I picked up this visor from a reliable source in Germany, who deals strictly in original items. I believe it is an original general staff visor, but the question is, could it have belonged to FM von Kluge? There is a faint name "Kluge" written in soft pencil on the back of the sweatband.
The condition of the cap is excellent, with no spotting and minor sweat staining to the lining. The fabric is a fine gabardine, with fine bottle green wool on the hatband. The interior lining has a pronounced corduroy-like nap, which you can easily feel when running your fingers over it. The celluloid diamond is missing, as can be seen. The gold piping has come away from the top in one area to the left of centre front and the gilt tube over the piping has worn off for several inches. The cap is well-padded and has a nice saddle form. There is very minor scuffing of the padded area at the rear, but not so much as to detract from the condition much.
I would say that the head size is quite large, probably about a 59 or 60! Whoever owned this must have had a big head. I am a 61, so this sizing estimate is pretty close I think.
The insignia appear to be original to the cap and have some wearing of the gilt finish on the high spots. The peak appears to be vulcanfibre and is well-stitched on to the cap. No glow under black light.
I would appreciate comments from the community, on the originality of this visor and an estimate of it's value. I am thinking of keeping it in the hope that I can establish some provenance for it, but I realize that anyone could have written the name on the sweatband to give it more "apparent" value. To an experienced collector, I doubt that would add anything without provenance.
Thanks for your assistance!
Harry
The condition of the cap is excellent, with no spotting and minor sweat staining to the lining. The fabric is a fine gabardine, with fine bottle green wool on the hatband. The interior lining has a pronounced corduroy-like nap, which you can easily feel when running your fingers over it. The celluloid diamond is missing, as can be seen. The gold piping has come away from the top in one area to the left of centre front and the gilt tube over the piping has worn off for several inches. The cap is well-padded and has a nice saddle form. There is very minor scuffing of the padded area at the rear, but not so much as to detract from the condition much.
I would say that the head size is quite large, probably about a 59 or 60! Whoever owned this must have had a big head. I am a 61, so this sizing estimate is pretty close I think.
The insignia appear to be original to the cap and have some wearing of the gilt finish on the high spots. The peak appears to be vulcanfibre and is well-stitched on to the cap. No glow under black light.
I would appreciate comments from the community, on the originality of this visor and an estimate of it's value. I am thinking of keeping it in the hope that I can establish some provenance for it, but I realize that anyone could have written the name on the sweatband to give it more "apparent" value. To an experienced collector, I doubt that would add anything without provenance.
Thanks for your assistance!
Harry
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