New member - a few questions

[TomH]

This forum was recommended by Robin Lumsden after I wrote to him a while back (thanks Robin!). So for the past few weeks I have been browsing and have been amazed at the wealth of shared information. Registered last week and this is my first post.

I have been collecting on and off for many years but only recently into the minefield that is this specialised area. I have many questions but as this is the first post I will limit them to 3.

1) There seems to be some great reference books for cuff bands but not collar tabs. Can anyone recommend a collar tab book that helps with distinguishing copies?

2) Are the officers collar tabs with screwbacks more or less collectable than the stitch on type and are the screwbacks faked as widely?

3) It has always puzzled me that some paper rzm tickets on the reverse of "used" insignia is often in pristine condition. Is it feasible that a paper item would have survived Russian winters etc. and come out intact - even though sealed between the reverse and the uniform material?

Any pointers appreciated.

Once I work out how to use the macro function on my camera I will post some of my collection.

Thanks again Robin for referencing this forum and to all of you who are selflessly sharing your knowledge.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Tom, welcome to the forum! I am sure you will enjoy it here.

In answer to you questions.

I don't know of a book that just deals with collar tabs alone. I take it you already have Angolia's SS cloth insignia book? This book even though old still takes some beating.

Screw back tabs are certainly just a desirable in my opinion. I am not sure on how widely these are faked?

RZM labels do survive quite well, even on used items. Nothing fishy there. But it has not been unknown in the past for people to "gild the lilly" and add labels to authentic insignia.

Cheers, Ade.

[Felix]

This forum was recommended by Robin Lumsden after I wrote to him a while back (thanks Robin!). So for the past few weeks I have been browsing and have been amazed at the wealth of shared information. Registered last week and this is my first post.

I have been collecting on and off for many years but only recently into the minefield that is this specialised area. I have many questions but as this is the first post I will limit them to 3.

1) There seems to be some great reference books for cuff bands but not collar tabs. Can anyone recommend a collar tab book that helps with distinguishing copies?

2) Are the officers collar tabs with screwbacks more or less collectable than the stitch on type and are the screwbacks faked as widely?

3) It has always puzzled me that some paper rzm tickets on the reverse of "used" insignia is often in pristine condition. Is it feasible that a paper item would have survived Russian winters etc. and come out intact - even though sealed between the reverse and the uniform material?

Any pointers appreciated.

Once I work out how to use the macro function on my camera I will post some of my collection.

Thanks again Robin for referencing this forum and to all of you who are selflessly sharing your knowledge.

Welcome!
I dont know a good reference for collar tabs either. I often use this and another forum to search for facts. Its as good as a reference book! And I always saves images on my puter on real stuff.

Screwbacks..Thats nice!!! Quite rare especially ordinary offiecrs runes.More common for generals tabs. Got one for sale? Please let me know...

Yes I agree with Adrian, I have solid original used ones with near mint rzm labels.

Cheers,
Felix

P.s. Dont hesitate to post for comments if you like.

[Øyvind]

Welcome Tom! You made a smart choice when register to this forum!
I have also wondered about those "bomb proof" rzm labels. I got a label still attached to a salty ss-cuff, find it very amazing.

Cheers
******216;yvind

[thelma]

Tom,
Welcome fellow Brit,,,,,A good thread on www.germandaggers.com [under my first ss-tunic] regarding collar tabs and what to look for!
In regards screw back pin back etc they have all been faked at one time or another and in relation to the RZM paper labels,these are also faked and we see lots of them presently attached to SS- armbands at the moment.Its interesting to note that the WSS Officer friends of Mr Moore cannot remember ever having seen one of these paper things !!!,,,,,,,,,happy collecting

[Gary Wood]

3) It has always puzzled me that some paper rzm tickets on the reverse of "used" insignia is often in pristine condition. Is it feasible that a paper item would have survived Russian winters etc. and come out intact - even though sealed between the reverse and the uniform material?

First welcome to the forum,
to reply to the question above, yes tags survive in a lot of case intact on the back of tabs, there is some element of protection as you have mentioned above as its sandwiched between layers of cloth and a layer of glue (on the buckram),but it is dependent on what conditions the tab has been exposed to, the glue in the buckram is not water proof for example but many tabs survive with that in tact, I guess the back is sealed from the element and somewhat protected by the tab itself.
cheers
Gary

[TomH]

Thanks for the welcome and comments.
I do have Angolia's "bible" but was looking for something akin to collar tabs as Ulrics cuffbands volumes. Info I have picked up on older threads on the forum has so far eclipsed anything else I have.

Will post some of my collar tabs on a new thread for opinions (getting nervous now....)

[John Pic]

Welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy it.!

[TobyR]

Welcome to the forum, Tom.

All the best,
Toby.