Field Marshal Collar Tabs

[TedT]

Greetings All,

I collected militaria for many years when I was younger (before the wall fell if that tells you anything ), but left in pursuit of other fields. It's been nearly three decades since I sold my collection and moved on, and much has changed in that time. It also seems some things never change. I attended the Great Western Show for many years and regularly saw many of the dealers that are still around, and some that aren't. Some I don't really need to ever see again.

By random happenstance, I acquired a small group of things that I'd like opinions and guidance on since I have been away so long. It's my first post here, so please forgive me if I've unintentionally transgressed any rules or policies. Moderators please delete the post if I have.

So, hat in hand, eyes wide open, and mind clear of preconceptions, I submit for your consideration, these collar insignia. They are held together by the red thread in the center between them shown on the image of the backs.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5110ag4cpr..._0018.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ivud352zlx..._0020.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mbk0dbv18t..._0022.JPG?dl=0

Much appreciated!

Ted

[GAMS1]

Nice embroidery but not for me ...repro IMO .
Better closer pics required !
Nick

[TedT]

Hi Nick,

Thank you for your input. These are high rez photos. The control panel under the image has a button for increasing the zoom on them. You can get pretty close to them with a couple clicks.

Cheers,
Ted

[GAMS1]

I didn't see it but unfortunately it will confirm my first opinion !
Nick

[Steve Sherlock]

I used the zoom buttons on the pictures, and the more I zoomed, the less I liked them. The embroidery is, in my opinion, not nearly as "tight" as it should be.

Steve

[cobra-2001]

tabs

I have to agree with Steve on the wire not being very tight . If you look at a original set you see what we are talking about . Also this style is not one like by most here on the site the very end doesn't have the three round balls there before the tail . Cliff

[TedT]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your opinions. I didn't want to bias anyone from the start, but I don't feel differently after having done quite a bit of diligence on them, and posting them here was part of that effort . Made some comparisons here, the marshals baton, other places and references. While I suspected they weren't genuine, I still wanted to show them just in case they might be some random GDR version or something I'm unfamiliar with. I think they're better reproductions than the vast majority, but owning the best repros is quite a dubious honor.

Having a bit of fund wandering around the various forums. Lots of sentiment, and nostalgia encountered.

Thank you very much for your time and candor.

TedT

[Rick C]

I wouldn’t write these off without having a real close look in-hand. With respect, there are plenty of Heer tabs that reflect ill-defined “balls”, with limited curl to the “prongs” as Mike over at Marshal’s Baton refers to them and where the fan or “tail’s brush” doesn’t appear straight (on the bottom). A couple from Mike's site below. I don’t believe these should be a sole determining factor.

Rick

[Rick C]

In talking with Ted regarding these tabs he was kind enough to clarify that there is unterlagen present under the bullion wire and that neither the bullion nor templates react to UV. From the photos anyone can tell the bullion wire is of two types in that they’ve aged toned differently. To quote Mike over at his reference site:

“In present day collecting, there is an over-enthusiastic effort to try and establish a “textbook” example to every piece of militaria.  To anyone who has collected for a length of time, it is no surprise that establishing a textbook for militaria is often a lost cause.  Various firms were contracted to produce pieces, which in turn create various individual characteristics as a result of the number of different makers… In the area of GFM collar tabs, there exists a belief that only one kind of GFM tab can be original, or as they say is “textbook”.  Usually beliefs like this result from the fact that one particular maker produced the vast majority of items…in other words, they got the biggest contract to produce the largest volume.  This is where period photos become so important in collecting, as evidence shows there could be many variations, some even rather radical in design.  The same can be said of GFM collar tabs, as there is evidence that there may have been as many as 4 or 5 different makers.”

So, while Ted’s set that started this thread might not have well formed “balls”, curly prongs or even be as ‘tight’ as we like to see general’s embroidery, I (for one) don’t believe they’re as butt ugly as the ones pictured at Mike’s site obtained from Generaloberst Erhard Raus’ family below or the other pictured ‘balless’ tab which, itself, isn’t the poster boy of tightness but is real none-the-less.

[DonC]

My initial impression is that they are most likely aged reproductions, but as Rick said, they'd need some in-hand inspection to confirm that. They don't seem to have the workmanship I would expect, especially for GFM tabs. Based on the pics alone, I would have to say I would pass on them.

Don

[Silberkreuz]

I quite enjoyed looking at them for a little while then the reality kicked in, I would not buy them and if I was the GFM or his aide going to the tailors I would ask them not to fit them... Very poor quality for a pretigious rank.