Luftwaffe collectors must see.

[Brad Haner]

Ok ......... here is a tough scarce item I recently aquired.I have only seen on other and it was in the collection of the late Ed Stadnicki.While getting ready for Opertion Sea Lion,one of the pieces of equipment the Germans were going to use was a heavy flak ferry or barge.These had 88's mounted on them and were operational but never used to my knowledge.In the Fall 2004 issue of the Military Advisor there is a story about these men and the ferry.I have now the badge for said flak ferry.I have compared this to the luft badge and I have zero doubts of it being authentic.I want to open this up for honest debate.Please don't say you do not like it without a reason...any one condemn a piece but without explaination no wieght will be given to it.

[Brad Haner]

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[Garth Thompson]

Brad,
Here is the one I have in my collection for comparison. You are right it is a fairly scarce piece. The truely rare LW trade badge is the Farrier. I've posted a picture of my LW trade badge collection.

#1 Front view

Garth

[Garth Thompson]

#2 Reverse view

[Garth Thompson]

My trade badge collection.

[Scott A. Hess]

gorgeous trade badges...quick question..and answer to which I've not found to date..can anyone explain why Luft embroidered eagles...and trade badges...tend to show a white tone to the top of the reverse of the embroidery? If you look at the second trade badge in particular..or most luft embroidered jacket eagles..you will see what Im refering to..is this from wear to the thread itself? or something caused in the embroidery process? I've always associated this phenomen with a sign of a good luft embroidery piece. Any thoughts appreciated..some really nice and rare trade badges!

[Brad Haner]

Thanks Garth,I really do not focus on the military side of the hobby,I prefer the civil/political organisations.I do however grab up uncommon/scarce artifacts when I get the chance,no matter what branch they belong to.Your display is impressive.......do you mind if I ask you a question via PM so as not to send the thread off topic?

[Gene]

I think Brad's lacks the symmetry and quality of Garth's badge; it just doesn't have the same level of detail

[Garth Thompson]

gorgeous trade badges...quick question..and answer to which I've not found to date..can anyone explain why Luft embroidered eagles...and trade badges...tend to show a white tone to the top of the reverse of the embroidery? If you look at the second trade badge in particular..or most luft embroidered jacket eagles..you will see what Im refering to..is this from wear to the thread itself? or something caused in the embroidery process? I've always associated this phenomen with a sign of a good luft embroidery piece. Any thoughts appreciated..some really nice and rare trade badges!

Scott,
The white thread is part of the embroidery process called the bobbin thread. This is the base thread around which the design is created. When you hear US patch collectors talk about cotton base or snow back this is what they are refering to. Other colors encountered can be black, purple, red or brown. The last three are uncommon and mostly encountered is US and Brit patches. I have examples of a black bobbin thread being used on LW trade badges. Heer are almost always white unless done with the thicker cord type threads which generally do not require a bobbin because of the way they are made.
Hope this reply isn't to windy,
Garth

[BadBob]

My trade badge collection.

Fantastic collection photo Garth!

[Scott A. Hess]

Thanks Garth..so in essence is the bobbin for embroidery similar to the lower bobbin encountered on standard sewing machines in the regular machine stitch process? I'm pretty sure I understand what you are refering to...I didnt realize that there was a bobbin associated with embroidery.but it makes sense! Thanks for the education...that question has been bothering me for years..I know that higher end sewing machines can do embroidery...would the same lower bobbin on such machines be used for this?