E Stand Overseas Hats

[Glenn McInnes]

A Forum member asked me about these hats a few days ago before they hit the E Stand and my opinion was the only one I though had a chance of being original was the signals.


What are your thoughts on them? http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...13#post7913113







Glenn

[Lenny W]

At a quick glance I thought they were all fakes ,pictures of the grommets would certainly help

[derka]

The "Gustav Thomas" sidecap with lemmon yellow soutache itself is 100% original, but i have doubts about its (look original) insignias being period applied, particulary the soutache.

The "Willy Sprengpfeil" with white soutache is for sure a fake sidecap, eagle maybe original.

The "faint maker panzer" sidecap is probably a fake, wiews of inside grommets would tell for sure, fake soutache, but eagle and cocarde look original.

Just my opinion of course.

derka

[jmcm]

At a quick glance I thought they were all fakes ,pictures of the grommets would certainly help

I agree with that comment

[billbert]

Only the signals needs a second look...Billbert

[GREG E.]

Willy Sprengpfeil / Overseas Hat with White Soutache

According to Gary Wilkins' book, The Collector's Guide to Cloth Third Reich Headgear, Willy Sprengpfeil was an authorized manufacturer of military headgear during the Third Reich period.

The book even shows an example of the ink-stamped Willy Sprengpfeil Mutzenfabrik logo. The logo is crisper and clearer in the book photo than on the lining of the cap in question, but the letters and numbers certainly appear to be of similar size and font.

So what exactly makes my overseas cap with white soutache a fake one? Is it the material? Is it the lining? Is it the insignia? Surely, one other collector's "quick glance" is not enough to condemn an item which, in my opinion, has all the characteristics of an original example.

I will post some close-up pics of the grommets as soon as possible. Perhaps the damning clue lies therein?

[GREG E.]

Willy Sprengpfeil / Overseas Hat with White Soutache - 02

Here are two images of the grommet on the left side of the cap - exterior and interior.

[GREG E.]

Willy Sprengpfeil / Overseas Hat with White Soutache - 03

Here is a picture of the overseas cap (with white soutache) turned inside out, as well as a close-up of the interior grommet on the opposite side.

Comments? Conclusions?

[billbert]

Got your PM Greg...what I was inferring to was the application of the insignias on only the signals hat look to ME to be period appropriate..the others to my eye and memory of interest for many years ....Billbert

[derka]

Thank you for those additional pics Greg.

"Willy Sprengpfeil" markings variations have been disussed several times on the forum, if you use the search function you will see many exemples and different opinions expressed about this subject.
So i will only say on this point that i have not seen one i consider original with the squared stamp inversed regarding size and date markings.
And the grommets wiews you provided confirm my initial opinion that this sidecap is a fake.

FOR the stamp of your "Gustav Thomas" sidecap, here is another 41 dated exemple in a feldgrau sidecap for comparizon :



And in a tropical cap :



Your's :



derka

[GREG E.]

Willy Sprengpfeil / Different Cap

Here are several images of a different overeas cap (with two-button front) from the same source as the others. Do these grommets and this particular style of Willy Sprengpfeil maker-mark conform to the generally accepted style for authentic specimens?

[GREG E.]

Willy Sprengpfeil / Different Cap - 02

Interior grommet and manufacturer's logo. Two different color materials used for the lining.

[Daniel.S]

At a quick glance I thought they were all fakes ,pictures of the grommets would certainly help

The signals ones might be ok.

Lets see the groomets...

[Glenn McInnes]

Do these grommets and this particular style of Willy Sprengpfeil maker-mark conform to the generally accepted style for authentic specimens?

Yes they do..








Glenn

[billbert]

BRAVO to ALL PARTICIPANTS for keeping this both CIVIL and EDUCATIONAL so far !!!Billbert