In places such as the top of the cap shown in post number 121, there are clear signs of mass production at speed and the subsequent mistakes that happen in a factory. The first image of this post shows a comparison with one of the other caps which has been finished off properly. Acceptable production of the top of the other cap ( on left ) compared with the top of the defect cap ( on right which is the cap shown in post 121 ). Today we would call the cap show in post 121 a " factory second " because of this defect in the sewing at the time it was made.
And it is just not confined the top of the cap where there are several layers to sew through but also the side of another cap where the layers are thinner ( lower, second image shows this).
Typical SS factory/ KZ camp " fast/ meet quota of the day " type production. A point well worth noting in the evaluation of any SS camo items,
I've been stating for years that this type of assembly was being sourced from Italy, as the folks that owned them seemed to trace them all back to that country. But unfortunately I've never been able to pin-point the source.
"Francesco told me everything in a PM and he is quite the Gentlemen. It is just what me, Owen, Fritz and everybody has suspected all along." - Dr. Strangelove
We all respect Francesco and continue to prize his knowledge and expertise; call me old fashioned, but I still believe people are innocent until proven guilty and not the other way around. The above quote seems to only reeinforce this further as now some folks we all have come to trust and respect seems to know something that clears our friend...
So, we all give our friend the benefit of the doubt that perhaps he has bought more than one cover from the same source unknowingly that these were post-war assembled with original parts. Over the years, like all of us - he has moved some of these covers. Fine, no harm done, we all make mistakes - and occasionally very expensive ones.
But the rest of the community may ask the question, who exactly is this source then? Kind of like knowing where a minefield is and not telling the platoon next to you that they may want to avoid that wheat field... But then again, it could be just me that is interested in seeing a "Minen" sign post around this source.
Given the current round of threads on this forum, I wonder what the impact on prices and number of collectors seeking SS camo covers will be
The collecting of Panzer wraps seems to be in a similar boat.
Then again controversy, publicity and taboo by a strange twist of fate can often serve to strengthen interest and the human desire to possess the real deal.
Thus it will indeed be interesting to see what the future for the collecting of such SS camo items holds,
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