SS Shoulder Boards

[Manalishi]

Doing a little research on the WAF yesterday, it appears there is legitimate war time elongated diamond tresse. Although after reading through several threads, I can't say one way or the other whether the boards that started this thread are pre-45 or not.

What do you guys think of these boards with tresse over at Grenadier? They seem to have the longer than usual elongated diamonds that are associated with DDR tresse.

http://web.iwebcenters.com/grenadier...tem184481.ctlg

[Dennis S]

Are theses the same shoulder boards in different color piping without tresse?

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...S+boards+Czech

[Crusader17]

Later today I will try to post better pictures of the piping.

[Dennis S]

Here is a thread on tresse

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ht=fake+tresse

[Crusader17]

Close ups.

There are currently similar boards on several major dealer websites, but I know that doesn't make them original.

[Dennis S]

Can you post the links

[Crusader17]

Not wanting to imply any dealer selling fakes as originals, as I am far from an expert. BUT....there are three major dealers that currently have very similar boards for sale on their websites. In the past, I have seen this type of tresse considered pre-45.

I'm not sure why the piping on these would be considered unusual. They appear to be typical construction to me, as the photos reveal.

If they are fakes, they are fakes. It happens. I just want the truth.

[101combatvet]

Excellent fakes in my opinion, if that helps.

[Dennis S]

Could you clue us in on your opinion ? What's the giveaway ?

[90th Light]

Many different styles of tresse were used on Heer/SS uniforms during the Third Reich. Some of the tresse that was used had elongated diamonds in the pattern, though most patterns used square shapes. After the war, the East German NVA used a very similar tresse to the elongated diamond type used pre-1945. This has caused a lot of confusion, with some collectors erroneously believing that any tresse with elongated diamonds is fake or postwar. The real elongated diamond tresse can be seen in many reference books, for example "Uniforms of the Waffen-SS" by Michael Beaver p. 360-362. There is a difference between original elongated diamond and NVA tresse: the original stuff is made out of real aluminum wire, while the NVA used a synthetic material that looks and feels different. I will post some photos that illustrate different tresse designs and the subtle diffeences between the original stuff and the similar postwar tresse. Here is the first photo. On the left is original WW2, on the right East German NVA. The NVA tresse is made from the same synthetic material as the pictured NVA lanyard. Note that it photographs differently from the real elongated diamond tresse on the left.

Chris Pittman a forum member did an excellent job explaining tress differences in the link below

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...+german+tresse


Chris

[90th Light]

Original Pre-1945 boards & piping

Top SS board = piping made from cotton blend

Second top SS board = piping made from artificial silk

Middle SS board = piping made from rayon

Second bottom SS board = piping made from artificial silk

Bottom SS board = piping made from cotton blend


Chris

[90th Light]

Nothing wrong with the piping on the boards that started this thread. It is made from yellow pre-May 1945 artificial silk.


Comparison of grey pre-May 1945 artificial silk with the yellow pre-May 1945 artificial silk on the boards that started this thread.


Piping is all 101% correct and made before the end of the war. Although a clearer, close up image like the grey piped boards would help,

Chris

[Crusader17]

Thanks for your input Chris. Post #20 of this thread clearly shows the piping construction and the aluminum wire construction of the tresse.

What else is missing here?

Bob

[Dennis S]

This is a good photo of the piping crusader posted of the boards that started the thread , in case you missed it or confused it.

[90th Light]

Comparison from another thread also discussing this type of piping.

The arrows are showing wear and tear through the top layer of basket weave threads (laced thread) into the lower layers of thread holding the piping retaining cord in place.

The thickness of the weave is determined by what type of thread the piping is woven from i.e. cotton, cotton blend, rayon or artificial silk,

Chris