Estand "Alteste"

[Paris Gun]

I notified the seller that I believed the Luftwaffe Officer visor with enlisted insignia was an "Alteste" reproduction from the 1960s; I'm surprised no one has commented upon the hat and made the same allegation. Although I believe the signal-piped visor is certainly original, and because the seller (Greg E.) was very courteous in his communications, I wanted to ensure that my observations/ comments on the officer visor's authenticity are shared by others.

Here's the link:

http:// http://dev.wehrmacht-awards....d.php?t=816898

(I hope the link is correct)

All the best,

PG

[BenVK]

Try this instead:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=816898

Yes, it looks like an Alteste to me also.

[stonemint]

I agree--Alteste.

[GREG E.]

Why Alteste ?

May I please ask what detail(s) make this visor cap an Alteste? The blue-gray material is absolutely consistent with most original examples that I have handled and I can say the same about the black mohair cap band. The checkered green underside of the visor itself is a perfectly common feature in Luftwaffe caps in general. The lining material sure looks period to me and that celluloid sweat-shield has not been tampered with nor removed.

The only thing that "stands out" a little bit to me is the sweatband. I guess that it can be considered unusual, but I have seen the likes of it before. In fact, tomorrow (as soon as I get the chance), I will post images of a vet-purchased Reichsbahn officer's visor cap with a sweatband of the same color and in the same material...

It appears that the use of enlisted men's insignia is a "trademark" feature of these Alteste caps, but surely this is not the only detail that you guys are basing your judgment on, right? Help me out here - I want to learn!

[TPK]

No Doubt about it. Do a search on this forum and its will show the traits and characteristics of this type. TPK.

[GREG E.]

Sweatbands...

As promised, here are two pictures of the inside of my vet-purchased Reichsbahn visor cap that I mentioned in my previous post. The similarity in the sweatbands is striking, is it not? The sweatband in the Reichsbahn visor cap appears to be a little wider, but I would say that the color & material match is very close.