Here's how the plane tree patterns work. I hope this can clarify some of the misconceptions, and make it easier to identify the good and the bad.
There are two main types of plane tree- numbered and unnumbered. This post deals with the numbered patterns.
Three main patterns exist- 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6. Each is similar to the others yet unique. Why are there three different plane tree patterns? I suspect in an effort to increase the randomness of the pattern and further avoid discernible repeats, as ludicrous as it sounds. How they thought someone running through the battlefield was going to notice a suspicious pattern of spots & blobs on a zeltbahn is beyond me.
Further muddling the waters, is the fact that each of these three has two variations- "hand screened" and "overprint". Thus, there are six different numbered patterns- but in reality, there are actually 12 possible screen sets. To add to the migraine building in your head, each plane tree is comprised of two sets of screens- right and left. (Plus there are a couple of SS-VT subtypes which we'll leave out- but they follow suit.) In typical German fashion, there is a logical system in use, however asinine it may be in practice.
In order to avoid a visible repetition, the SS devised a pattern that is specific to Zeltbahns- approximately 55 x 72 inches. (Not so curiously, the unnumbered plane trees repeat at 32"- the height of a smock. So clever...)
There are 3 screens (a fourth color is the result of 2 screens overlapping). The "plane tree" patterns incorporate the actual cutting lines for the Zeltbahn within the pattern itself. The base of and diagonal edges of the Zeltbahn are indicated by staggered blocks of the black. There are also crosses at several points- these are to help align the fabric with the silk screens when it's on the printing table. (72" is too big for rollers, so these are hand printed.) The numbers are at opposite corners- each repeat has a 1-2, 3-4 or 5-6.
A Zeltbahn that was assembled "correctly" is cut along these guide lines. If assembled as designed, the right and left panels should have matching numbers- 1-1, 2-2 and so forth. In practice this often didn't happen.
The photo: I used 3 original zelts. Two overprint and one hand screen. One of the overprints (C) was cut too low (on the pattern) which exposes the cut blocks and the beginning of the next repeat (see the 1 in the upper right corner.) B was cut too high which allows it to be matched up with C to get the whole pattern for that panel. I didn't have another 1-2 overprint with a right side #1 panel, but the black design remains the same on both hand screened and overprint. I added large numbers so they are easier to see, and the white lines are where the material was designed to have been cut. I identified the zelts A, B, and C.
Left and Right: What few people realize (I didn't until we went to cut fabric to make zelts) is that one of these "repeats" can only make two rights or two lefts. You cannot cut a left and a right from one repeat. "Properly" constructed plane tree zelts must be made from two different rolls of fabric. The pattern of 1-2 right green side, makes the left panel of the brown side. Therefore, right brown is left green.
Essentially, the printer probably had two printing tables- one running "right" screens and one running "left". Or, they printed the green right side, changed inks, printed brown left side on another roll, then inverted the process. So, each plane tree (say 1-2) is made up of two sets of screens. Does your head hurt yet?
Overprint: Originally, all three colors were hand screened- a very slow and laborious process which was criminally insane during an all-out War. This was reduced by 2/3's by hand screening only the black. Then the brown and green (or light brown & brown) oak leaf screens were used to overprint the black via roller. Later patterns (oak, blurred edge) dispensed with the hand screening nonsense entirely. However, even late War items are still made with all types of plane tree indicating that it's production was never fully replaced.
What's this all mean? Those most obvious things I can think of regards the numbers. Lack of them on a piece frequently causes all sorts of hand wringing and fretting. However, once the Germans started cutting the plane tree fabric irregardless of how the designers intended, it's entirely possible to end up with zeltbahns with no numbers- and with what appear to be oddly angled diagonal "cut blocks". When cutting caps and covers, most won't have a number since there are only 2 numbers for every 5 feet of fabric. If your plane tree item has a repeat, it's doo doo. (If it's overprint this applies only to the black- the oak overlay will repeat). No smock or zelt is large enough to show a repeat. Also, the only place a smock can have a number on it's main body is on a bicep. (The small pieces notwithstanding) Below I laid out two smocks to show how they are oriented on the fabric when cut. (One cut smock is the size of two finished ones since it's folded in half when sewn.) The cut area is about 66 x 55. So, if you end up with any numbers, they'll be on the upper arm.
If you have the right combination of zelts, you can easily can repeat this demo for yourself.
Enjoy.
There are two main types of plane tree- numbered and unnumbered. This post deals with the numbered patterns.
Three main patterns exist- 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6. Each is similar to the others yet unique. Why are there three different plane tree patterns? I suspect in an effort to increase the randomness of the pattern and further avoid discernible repeats, as ludicrous as it sounds. How they thought someone running through the battlefield was going to notice a suspicious pattern of spots & blobs on a zeltbahn is beyond me.
Further muddling the waters, is the fact that each of these three has two variations- "hand screened" and "overprint". Thus, there are six different numbered patterns- but in reality, there are actually 12 possible screen sets. To add to the migraine building in your head, each plane tree is comprised of two sets of screens- right and left. (Plus there are a couple of SS-VT subtypes which we'll leave out- but they follow suit.) In typical German fashion, there is a logical system in use, however asinine it may be in practice.
In order to avoid a visible repetition, the SS devised a pattern that is specific to Zeltbahns- approximately 55 x 72 inches. (Not so curiously, the unnumbered plane trees repeat at 32"- the height of a smock. So clever...)
There are 3 screens (a fourth color is the result of 2 screens overlapping). The "plane tree" patterns incorporate the actual cutting lines for the Zeltbahn within the pattern itself. The base of and diagonal edges of the Zeltbahn are indicated by staggered blocks of the black. There are also crosses at several points- these are to help align the fabric with the silk screens when it's on the printing table. (72" is too big for rollers, so these are hand printed.) The numbers are at opposite corners- each repeat has a 1-2, 3-4 or 5-6.
A Zeltbahn that was assembled "correctly" is cut along these guide lines. If assembled as designed, the right and left panels should have matching numbers- 1-1, 2-2 and so forth. In practice this often didn't happen.
The photo: I used 3 original zelts. Two overprint and one hand screen. One of the overprints (C) was cut too low (on the pattern) which exposes the cut blocks and the beginning of the next repeat (see the 1 in the upper right corner.) B was cut too high which allows it to be matched up with C to get the whole pattern for that panel. I didn't have another 1-2 overprint with a right side #1 panel, but the black design remains the same on both hand screened and overprint. I added large numbers so they are easier to see, and the white lines are where the material was designed to have been cut. I identified the zelts A, B, and C.
Left and Right: What few people realize (I didn't until we went to cut fabric to make zelts) is that one of these "repeats" can only make two rights or two lefts. You cannot cut a left and a right from one repeat. "Properly" constructed plane tree zelts must be made from two different rolls of fabric. The pattern of 1-2 right green side, makes the left panel of the brown side. Therefore, right brown is left green.
Essentially, the printer probably had two printing tables- one running "right" screens and one running "left". Or, they printed the green right side, changed inks, printed brown left side on another roll, then inverted the process. So, each plane tree (say 1-2) is made up of two sets of screens. Does your head hurt yet?
Overprint: Originally, all three colors were hand screened- a very slow and laborious process which was criminally insane during an all-out War. This was reduced by 2/3's by hand screening only the black. Then the brown and green (or light brown & brown) oak leaf screens were used to overprint the black via roller. Later patterns (oak, blurred edge) dispensed with the hand screening nonsense entirely. However, even late War items are still made with all types of plane tree indicating that it's production was never fully replaced.
What's this all mean? Those most obvious things I can think of regards the numbers. Lack of them on a piece frequently causes all sorts of hand wringing and fretting. However, once the Germans started cutting the plane tree fabric irregardless of how the designers intended, it's entirely possible to end up with zeltbahns with no numbers- and with what appear to be oddly angled diagonal "cut blocks". When cutting caps and covers, most won't have a number since there are only 2 numbers for every 5 feet of fabric. If your plane tree item has a repeat, it's doo doo. (If it's overprint this applies only to the black- the oak overlay will repeat). No smock or zelt is large enough to show a repeat. Also, the only place a smock can have a number on it's main body is on a bicep. (The small pieces notwithstanding) Below I laid out two smocks to show how they are oriented on the fabric when cut. (One cut smock is the size of two finished ones since it's folded in half when sewn.) The cut area is about 66 x 55. So, if you end up with any numbers, they'll be on the upper arm.
If you have the right combination of zelts, you can easily can repeat this demo for yourself.
Enjoy.
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