Board number query....

[Mike Kenny]

Hi,

I have a question re the "101" numbers on these Artillery Boards (schwere Artillerie-Abteilung (mot) 101 / Heeres-Artillerie-Abteilung 101, destroyed at Stalingrad). The boards and rank pips are imo fine, the numbers themselves are original, it's just that the "0"s are mismatched. Have they been added, is one simply an old replacement or could they have originally been like this?

Regards
Mike

[Mike Kenny]

PS: Both numbers look they have been on the boards for some time, but the small "0" feels a lot "tighter" than the larger "0".

[Johnny R]

Pips and numbers age and fade individually. Devices were made by different firms using different quality and type manufacturing method/materials. In addition as you mention pips were lost and replaced etc.

There really is no way to say the pips on you boards were put there during the War but what I see in the images is a "normal set-up". They look like they have not been applied recently etc. I would say based on what I see that they have a good chance of being original.

[galizien41]

I agree with John's thoughts. I would say that they have been on there a long time, and are most likely original applied. Nice boards!

Pips and numbers age and fade individually. Devices were made by different firms using different quality and type manufacturing method/materials. In addition as you mention pips were lost and replaced etc.

There really is no way to say the pips on you boards were put there during the War but what I see in the images is a "normal set-up". They look like they have not been applied recently etc. I would say based on what I see that they have a good chance of being original.

[Johnny R]

Here is a suprisingly similar pair showing the different levels of preservation of gilt. These are for SS Werfer Abteilung 101.

[Mike Kenny]

Gents,

Many thanks for the replies. My main concern was that the "0"s were mismatched - ie, different "0"s on each board.

John, that's a very nice pair of numbered SS boards!

Regards
Mike

[CWP]

One of the numbers could have been replaced during the war, it is also possible that that is all the tailor or soldier had, there is no way to tell. The numbers do look like they have been there for a long time, I would not be uncomfortable with these.

[Johnny R]

Gents,

Many thanks for the replies. My main concern was that the "0"s were mismatched - ie, different "0"s on each board.

John, that's a very nice pair of numbered SS boards!

Regards
Mike

Thanks, they are my favorite piece of SS insignia even after being attacked and picked apart as not being factory made text book examples in the SS section. Rather unusual event eh?

The different style numbers are not an issue, that is normal to see I think those are fine.