M 1/24 , RZM 155/42 and Late war zinc set

[coogan]

Hi, I'm new here and new to the hobby. I am hoping the atmosphere on this forum is a little friendlier than another one I am on. I picked up these pieces from the estate of a vet. and I thought I would share them. They weren't cheap but the provenance was good according to the experts on the other site.

I am still learning and planning on specializing in SS insignia.

[SScollector]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! I think that you will find that this a friendly place that is filled with many highly dedicated and knowledgeable collectors.

As for your insignia, you are off to a perfect start, as they are all textbook originals, thus far.
Keep up the good work and best of luck to you from now on. Looking forward to your contributions here in the future. We can always use more dedicated collectors with the interest and the will to go far with it. Also, please be sure to use the search function and you can find lots of info on whatever subject you wish to research here.

Chris

[coogan]

Thanks ! I've learned from other hobbies I have that if you get a chance to buy good pieces that its best to pull the trigger. Everyone is in love with the idea of picking up rare and valuable pieces at a garage sale, but I have yet to have that happen. I am happy to have these pieces in my collection . This is the info I was given about the vet. That brought them back to America.

" These were purchased from a guy who was selling a large collection of German SS material for the daughter of a soldier that passed in 1995. This material was found in an attic. An amazing fact is that this vet. passed in 1995 and an aunt moved in for the next 21 years and still the attic remained untouched till the clean out for the home's sale.
The name of the vet. was PFC Leo G.Daignault 2nd Infantry 9th Regiment I Co.
For several weeks after the conclusion of military activities the Ninth Infantry was billeted in Rokycany, Czechhoslovakia. A task of tremendous magnitude devolved upon the Regiment in setting up and operating camps for the thousands of German solders and displaced persons who came streaming across from the East. While other organizations were celebrating the end of the war , the Ninth was occupied day and night with the operation of those camps.
This would explain how this soldier came into possesion of so much authentic SS material , which was brought back to the U.S, as war booty.
The daughter of the deceased veteran said her dad never spoke of his service and she did not know of the items in the attic."

Thanks Leo for your service and for preserving history.

[SScollector]

One more thing, (if you can find the time), do you have a small magnet?
If so, could you see if the prongs on the second eagle that you posted are magnetic?
These are quite rare, as I only have one example, (same late, unmarked Assmann eagle), that has steel prongs. I would be willing to bet that yours are magnetic also, by your pictures.

Anyway, just curious. Thanks in advance!

Chris

[coogan]

Hi, no they are not magnetic.

Would these zinc pieces have had the silver wash that the earlier ones did ? Did the natural properties that zinc has help sluff the finish off ?

Zinc when new and polished does have a nice silver finish on its own but it does oxidize over time.

[SScollector]

Interesting, perhaps they could be aluminum prongs. Thanks!
Yes, a few did have the silver finish, but most zinc pieces were painted. Yes, the zinc did reject all of the types of finishes used. That is why it's so hard to find ones that are really nice or mint.

Chris