Two A-SS black visors same maker

[chrisutter]

I want to show to this forum two A-SS black visors from the same maker,
"Heinrich Wille Hanover".

Both are obviously made in the same way, and even year which seems to be 1938 but, one has been upgraded to an officier visor.

Or was is sold originally like that, as an officier visor ? who knows...

The aim of this thread would also be to clarify this point.

Thanks in advance.

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[Pascal Bernhard]

Think could be interesting to have close-up shots of the insignia sets...

[BenVK]

The addition of the velvet band is very interesting. Some macro photos of where it joins at the piping would be appreciated.
It's obviously been added by a very skilled hand and I have very little doubt that it was done during the period. Off the top of my head, I can remember seeing 2 or 3 other similar period "upgraded" black hats. The reasons for adding the velvet band are fairly obvious. An Officer candidate would be allowed to do this for example and I think I'm right in saying that there is mention within the RZM monthly circulars that refer to approved uniform outlets that could undertake such alterations.
Such practices do not make much sense to us these days of course though. We all discard the items we don't want anymore and buy brand new because goods are so cheap and have no intrinsic value like they did back then.

[chrisutter]

Hi Ben, thank you for this interesting analysis,

please find some other subject related pics.

[BenVK]

Well, I honestly can't tell how such a superb job of sewing was done without taking the cap apart to do it.

If only I had a time machine!

[viva_giulio]

don't see any problems on these nice visors, i don't think, anyway, the officier one was upgraded in a second period.
From the pictures isn't so clear but it seems really a super professional work.

Lovely items!

[viva_giulio]

Think could be interesting to have close-up shots of the insignia sets...

me too... it will be a nice evidence, marker of visors and marker of insignas....

[PMan]

Caps

To answer your original question, the officers hat was not sold that way. Both are EM hats with an officer upgrade to one of them, probably period done. Insignia looks replaced. The eagle on the officer is a little suspect IMO. Both skulls seem OK.