DAK M40 variation markers stamp

[msteve21]

it was brought to my attention that the DAK M40 cap I was selling has a unknown variation to the markers stamp.

Cap made by Schlesische Mützenfabrik would normally have the city of Frankenstein as part of the cap stamp. This cap records it as Frankenthal. Close inspection of the cap stamp shows it to be originally applied to the cap and ink fading is consistent with wear to the liner

Both are places in Poland, Frankenthal is now called Chwalimierz and Frankenstein is Ząbkowice Śląskie. Distance between the the two is 80 Klm by road

Is this new evidence of a secondary place of manufacture for the SMF caps?.

Photos below show the variation in stamps, does anyone else have a similar stamp in their tropical M40 Schlesische Mützenfabrik cap, feedback appreciated

MSteve

[OSS]

This is a very interesting theory and the example you present is compelling. I have owned several of these "SMF" caps, but Frankenstein not Frankenthal. I am always interested to learn of new information however, and would love to see more examples of the Frankenthal stamping.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Good work Mark, would say that your theory is correct.

Many tropical cap makers had more than one factory. Others sub-contracted to additional makers. Some makers used different stamps too. No problem with either stamp or cap

cheers
Tim

[Richard T]

Here's one on Eban with a Frankenstein stamp. Not sure if cap is good or not but thought I would show as a reference.

[Richard T]

More

[Richard T]

More-2

[OSS]

I am wary of markings like this variation of a famous maker.

[John Hodgin]

I am wary of markings like this variation of a famous maker.

Call me Thomas, and count me among the extremely wary.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Agree any variation of a known maker should be looked at carefully and with caution. This maker has been faked before also...

[msteve21]

Photos below are of the 1941 Pz Gren M40, maker stamped variation of Robert Lubstein. Published here with permission of owner

[msteve21]

Frankenthal DAK M40

Gentleman thank you for your comments, firstly I agree there is a need for some degree of scepticism when it comes to assessing tropical caps, however we must not lose sight of the facts in making that assessment, otherwise our opinions or views will never be open to new discoveries.

We know so little about the production of the Afrikamütze, because so few of them survived the war, and because records from the factories making the caps did not survive at all. It is not possible to make general conclusions by referring to such a small number of caps in collections, and museums.

The cap I have posted here is an original example with a previously unknown version (i.e. "Frankenthal") of this famous maker stamp. I believe that should be the focus of this thread, not the dodgy cap with a fake "FELDSTEIN" stamp. I do not think the original status of the "Frankenthal" cap is in any doubt.

Has anyone ever seen or know of another SMF cap with "Frankenthal" instead of "Frankenstein" in the maker stamp? This is the question we should be trying to answer.

I think that the "Frankenthal" stamped cap could have been part-made by a network of village scale seamstresses doing part-work on the caps, and maybe in some cases when they were finished off outside the main factory the end-stage work site was able to stamp their own name (i.e.location) in the cap.


There is supporting evidence to this theory of finishing work done off site as mentioned in the following thread about outsourcing by this manufacturer
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...&highlight=Dal


We should not dismiss a cap just on the basis of a variation in the maker's stamp in the lining. To illustrate that point I wish to show another recent find that surfaced from a veteran estate some 18 months ago here in Australia. The font used for ‘Robert Lubstein’ is thinner than other known originals as seen on this cap maker. If the stamp in this cap was posted as an stand alone pic , it could have been considered by some as not original, due to not conforming against stamps in the small number of known original caps by this maker, in spite of it being by all other counts a perfect example of a cap made by this firm.


Hopefully another example of this stamp may surface to consolidate what is been suggested about this cap's stamp.

MSteve

[John Hodgin]

I believe that should be the focus of this thread, not the dodgy cap with a fake "FELDSTEIN" stamp.

Could not agree more! Looking forward to more photos of the Frankenthal cap.

[OSS]

While the Feldstein stamp is an obvious fake, the SMF stamp on the ebay cap is more convincing, although I have serious doubts about the originality of that cap. I would like to see more of these Frankenthal caps, I think you may really be onto something. I am at the very least, cautiously optimistic.

[Tim O'Keefe]

Am not convinced that the cap that Richard posted from ebay is good, especially the grommets. However i have an advantage here. I have already seen photos of this Frankethal and it's a nice cap. Hopefully others from this maker will surface. Have also seen photos of the Lubstein with the different stamp and no problem there either.

[msteve21]

Frankenthal cap

More detail photos of the Frankenthal cap