Army 1st model splinter hbt smock

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

Hi Guys,
I wondered if I could get some feedback on this smock. I believe it is original. It has wear and fading, but when you look at the smaller details, I believe it matches construction of what I expect to see in WW2 German garments. I think the bottom edge was repaired, but they replaced the original edging back on it when finish. (the thread does not match the rest of the smock and the skirt looks slightly shorter than known originals). It seems to match Jim's fairly closely, as seen in this thread. http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ern+HBT&page=4

Unlike Jim's, mine does not have a lining, but is a single layer of splinter printed hbt. My question is- On a garment that is obviously supposed to be reversible, why the reed/police green underside and how did they roller print the material like that? Was only one side printed in that color and then the other side roller printed with the different colors for the splinter? The splinter side has a very light gray green base color. How would this be done?
The manufacturer appears to be Repsten (or Repstein) from Mohlhausen and is size marked "1". Also, anyone recognise the museum? inventory stamps? What country, etc. Any comments or help appriciated. I have a lot of photos of it, but let me know if I missed anything.

Thanks,

Gerard

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

last set

[Willi Z.]

Gerard, after handling this smock last weekend and now seeing the photos, I still feel the same way; an odd piece which has the right wear, original markings, correct construction details, etc.

[djpool]

Gerald asked me to take a look at this smock and comment on it. I've been under the weather the last few days but have been studying the pictures. Technically I don't see anything wrong with it. The smock I used to own (its now in my good friend Bob Hritz's collection) used a different base cloth then the one shown here. Its the same base cloth as the smock in werners book. The camo pattern had a distinctive footprint to it caused by what I believe was excessive pressure during the print process and hasn't been copied yet. It was also manufactured by a different firm and there are subtle differences between the two smocks. So to compare them is like comparing apples to oranges.

I also looked at a number of different references that picture what I feel are good splinter smocks. Its obvious that the camo materials were supplied from several sources and a number of firms were actually involved in putting them together. So there is no "textbook" smock and surviving examples so rare thats its difficult to provide an informative answer.

I couldn't find much on Mohlhausen. Theres one city in Alsace Lorraine and a town near Hannover by that name. Nothing on the firm though. Mohlhausen near Hannover would be my guess as the manufacters home station.

As to the why and how on the green inside, thats interesting. On the smock I had I always thought it was just personal preference by the owner. A liner (possible already green) was added and additional stitching done to reinforce the smock. I always thought that the whole thing was just dumped into a bucket of dye after that to make it all green. You can see that the original cloth never absorbed the dye completely. The dye never shows up on the camo side or at least not noticable so.

I would guess that Geralds smock was dyed after it was put together too. As far as I know the bolts of material were supplied with camo print on one side and white on the other. If the specifications changed so that the white was eliminated in favor of green etc they simply would have dyed the whole cloth green before the camo print was added. Plus the pictures show that the dye was absorbed unevenly which isn't something you would see from a professional manufacturer.

All in all an interesting piece, that has a better than average chance of being original. Maybe in hand I could be more confidant in my answers.


Regards Jim

[galizien41]

I can not comment on the item itself. But the stamps I am told are from a French Museum, maybe in Normandie area? I have an item stamped with this...pretty much the same as yours.

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

Jerry,
very interesting photo, is yours the same type of smock?

Gerard

[galizien41]

No it is not. It is on a luft FD jacket

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

Jerry, thanks. In your photo, the backing color looks the same as the color on mine, like a washed out blue/green. Is it?

Gerard

[besslein]

well i have owned two from this smocks in the past,one was from attic and another one was used by a hunter,so the origin was 100% strong,both of the smocks have the basic hbt cloth from inside a white as snow.! and without this tan hbt on lower part.

[djpool]

I looked at the strip of cloth at the bottom and I get the impression it was added later. But your correct ,a reinforcing strip was not part of the manufacturing process on any of these smocks. Jim

well i have owned two from this smocks in the past,one was from attic and another one was used by a hunter,so the origin was 100% strong,both of the smocks have the basic hbt cloth from inside a white as snow.! and without this tan hbt on lower part.

[Gerard/Relic Hunter]

Yes, as I noted in the first post, the smock was slightly shortened and an original piece was used at the bottom to finish it. The 2 dark rows of stitching at the bottom do not appear to be original to the smock. I am not sure when they were added. However, the more I look at the smock and the details, I am sure the actual smock is original. If you look at the thread eyelets, button sewing, manufacturer mark and the actual hbt, it becomes obvious. My question was about the dye color of the reverse side.

Gerard

[Petr]

Hi Gerard,
there is nothing wrong with your smock.Only: it was shortened,those green reinforcing stripes are post war czech ones.Thes stamp is czech one: STATNI VYROBA FILMU which means State film production.As for light green color inside i can imagine when used in a movie and then washed on high temperature or with another military green garment it just took a dye from another garment..They didnot care it was german piece As for green police shade it is just a manufacture choice -have a look at Zelt. It is my opinion..
Cheers
Petr