelière Parisienne
Chapeaux et casquette souple
Marque déposé Souple Sport
Coiffure d'Uniforme
48 rue du Temple
Paris"

Also, on this website it seems this manufacturer was making berets for the French military after the war:-

http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/unif...texte-integral

"Béret bleu roi « type commando » de fabrication réglementaire précoce puisqu’il a été perçu par le parachutiste Thévenin du train parachutiste en AFN début 1948. Les flots sont rapportés d’origine et non pas glissé dans la basane et le support d’insigne cousu sur la doublure est en cuir fauve. Béret bleu roi « type commando » réglementaire fabriqué par la célèbre maison parisienne Huard provenant d’un parachutiste du III/1er RCP. On relève la taille tamponnée sur le fond ainsi que les œillets en laiton peints. Deux bérets bleu roi « type commando » fabriqués par la Société Chapelière Parisienne (chapeaux et casquette souple, coiffures d’uniforme) située rue du Temple à Paris."

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