SS Burn Salve

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hello again,
interesting little snippets of information regarding the sourcing of these items.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.

All the best,

Patrick.

[J.von Canon]

Tubes of salve...

hi all,
do any long time fieldgear collectors remember seeing any of this stuff in years gone by? the reason i ask is that this type of small kit item turned up "En masse" in the UK about 4 years ago. This particular tube can be found over here in this version and a red tube also. huge amounts of soap also arrived for sale..and packets of glucose,needles,tobacco,toothbrushes,cigarettes.. the full works really.

I've often wondered of the authenticity of these items as we will scrutinize headgear, uniforms, basic kit etc until our eyes fall out....but a bar of soap?
Any other thoughts on this?

Patrick.

Patrick;I'm sort of a skeptic about "new"finds,in general-but think these salve tubes just might be the original item(if I were to hazzard a guess anyway.)
Here's my thoughts:
1)There is a great deal of technology involved in pressure-filling such an almost membrane-like tube.For instance,well into the 1970's it was not possible to buy toothpaste in tube-squeeze form in the Soviet Union.At least I have been told this by visitors there during those years.Too much "consumer"effortwhen technology was earmarked for the arms race.Soviets instead were having to use old fashioned tooth powder out of cans.
2)These salve tubes are relatively inexpensive and I don't see how anyone could really make a profit considering the effort needed to create them(read previous statement.)
Soooo,they just might be an original item...

[Vadim K]

Patrick,
I was recently asking about this same tube, look at this thread.
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=ss+items+real

[Damien Horn]

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SORT OF KIT IS THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY ITS ORIGINAL AND THOSE WHO DON'T. i FOR ONE THINK ITS NOT, I CAN'T PROVE IT. SO I CAN HEAR SHOUTS OF "WELL SHUT UP THEN", BUT I ALWAYS GO ON MY GUT INSTINCT AND IT TELLS ME TO STAY CLEAR. IF YOU HAPPY TO SPEND YOUR CASH ON THIS SORT OF KIT THEN GOOD LUCK TO YOU. I WILL AWAIT THE DAY WHEN ITS ALL GONE AND THEN COSTS A FORTUNE AND REGRET NOT BUYING ANY. I BELIEVE I WILL BE WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN THOUGH. SEND IT BACK, GET YOUR CASH AND BUY SOMETHING THAT IS 100% ORIGINAL NOW.

[Michael Kuligowski]

Agree With Damien - I'v seen a lot of these ground dugs - and as I remember they looked different.... I didnt obtain them science they were in poor condition..

I would wait for something 100% sure...

[Brig]

not really worth it, as I said the price was cheap, and shipping it back would probably cost about what I paid, I'll set it aside until it's determined

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi Vadim,
there does seem to be some uncertainty regarding this sort of item. Since the major batch hit Europe i have seen very little of it for sale since, so it's all been swallowed up into collections ( i have a few items of this sort which i'm feeling more and more dubious about as time wears on).
When i first saw the items it was at the UK's largest militaria fair the "War and peace" event at Beltring in Kent. Every single German, Dutch, French and UK dealer (who travel to Europe) had them in vast quantity. At the same time multiple brands of cigarette were also for sale. These also now concern me as i realise that the humble cigarette was a form of portable, highly valued currency in post war Germany. A German friend of mine has a few books detailing murders in his region from a bitter cigarette smuggler gang feud.
I have of course, perhaps just been infected with a heavy dose of collector paranoia , and i would be delighted to be wrong, but my feeling is not to trust these.

All the best,

Patrick

[Brig]

collector paranoia...don't we all?

[John T]

I used to think that these may have been authentic items but I have heard that these are fakes coming out of the Czech republic. There are other items also being made with the "SS Packung" labeling. I do not recall where I saw these offered for sale as repro items but if you do a search for reproduction German items, or items for re-enacters you will find these tubes and other similar items with the "SS packung" labels...some of the items look very well done. I have seen red tins with the lettering embossed into the tins.

I too remember when you started seeing these in quanitity, it was after the wall came down...I guess after that the fakers really got into gear and would use stories such as "found in a Russian museum" or "found in storage in a warehouse". Granted, a lot of real stuff was found after the wall came down, but more often that was a story used to grant legitimacy to fake items. This has been done with fake tunics and headgear where bogus museum or movie house stampings are added.

[Bob Komorowski]

Why not send the tube to Bill Shea to get his respected opinion on it?? Bill Shea has for sale on his website many of these original vintage miscellaneous incidentals for one's Tornister or ditty-bag, such as sewing needles, packs of cigarettes, cigarette wrapping-papers, match sticks, playing cards, bandages, soapbars, toothbrushes, razors with blades, trench candles, razors in DRGM-marked boxes, packs of SMF-marked razor blades, etc., it's under "Fieldgear & Accessories".

[Brig]

what's he charge for such appraisals?

[John T]

what's he charge for such appraisals?

If you email him pictures for his opinion he may not charge you...but if he does not know you or has not dealt with you he may charge a small fee.

Cheers

[Gaspare]

There was tubes of toothpaste in the Soviet Union in the 1970s..
This is a metal tube?yes.. these were reproduced . at the 2002 MAX a table had them and sold them as repros also little tins of something? ,candies, money, tobacco, louse powder w/comb. fuel tablets for the small folding stoves etc. , G.

[John T]

There was tubes of toothpaste in the Soviet Union in the 1970s..
This is a metal tube?yes.. these were reproduced . at the 2002 MAX a table had them and sold them as repros also little tins of something? ,candies, money, tobacco, louse powder w/comb. fuel tablets for the small folding stoves etc. , G.

As I recall the little tins were red in color and had nice embossing with the "SS Packung" lettering as well as some other information...really nicely done...but repros, John

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, I remember seeing these at Beltring with lots of dealers like Patrick recalls. I never bought any, as I am a bit too cynical to beleive they are real. But I just do not know if they are real or not? The cigarettes and tobbaco I found totally unbeleivable though.

Cheers, Ade.