Luftwaffe summer eagle maker finally identified.

[J Temple-West]

This one is for Jos le C….

I remember a conversation that Jos and I had many years ago regarding this type of summer eagle where the conclusion was that we would most likely never identify the maker….well, having just acquired this example in aluminium (already having an example in nickel silver in the collection) and after some research….. I think we may be able to finally say, with confidence, that the maker is Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid.

[J Temple-West]

Yes, a difficult task of maker identification going on the obverse…. but the reverse hardware IMO tells the tale.

The system consists of a crimped brass hinge and catch. The brass pin has a flattened area at the hinge end….ring any bells? I’m sure that the collectors of Heer badges will have a good idea when I mention Deumer ‘vertical crimp’ IAB’s.



Anyway, some comparisons of the hardware on the summer eagle and its Heer counterparts….I hope that the owners of the IAB’s used in the comparisons will forgive the use of their photo’s without prior consent.

A side by side comparison of the hardware on the summer eagle (left) and Deumer IAB (right).

[J Temple-West]

Catch

Eagle (left) IAB (right)

[J Temple-West]

Flattened area on the pin eagle (top) IAB (bottom) - a characteristic typically found on Deumer products

[AndyC]

Good observation
So now I know that one of my unmarked LW eagles are made by Deumer



Andy

[Jos L C]

Good research, yup, looks like Deumer, one down ..

Jos.