Default Tramp "soldier's" pocket coffee grinder (Kaffeemühle) estand

[Seigfried]

Thanks Seigfried. Have you received a reply from the factory ?

As promised, hot off the press today in full - my italics

"Dear Mr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your e-mail.
As an attached file you can see page from our old B.O.Garantie catalogue. Unfortunately we don´t know exact year of this catalogue but it is sure before WW2. So this grinder could be made between 1930-1950.
I hope it helps you.

Best regards

Vladimír Pěnička"
Lodos s.r.o.
Karlovské náměstí 267
Lomnice nad Popelkou
51251
Tel.: +420 481 67 12 88
Fax: +420 481 67 13 03
Mobil:+420 605 230 498
E-mail: vladimir.penicka@lodos.info
http: www.lodos.info


The page from the catalogue which he mentions in the email (already posted by fellow WAF member and author Mr Pool).




It would appear that there is indeed a possibility that these grinders were used by the Wehrmacht, although I am somewhat curious as to why you only ever see the brown/red version and not the green/orange/yellowish ones, and also why there are no period photographs with one in it.

[djpool]

As promised, hot off the press today in full - my italics

"Dear Mr. xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your e-mail.
As an attached file you can see page from our old B.O.Garantie catalogue. Unfortunately we don´t know exact year of this catalogue but it is sure before WW2. So this grinder could be made between 1930-1950.
I hope it helps you.

Best regards

Vladimír Pěnička"
Lodos s.r.o.
Karlovské náměstí 267
Lomnice nad Popelkou
51251
Tel.: +420 481 67 12 88
Fax: +420 481 67 13 03
Mobil:+420 605 230 498
E-mail: vladimir.penicka@lodos.info
http: www.lodos.info


The page from the catalogue which he mentions in the email (already posted by fellow WAF member and author Mr Pool).




It would appear that there is indeed a possibility that these grinders were used by the Wehrmacht, although I am somewhat curious as to why you only ever see the brown/red version and not the green/orange/yellowish ones, and also why there are no period photographs with one in it.

Hi Seigfried,

Thank you for your excellent follow up on this matter. I doubt the WEHRMACHT ever purchased these, but there is a chance some soldiers acquired a few. Yes the German units were issued Coffee beans but I would think they would have went to the Field Kitchens who had the capability to grind them. A good cook would have ground them up in the event beans were issued directly to the soldier. The Germans were issued much of there coffee in pressed or powder form, which would have eliminated the need for a grinder. As for a picture,well unfortunately certain actions, items of equipment, supplies just aren't seen that often. I found one picture of a soldier using a toothbrush to use in my Ruhetag book. I'm sure there are more out there but try finding one that shows a brand.

Being a Czech made item makes the search more difficult. Of course a study of pre/wartime Czech magazines, newspapers could reveal something.

As for the other colors not being available-its probably because a stock of unissued ones were found in some old store etc and they all happen to be of one color. Its also possible these were manufactured after the war. But since we don't know if there were any major differences between ones made in 1941 versus 1946 we just have to acknowledge the fact they could be wartime. Of course some brave soul could take on the job of doing a study on these grinders and maybe find the definitive answer. You would think the company would have done that, but its obvious they don't know much more than we do.

jim