Scowen

Hi Alec,

I do not know that much about these pieces & have avoided them over the years due to my lack of knowledge on them. However, I do not like the example that you show because of the style of the maker mark on it. From what I can see it looks to be the known fake mark which is based on the Hermann Aurich mark. The correct mark should be a letter "H" sideways above a rounded, stylised "A". The fake mark blocks in the ends of the "H" to make it more like a rectangle with a line through the centre, or a capital "B" laying on its side...

There is not much about these in reference books or magazines, Littlejohn briefly mentions them in his book "Defending the Reich". He gives a very basic description, mentioning that there are variations of colour, but that is all. He states that it was probably first issued in early 1933 & had to be returned when the second more official version was introduced in June 1936 (the second version is the one with a black aircraft against a pale blue sky with Swastika flag below it). He does mention that the second version was issued by the Ministry of Aviation & was serially numbered, he does not say that the first version was numbered.

There is also an article in the April-May 2005 edition of the "Internationales Militaria-Magazin" #117, pages 12-13. This article is in German & unfortunately, I have not had the time to fully translate the article. However it does show a colour picture of one of these badges, one with a white aircraft & white enamel in the areas that yours is blue. It does say that there are copies with the fake Aurich mark which I have mentioned above.

Sorry that I cannot help more.

Cheers

Don

A fine example John, thanks for posting it.

D

Interesting piece Robert.

The catch is probably in the way but could it be M.O.S. for Matth. Oeschsler & Sohn, Ansbach? They often used the letters on the RDB badges.

Thanks for posting it.

Cheers

Don

Here is my collection of RTB pins/badges.

Please forgive & ignore the tags, that's just for my records. I haven't got the time to post them separately at the moment. Maybe in a few days if anyone is interested.

Cheers

Don

Hi Pete,

I'm not sure whether we have a Stahlhelm thread, I'll have a look, it maybe in the Imperial section.

Cheers

Don

Yes, there would have been a wreath around it.

Below is a very poor scan from the Uniformen-Markt
magazine, July 1, 1935. Page 11. It for the standard RTB rather than the Marine section but it shows what I need.

Cheers

Don

The Reichstreubund is another of the veterans groups.

The one you show is a cap badge for the marine section, the normal version has two crossed swords, whereas yours has one sword replaced with an anchor.

Cheers

Don

Isn't Petes an Aurich?

You are quite right Robert, brain freeze on my part!!! However my comments re the dot pattern are still the same

^{I agree with Chris, no doubt about the ring.... Number 12, the HJ with the green outer ring is a fantasy piece based on a tinnie of a similar design, I've never seen the pink HJ thing, & I can't say that I like the look of it either (but that's just a feeling). I do not like the Gau Osthannover either, the reverse indicates that it's most probably cast.}

^{I can't comment on the Luft items as they are out of my collecting field, but the tinnies & veterans items look OK from what I can see in the pictures.}

^Cheers

^Don

Hi Rogi,

I cannot comment on the originality of the pieces as this is not may area of speciality. However I can tell you that it is not a cap badge, but an eagle from a collar tab.

I hope that someone else here can give you an answer regarding whether it is original or not.

Cheers

Don

Thanks Pete.

It is indeed 6 x 4.... Very interesting, in my mind there is no doubt about originality as the reverse is textbook, but this is the first Hoffstätter I've seen with this configuration of dots in the roof.

A very nice piece, thank you for posting it

Cheers

Don

Very nice indeed!!!

Thank you for showing it.

Cheers

Don

The membership card that goes with the NSV version.....

There was also a version for members of the NSV....

Very nice Alec, thank you for poating it.

I thought that you might like to see a picture of one in wear.... You will need to click on it to see it full size.

Very nice Leuss, thank you for showing it. Shame the enamel has gone.

Cheers

Don

Congratulations John. Now you just need mama......

Cheers

Don

A couple of nice pictures there Larry, I especially like the first one as it shows the member badge on the tie very nicely.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers

Don

Yes, they are tough to find, it's one of my favourite pieces & is much nicer in hand than it looks in the scan.

Cheers

Don

Very nice original.

Thought you may like to see an Honour version.....

Cheers

Don

Threads combined...

A nice & interesting piece Pete. From what I can see the dot pattern in the house roof is different from what is usually found on these Hoffstätter marked pieces. Usually they are a much more defined set of dots in rows of 4 x 4, yours appears (it could be the picture) to be 6 x 4.... However fear not, the rest of it & especially the reverse set up is exactly how I would expect it to be, so this is quite a rare manufacturer's variant. very nice.

Cheers

Don

Some nice pieces there Alec, thank you for posting them. I'm not sure whether I have any R.D.Kl. items or not.... I shall have hunt through my pictures to see if I can find anything.

Cheers

Don

Never seen anything like them, sorry.

Nice one Joe. That looks really tiny!

Thanks for showing it.