A newbie's questions for the community

[Nopegineer]

Hello everyone,

I'm interested in collecting Wehrmacht militaria, and especially the visor and crusher caps of the Heer. However, I still have much (a lot) to learn, and I would like to have the help of the experienced community in helping me out. I have some questions for you guys:

1) What is the correct insignia like cockades and insignia for these caps?
2) Which are some of the more reputable manufacturers of such caps?
3) What are your opinions on "EREL"s, "Janke"s or other manufacturers? (I have no prior experience collecting militaria, so please forgive my ignorance.)
4) Where can I find affordable but authentic caps? (I think I will only be able to afford repros though, so to authentic specifications and materials?)
5) What are some areas to stay away from when starting to collect?
6) What are your opinions on other WW2-related forums?

Help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank You!

[Marcel Banziger]

Welcome to the forum! To all your questions: stroll through this forum and you'll find all the answers you're looking for. Simply use the search button to go directly to threads interesting for you. By going through all these threads you will learn more than a simple and quick answer here in this thread

[Schlange]

Its very hard tho find TR era visor cap with origial placed insignia.
Manly because de-nacification after the end of WW2. These problem afect im most chases eagle insignia but aloso cockades.
Some insignia was replaced also by collectors and dealers in attempts to create more desirable visor.
To avoid these problem - tray to find visor cap witout extra/emty cardboard holes.
Also avoid cap who have insigna prongs attach through cap internal lining.
And at the end - alaweys look that cap internal lining have connection string in untouched and straight condition.


Schlange

http://www.mojalbum.com/schlange88/album

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=916564

[enorepap]

Welcome I think Marcel's advice is very good because actually in the threads of this forum is preserved the most impressive and accurate research on the subject, sometimes with fierce but constructive discussions by some of the best world experts. I just add that you have to be prepared to spend a lot of your time and money to buy some basic reference books and study them thoroughly. Also, in my opinion, since this is a very large ocean you have to decide what your interest is to focus on and start buying a truly authentic but not very demanding and expensive cap (so, if it is false, you consequently don't get a big financial damage) and study it in the flesh in every detail and again in every detail for many times. I assure you that this is not easy: after forty years of collecting I always have some doubt and I do not venture myself into many minefields.

Best regards

[mjfur]

If you find a cap/visor on-line that you like you can always post it here before you buy it and get the opinions of other collectors.

"What are your opinions on "EREL"s, "Janke"s or other manufacturers?"
Erel was a manufacturer of WWII caps and visors, but the Erel name has been used in fakes made post war. Janke is ALWAYS a fake, it was never a manufacturer of WWII caps.

There's also a section on this forum (E-Stand) where collectors of this forum list their items for sale. This is the section for Cloth Headgear,
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...play.php?f=104

[jacquesf]

Its very hard tho find TR era visor cap with origial placed insignia.
Manly because de-nacification after the end of WW2. These problem afect im most chases eagle insignia but aloso cockades.
S.......

Schlange

http://www.mojalbum.com/schlange88/album

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=916564

This is a very inaccurate comment. Follow Marcel's advice and you will do good. J

[Nopegineer]

Thank you all for your comments! I will be sure to explore this forum deeper; there's so much to see.