I'm sure most of you have seen this or are already aware of it but I'll mention it anyway.
SS or German Fakes from Czech Republic.
The problem with items coming from that area is that many if not most clothing items were being produced in Czechoslovakia. The country is/was well known for its textile industry as well as its fine Machine/weapon factories.
Although now mainly gone, over the last 15 years properties were discover with having rolls upon rolls of original german cloth, which included SS patterns.
My friend that has been collecting there for 25 years told me that the uniforms are/were being made to specs to the originals. You might say that you could recognize the stiching by the pattern or the thread....Well there is still plenty of thread and most towns still have old grandmas with sew machines from the 30's. My friend knows an old gentleman that was a tailer making the uniforms 60 years ago. I'm sure there is plenty more who would jump at a chance to make 1 months wages with making 2 uniforms...
Post war Czech paratrooper Uniforms had a amazing pattern to it when they got wet. Americans could not figure out how this was done. It was however discovered that Czechs were using old SS rollers that still had remnants of the old pattern leaking through disrupting the new one. Unintended but it shows you that original equipment was being used and may likely be aquired.
Paints....I was there 3 years ago and found a few ads advertizing original paint that was used on helmets, vehicles. etc. I didn't know it at the time but all the paint was was led based bricks that are heated for the application of the paint. This is only to inform you that helmets could be altered fairly easily to this day.
Dog Tags. In a army shop I noticed 3 or 4 SS dog tags. Prices were $40-$100. I contacted my friend and he said to stay away. Even he couldn't tell the real ones. I guess a few years ago1000's of blank tags were recovered in Brno area. With using original stamps, fakers have been making SS dog tags left and right. Most of there were the aluminum variety. I guess the steel ones are easier to distinguish but I know very little about them. The only dog tags I did get were from guys that walk around with metal detectors and find them.
SS Clothing-Quite a few of the Italian Zehlbans popped up. Tailors have been busy making m43 style caps. Material is original, so is the thread. You are all experts, but I wouln't touch the stuff.
Unknown to me after the war Czech Police were using the tanned aftrica style german uniforms well into the 50's. There were some wearhouse discoveries and I did have a chance to purchase these for about 80-100 a piece (no insignia of course). This I'm writing just so you know there are still legit discoveries.
If I think of anything else I will edit this post but I just wanted to give all a warning.
All these fakes ruin the reputation of anything that comes out of the country. It is a shame. My friend aquired a helmet that he gave me to sell here. He bought it from his friend. His friends father was a student in the 50's. He was involved in some film regarding the war (I have a picture from the set)where he left and kept a suvenier. The helmet was a black DD SS m16 style helmet. The only problem was that someone brushed over the rust area with paint. This immediately chased anyone that could have been a potential buyer. It did not matter if I had original movie set pic from the 50's. As a matter of fact all the equipment used on sets after the war was original. Once I'm a full member I'll post it. Prague was a SS replacement and training city. There was also a ceremonial unit there where I think the helmet came from.
I'll stop being a forum hog and post this.cheers
SS or German Fakes from Czech Republic.
The problem with items coming from that area is that many if not most clothing items were being produced in Czechoslovakia. The country is/was well known for its textile industry as well as its fine Machine/weapon factories.
Although now mainly gone, over the last 15 years properties were discover with having rolls upon rolls of original german cloth, which included SS patterns.
My friend that has been collecting there for 25 years told me that the uniforms are/were being made to specs to the originals. You might say that you could recognize the stiching by the pattern or the thread....Well there is still plenty of thread and most towns still have old grandmas with sew machines from the 30's. My friend knows an old gentleman that was a tailer making the uniforms 60 years ago. I'm sure there is plenty more who would jump at a chance to make 1 months wages with making 2 uniforms...
Post war Czech paratrooper Uniforms had a amazing pattern to it when they got wet. Americans could not figure out how this was done. It was however discovered that Czechs were using old SS rollers that still had remnants of the old pattern leaking through disrupting the new one. Unintended but it shows you that original equipment was being used and may likely be aquired.
Paints....I was there 3 years ago and found a few ads advertizing original paint that was used on helmets, vehicles. etc. I didn't know it at the time but all the paint was was led based bricks that are heated for the application of the paint. This is only to inform you that helmets could be altered fairly easily to this day.
Dog Tags. In a army shop I noticed 3 or 4 SS dog tags. Prices were $40-$100. I contacted my friend and he said to stay away. Even he couldn't tell the real ones. I guess a few years ago1000's of blank tags were recovered in Brno area. With using original stamps, fakers have been making SS dog tags left and right. Most of there were the aluminum variety. I guess the steel ones are easier to distinguish but I know very little about them. The only dog tags I did get were from guys that walk around with metal detectors and find them.
SS Clothing-Quite a few of the Italian Zehlbans popped up. Tailors have been busy making m43 style caps. Material is original, so is the thread. You are all experts, but I wouln't touch the stuff.
Unknown to me after the war Czech Police were using the tanned aftrica style german uniforms well into the 50's. There were some wearhouse discoveries and I did have a chance to purchase these for about 80-100 a piece (no insignia of course). This I'm writing just so you know there are still legit discoveries.
If I think of anything else I will edit this post but I just wanted to give all a warning.
All these fakes ruin the reputation of anything that comes out of the country. It is a shame. My friend aquired a helmet that he gave me to sell here. He bought it from his friend. His friends father was a student in the 50's. He was involved in some film regarding the war (I have a picture from the set)where he left and kept a suvenier. The helmet was a black DD SS m16 style helmet. The only problem was that someone brushed over the rust area with paint. This immediately chased anyone that could have been a potential buyer. It did not matter if I had original movie set pic from the 50's. As a matter of fact all the equipment used on sets after the war was original. Once I'm a full member I'll post it. Prague was a SS replacement and training city. There was also a ceremonial unit there where I think the helmet came from.
I'll stop being a forum hog and post this.cheers
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