Tony

Hello David, Welcome to the forum. The reverse of the photo states that the photographer has his shop opposite the barracks of the 2nd Dragoon Guards in Bl?cherstr. Officers and ORs of the 1st and 2nd Dragoon Guards (II Garde Dragoner, Kaiserin Alexandra von Ru?land) wore a white plume on parades according to a book I have called Milit?rische Kopfbedeckung der Kaiserzeit. The book also states he shouldn't have a rounded peak. Maybe he's from a Foot Guard Regt. and had his photo taken opposite the Dragoon barracks. Someone with more knowledge on uniforms will be able to tell you. Tony

Hello Alexandre, I found this statement here http://www.answers.com/topic/south-african-military-ranks: The SA Army was formed in 1912 as the Union Defence Force. It was given its present name in 1951. The rank system is derived from that of the British Army. There weren't any pictures but I would think (guessing) all Commonwealth/Empire ranks were the same back then. Tony

Theodor, Gottschalk und Co. appears to have been a textile company. Maybe they made the pouches for tent pegs or something similar. Tony

These are fantastic. I wonder why the German doing the writing called them badges instead of Abzeichen or something similar. Tony

I'm so happy I don't collect 3rd Reich. Tony

What's wrong with it Dan? Tony

Thanks for that Laurence, that makes it a whole lot clearer. Tony

I'm with Peter. I don't collect 3rd Reich either but would be interested in hearing what pin points this and other awards in this section as fakes. What are the differences between the originals and the fakes? Tony

Hello Don, Sometimes I will leave the item as is, sometimes I?ll just clean the mud off or with non ferrous metals I?ll start cleaning/restoring but usually give up after a while. Sometimes I?ll remove the rust as best I can with either a wire brush, acid or electrolyte methods and then paint the object with an anti rust solution or just cover it in oil. Once I even cleaned a stick bomb can, went over it with some filler and then painted it the wrong colour. Tony

The brass ring is attached by two screws, but as the Verner pattern is quite common I'd wait till a better example turned up and sell the other one on. Tony

A nice compass Jens. See this thread for a British and US example http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10607 As far as I know, those manufactured after the 20s were higher. Tony

Hello Yves, I'm not quite sure if WWII records can be accessed yet. Have you tried looking online for a researcher? Hopefully someone here can give you a definite answer. Tony

I always thought the leather interior of the M17 should be white but maybe not. Tony

Thanks for that Chip. I've seen a lot of these on the Somme, mainly in the back garden and trench system at Tommy's Cafe. Tony

Yes you are correct, there were those too. I had forgotten all about them but weren't they late war issue and only in green? I saw a photo of one a long, long time ago. Let us know what you find. Tony

Thanks very much for the info Jef and also please thank Phil for me. Tony

Are you thinking of the helmets that didn't pass quality control for fighting troops? These usually had small holes punched into the brim, I've seen 3 holes arranged in a triangle shape and 4 holes arranged in a square shape. They are normally found nearer to the chinstrap attachment. Those at the rear of a South African and sometimes desert used helmet are there for attaching a neck flap for sun protection (don't know where I read this but it has made me keep an eye out for them since then). I think Belgium started making their own lids soon after the liberation, a typical Belgian made helmet shell has (as far as I know) an indentation at the top of the dome where the liner bolt sits, Brit and Commonwealth helmets don't have this feature. No doubt Belgium and other liberated countries bought up old stock of poor quality helmets for their own use too.

Ahhhh, the WWII type looks like it has squinted eyes, whereas the WWI type hasn't, I think. As for the earlier type being flatter, I'd probably need to have them in my hand to tell. I always thought Rijkswacht was something similar to the police. Saying that it looks like it could mean Kingdom Guards. Tony

Thanks Jef

Good question Gerd, wonder if anyone knows.

Thanks Jef, Does the WWII type of lion or that of the Rijkswacht differ much from the WWI type? Tony

Just noticed after seeing the photos that there are some stamps inside, an anchor with GC and in the middle on either side of the comb is a C or G and I or d. Any ideas as to the manufacturer or whatever else they could mean? Tony P.S.: The stamps can't be seen in the reduced size photo but are there.

Does anyone know anything about the Belgian used Adrian in particular the insignia? Below is a picture of the insignia on my Belgian Mle. 15 which I bought at a flea market in Tongeren, Belgium a couple of years ago. Since then, I?ve been told that the Belgians used different insignia later in the war and between the wars too. I am 100% sure my one is all original to WWI but if there are differences in the insignia, where are they? I didn?t have any luck searching online. Thanks Tony

This one's for you Don.

Not official and not just for Christmas but here's a Callard and Bowser's butterscotch tin. Should I add some Mary tins?