Brown Zelt Question

[sfmike1]

Hello all you Zelt Experts. Can anyone shed some light on why the Brown Zelt variation was produced? I know some say it was a "trial", and not put into production, but there seems like quite a few of them out there. My example is from 1938, but I've seen a zelt with the same maker's mark dated 1942. This seems like a long time for a trial run. Anyone have an opinion?
Michael

My 1938 Zelt:




Same maker, 1942:

[sfmike1]

No opinions? Really?

[A.Alston]

Only reason I can imagine for it to be brown on one side and green on the other is so it can be used in both summer and winter. They probably cost more to make because they had to keep a whole second set of inks on hand to make these.

The originals they just print the base cloth lighter on one side, then the same green and brown splinters are printed on both sides and they look lighter or darker depending on the base cloth color. Therefore the original type only takes five ink colors while the brown sided one takes seven different inks.

Production would also be simplified further because the regular fabric could be run through the camo print roller, then flipped over and run back through the same roller to print the other side. The brown one would require swapping all the inks out before printing the second side, or moving the sheet to a seperate roller with the brown inks in it.

This is just my speculation but it seems logical.

BTW: I love those zelts like that so if you decide my reply was so helpful that I deserve a reward, I will happily forward you my mailing address so you can send me that zelt!

[sfmike1]

Thank you for that great technical information! Great to understand the process. It makes sense that it was an expensive process that might have been phased out (except for the two-sided SS versions of course).

I'm still wondering what troops were given these zelts. Elite units.....like GD, or was it just a random variation from a few manufacturers? Some have suggested that these were for DAK use, but that seems very unlikely, although the dates are correct.

I think I will have to hang on to this one
Michael

[CWP]

I consider these to be just a variation, there is certainly no evidence to suggest these were intended for issue to elite units.

[sfmike1]

Thanks Chris, I think you are right.

[MP44_tom]

Indeed, a variation, but why..... maybe Mark can shed some light on this..... hope there is some info in his book about this

I think DAK is not true, because they were already made in 1938.....

Probably a spring / autumn trial , but a very long trial..... ??

Unfortunately nothing is mentioned in Heeres Mitteilungen

Still, a very desirable variation

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[sfmike1]

I agree Tom - Mark's opinion would be great to hear (this was originally one of his zelt's). Looking forward to his book as well.

[camo master]

Hi Michael,

I thought I recognized that zelt - really love the colours on these, consequently my browns are really hard to part with. I still have 2 or 3 that I just cant bring myself to put up on the auction block. Glad this one found a good home.

Why they were produced, Im sad to say, we really just dont know. One can speculate but in the end it is all just guess work. Given the date range they were produced, Im quite sure they were not intended for DAK although they could have been used there. Unfortunately, there is no way to differentiate them from the green version in B&W photos.

It's been suggested that it could have been a trial print version and the fabric kept in stock and pulled from to make small production runs but I personally have some issues with that theory. There are a few different colour variations in the browns which, to me, indicate a number of different production runs of the fabric. The fact that they span from '37 (perhaps earlier) to at least '43 is, in itself, very interesting.

As far as the printing of this print, there were only 4 rollers used but I believe there were several different methods used to print the fabric.

With the most common method, the raw fabric was dyed the ground colour you see on the back side. Then the three back side colours were printed - Green splinters, brown splinters and rain drops. Then the top side was then printed. A solid ground colour printed over top of the dyed fabric to give a darker ground colour as well as the splinters and raindrops that were printed at the same time. It is often possible to find the colours the same on both sides of late war zelts because the top side lacks the darker solid ground colour - they were only using 3 rollers.

I believe the Browns were printed in the same manner with different dye colours used on the brown side.

So, the most beautiful version of the Splinter zelt still remains an enigma.
Cheers all
Mark

[sfmike1]

Thank you for that wonderful reply Mark. I've been obsessed with the brown zelt question ever since I acquired that piece from you! Its such a compelling object I can't stand to think it was a random variation - I feel a bit better now

You have a fantastic (I'd say the best) collection of zelts - every rare one ever made I think. I'm not sure how you can part with any of them, but I thank you for sharing these with others, and I look forward to the book! Zeltbahns always seem to be somewhat ignored in field gear publications, so it will be a welcome addition to every collector's library.

Michael (SF)

[camo master]

You're most welcome Michael. I hope I can get the book finished soon. Just so much going on right now its difficult to find the time I need to complete the project.

Cheers
Mark

[jan r]

Here is already a behind the scenes look during the making of the Zeltbook, and some brown zelts nicely contrasting in the spring green










Jan

[corporalSteiner]

Here is already a behind the scenes look during the making of the Zeltbook, and some brown zelts nicely contrasting in the spring green










Jan

are the wooden zelt poles, shown holding up this tent, original?

[jan r]

Yes these poles are originals, all with different dates and markings on them.
(only the boots are not, we did not want to use originals in the wet grass, all the rest of the material was original, but this one photo I took myself will not be in the book anyway)

Jan

[camo master]

Thanks Jan for all your help that day - really had a lot of fun working on that shoot.
Cheers
Mark