Welt Hölzer matches

[Euronymous]

Hello

Wartime or post war matches ?

[Euronymous]

[sturmtrupp]

i think pre1945

[Lloyds]

100s of these turned up about 20 years ago in Germany i think they are 1950-60s

[Euronymous]

It could be from the 50's or 60's but which proof do you have ? What does the ww2 boxes look like ?

In my opinion, it's near impossible to date this kind of item ...

[djpool]

It could be from the 50's or 60's but which proof do you have ? What does the ww2 boxes look like ?

In my opinion, it's near impossible to date this kind of item ...

It's prewar /wartime. I will post some additional info later. Jim

[djpool]

The German Zundwaren Monopol was formed in 1930 which gave them exclusive rights to distribute safety matches within the borders of the German Reich. The only brands they could distribute were Welthölzer ("World Matches") and Haushaltsware ("Household article"). Local German manufacturers obtained licenses to produce preassigned volumes to sell domestically and were not allowed to export these matches or to establish new firms.
The match boxes distributed prior to this were almost identical in design to the ones that started the thread except it shows a manufacturing location. Attached is an ad from 1926. I also show a picture of the same box from a prewar/ wartime DRK catalogue.

[djpool]

Here is another wartime box. The eagle looks like one from the Federal Republic of Germany. The wartime bill shows it was a prewar logo.

[djpool]

There were many different types of match boxes produced by the Monopol. They would remain in operation until 1983. Here are some postwar boxes. There is a reference catalogue for match book collectors in Germany that is geared toward items produced by the German Zundwaren Monopol . Unfortunately I don't have, but if another collector does and would like to post it that would be great. In the Second volume of my Ruhetag series I have a chapter on tobacco products. I show some matchbooks but don't go into any real discussion about manufacturers, brands etc. Jim

[Euronymous]

Thanks djpool for adding these very interesting informations

[sturmtrupp]

i saw same matches ground dug. matches had pinkheads and same box.they were found in ramains of heer mantel in german bunker in exUSSR area.

[Jos L C]

..but beware, many of these war time brands are faked, like so many personal items .., then there's the 50's, 60's stuff ..

Jos.

[djpool]

..but beware, many of these war time brands are faked, like so many personal items .., then there's the 50's, 60's stuff ..

Jos.

Jos,


Your absolutely right it is a minefield but at least a fake book of matches won't cost you as much as a fake Knights cross. Most of the fake stuff can be sorted out. It's the 50s and 60s items that are tough. They are original just not wartime. Documentation for these early products are tough to come by and requires a lot of time and effort to research. In the days after the surrender war time stocks were used up or re packed. Unfortunately there aren't many people out there willing to spend hours researching a $5 item.
Jim

[Euronymous]

My matches are 100% wartime or 50's - 60's ?

[Euronymous]

What do you think about this one ?