SS Fez

[Glenn R]

Need help with a query from a friend regarding the finding of an SS Fez. It was found in a house clearance inside a South Staffs regiment cap with letter refering to it from soldier to his wife. I only have one scan at present but hope to get more details.
Assuming that it is original what is it's value? (I'm not a headgear collector). Also can anyone tell me what to look for to determine originality. It is apparently virtually mint.

Thanks guys.

[ReichsHeini]

Maroon Handschar Dress Fez

Glenn
Value of original is 500-800 dollars.
Some features of original dress fez:
1) All original Fez had thin leather sweatbands. The sweatband would have a seam at the rear and inner side of sweatband would have a piece of natural paper glued at the seam.
2) The tassle should be black and made of braided cord.
3) The tassle should be attached to a solid maroon tube of wool. Two black tassle cords feed through the maroon tube and then are sewn with red thread together to the base of the maroon wool tube inside the top of the fez.
4) Original SS BEVo totenkopf and eagle should be machine-sewn to the cap with red thread.
5) The skull should be 1 CM from bottom edge of fez. The eagle should be 1.5 CM above the skull. This is not always the case though. Period photos occasionally show examples with insignia sewn much higher than this.
Please post additional photos if you can..... from what I can see the fez looks good.

[Glenn R]

Thanks very much, I appreciate the reply. I will hopefully get some more scans soon and add them on.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Glenn, good advice from Reichheni. However, it is true most stitching is done in red, when veiwed from the inside of the Fez not the outer, this is not a 100% rule.
Cheers, Ade.

[Glenn R]

Ade, thanks again mate.

[Glenn R]

I started this thread some time ago. I now have the fez to photograph and hope these scans will help. Any further advice appreciated.

1. Skull

[Glenn R]

Eagle.

[Glenn R]

Inner sweatband, clearly made of leather.

[Glenn R]

Piece of what appears to be reinforced paper with size 59 at seam of sweatband join.

[Glenn R]

Inner machine stitching of skull.

[Glenn R]

Tassel join.
It appears as ReichsHeini says above that there are 2 cords fed into the tube and secured with red/maroon thread inside. There is also the remains of some sort of black stamp inside the front crown of the fez as if in black ink. It is however too faded to discern.

[Glenn R]

Can no-one help me on this one guys?

[ReichsHeini]

dress fez

Genn R
In my opinion this fez looks to be original. This natural fibre tape (and size stamp)at the rear seam of the sweatband is a detail commonly seen on original fez. Sweatbands are usually zig-zag stitched to the bottom of fez. Sometimes there is a simple "X" stitch connecting the seam in rear of sweatband rather than fibre tape. Sweatbands that I have examined were light brown, black or maroon in color.
I also believe the insignia on this fez are original. It appears from the new pictures that the insignia may be aluminum thread (for officer) but this just might be overexposure of your flash.
I think this is a good example of an original dress fez. I have also seen a slightly different dress fez used by Handschar division that is a brighter red color and has a taller shape. This second type always has a black sweatband. I am sure you will get more opinions from this forum!
ReichsHeini

[Glenn R]

ReichsHeini, many thanks for the reply. much appreciated.

[Glenn R]

This item is now for sale on the e-stand if anyone's interested.

Thanks, Glenn.