Panzer side cap

[OSS]

Fair enough OSS,

no offence intended. It is just that you touched on an interesting point that I have been noting examples of for some time.

I am told by a knowledgeable source, what you are referring to as"(baked) enamel" may in fact be a sythentic resin which the Germans developed in the 1930's.

The study of German paint in WW2 can be complicated by the outstanding number of ersatz products which Germany lead the world in out of economic choice or necessity. Plus the logistical challenges of being an economy at war. Hence why some grommets got no paint at all or a paint of declined quality.

Without being able to test the paint, sometimes it is hard to be certain.

Anyway I will leave it there because like yourself I have no wish to argue. Instead I would rather research, collect and discuss such issues,

Chris

The "enamel" which I referred to is not paint (though I am aware of the common english word for shiny paint) but rather the process of applying a ceramic finish to metal (like cooking vessels). The German word is "Email?".

[pauke]

enamel

Or also the term "Emaille".

[90th Light]

The "enamel" which I referred to is not paint (though I am aware of the common english word for shiny paint) but rather the process of applying a ceramic finish to metal (like cooking vessels). The German word is "Email?".

Hello OSS,

yes I know the process & product to which you refer. However, I am told that there is no way they could apply that to zinc because of the temperatures involved in firing the ceramic. The zinc would simply melt.

"Porcelain enamel cookware is made by taking porcelain and melting it onto another metal like cast iron, aluminum, or stainless steel. The process used to fuse the two materials together turns the porcelain into an integral component of the cookware rather than merely a "coating.""

Thus I am told the Germans have used some sort of sythentic resin or artificial enamel on grommets. Basically it is paint applied as a float to the top liquid glaze. It sits on top of the grommet in a liquid pool but dies like paint. Low oven temperatures can be used to speed up the drying process and possibly increase the strength. However, low oven temperatures can be used to improve many paints. Lacquers lend themselves to this also and are stronger.

Any way I have some round bits which have fallen tropical cap grommets so I will ask one of the science guys here to test it when they get a quiet moment and tell me what they find,

Chris