Collar Tab ID

[Kondor]

I picked up some interesting items today from a vet's son. One of which was this collar tab on brown cotton backing. Its mate is still being sought. AK Collar patch for Officer??? What do you think Fred???

[Fred Green]

Hello Jack,

Looks like somebody's craft project!! These woven metal collar tabs were used to make enlisted dress uniform collar tabs. I made a pair of GBJ tabs for a display once.

A tailor shop could have a pile of these and sew them to what ever colored backing that was needed. The top picture is before the cut and fold. Next picture is cut and folded.

Fred

[Fred Green]

Here is a pair of tailor shop made ones. And my GBJ example.

[Kondor]

Fred, My first thought was also to the Walking out dress uniform for enlisted and maybe that the white had gone off for infantry, but these are tan backed and as "brought back by the vet". Hence my thought toward Afrika Korps Officer.

[Fred Green]

Hey Jack,

I have never seen a DAK officer wear anything like this. That is not saying much though!

I had a pair of Infantry tabs that took on a brown hue. They were mounted on white badge cloth and over the years acquired a brown color. I will look to see if I still have them.

I haven't seen anything mounted on cotton like this before! Are you sure that ,that is cotton and not very worn badge cloth?

Fred

[Fred Green]

Jack,

I dug through my Collar tab box and found a pair! These are mounted on a brushed cotton. It is a soft material. They haven't taken a real dark tone but have toned to a certain degree.

The construction and materials of yours looks like they were done in a tailor shop during the period. Can you lift up the material on the back and see if it is white underneath?

Fred

[Fred Green]

double post

[OSS]

I agree, infantry Litzen where the white wool backing has discolored and lost most of it's nap.

[Kondor]

Fred, you're probably right though I did lift up the backing material and it too is the same color of coffee brown. Let me float this one by you. The rest of the German items I picked up were all Luftschutz related (Helmet, Belt buckle). A possibility??? Thanks for your insight