Bilco

Hi Gents, Looking at the photos of the 3 Riemer medals together, this one looks to have a thicker ring of smaller radius. When the ball was uncracked the ring must have been a very tight fit - there are signs on the left side of the ball (viewed from the obverse) of burring which might be caused by the ring rubbing. Maybe it has imposed so much strain on the ball that it caused it to crack? Bill

Hi Gents, I see a Polish Vcitory medal - RP reverse, barrel suspension - sold for $180 on eBay last night. It started at $49 - my modest bid was trampled underfoot in the last hour! Bill

Hi Gents, The thing that would worry me if I had bought this Cuba medal is the two sets of 'bubbles' in the shield. They don't appear on any of the official or unofficial types I have seen in hand or in photos - signs of casting? Bill

Hi Gents, Two copies of Laslo's book (I think 1st edition) on eBay item # 370917502719 and # 221308517952 Bill

Hi Gents, On eBay at the moment is an Unofficial Type 3 with a strange suspension: I suspect that a piece of brass tube has been soldered on in place of the original suspension - there seem to be traces of solder at the top of the planchet on both obverse and reverse. Also, the suspension ring seems to be thicker and of smaller diameter than normal. What do you think? Bill

Hi Gents, These unit badges are emphatically not for wear on the uniform - although I have them being used as tie-pins, as long as they didn't show! Every RAF Squadron and Station has an official Badge, designed by the Royal College of Arms and approved by the Sovereign and signed to show the Royal approval - the original artwork is proudly displayed by the unit. Most Squadrons were awarded their badges after WW1, and newer ones received theirs after they were formed - 617 Squadron, for example. This still occurs - see http://www.theinsightonline.co.uk/regulars/her-majesty-the-queen-approves-a-unit-badge-for-no-8-raf-force-protection-wing-headquarters/ The pin-back brooch-type badge, such as the one in post #1, is produced by various firms for an individual unit to sell to it's members or the general public - some firms also sell them to the public direct - see http://www.sallysbadges.com/shop.php?c=166 The one posted by Nelson1805 is interesting because it has the old-style crown, showing it dates from before the accession of Elizabeth II. I first became aware of these items in the late 1960s when I joined my second Squadron, No 58, and bought one which I still have. As aircrew I was more concerned to get the larger cloth version of the Squadron badge to sew onto my flying suit! Bill

HI Gents, I thought a comparison of the 'Rare And Vintage' Cuba vic with a couple of others would be of interest. In each triptych the left medal is the real deal, the centre is the medal under suspicion, and the right medal is my gilded, Cuban-produced version, possibly by VILARDEBO y RIERA of Havana. Obverses Reverses On the obverses there are clear differences between the figure of Victory on the suspect medal and the other two - wings, robe, arms, toes, sword and laurel branch. On the reverses the suspect medal shows many differences in the size and position of the lettering, the leaves and cap, and the Cuba coat of arms on the shield shows many differences - the 'clouds' around the key at the top, and the palm tree and hills in the lower right quarter. Of interest, in the obverse view the suspension of the suspect medal is very slightly canted to the right, while in the reverse view it's rather more canted to the right, which shows that the reverse is skewed to the left in relation to the obverse. The suspension ball does seem to be a different colour to the planchet, and it seems to have been rather squashed at some time. All very interesting, of course, but it doesn't tell us if this is a contemporary copy, made in Cuba as the seller claims or elsewhere, or a modern production made to look well aged. If mine was produced by a top-quality firm like VILARDEBO y RIERA, the suspect medal was made by a less skilled establishment, less concerned with quality. Was there a market for low-cost medals amongst the Cuban soldiery, as there was in France? Bill

The Snyder Treasures web site has a couple of interesting items for sale http://snyderstreasures.com/pages/uswwivictorymedals.htm The top two items, in particular, are interesting - the set of 14 Interallied Victory Medals is described as mint. Bill

Hi Gents, As threatened, the close-ups of my Unoff Type 1: Some of the horizontals in the letters are very faint - the T in ITALIA is typical - and some of the diagonal strokes in the Ns go to the bottom of the right-hand vertical, while others are part way up. The final A in (AME)RICA is very shy - just the top angle peeping over the leaf! Bill

Hi Gents, I'm venturing into the Romanians again, after my debacle in April, with what I think is the Unofficial Type 1 with ball suspension. Unfortunately, it has a modern British ribbon, which I'll have to try to find a replacement for. Obverse Reverse. I'll produce some close-ups of the countries on the reverse in due course. Bill

Thanks Rob - I need to see a bigger sample - the few I have are all neatly spherical! Interesting point about the ribbon - I got the medal from France. Bill

Hi Gents, I've just acquired a Belgian Official Type which appears to have a slightly odd suspension. It looks more oval when seen from front or rear, while it's a mis-shapen sphere in side view. Some photos: Obverse Reverse Obverse close-up. The solder joint is much wider than other examples I've seen - almost as wide as the suspension. Reverse close-up. The ball is certainly not spherical! Side view of suspension. The hole is elongated F-R and the odd shape of the sphere is evident. The ball has striations running across it from L-R. The name of the designer is on the obverse, although the IS of DUBOIS is almost invisible. From the front the suspension resembles that on Oliver's vic shown on the Sammler site http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fsammler.ru%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D115165%26st%3D0%26%23entry1388950 The 'ball' measures 4.5mm from side to side, and approximately 5.6mm front to rear and top to bottom - difficult to get an accurate measure due to the odd shape! So, is this just an oddity or something more significant? Bill

Hi Gents, A short film showing the German narrow gauge railways serving the front-line in France http://www.filmportal.de/video/mit-der-feldbahn-an-der-front-im-westen Bill

Hi Gents, A couple of collections of photos have been mentioned on the Great War Forum which might be of interest: http://boingboing.net/2013/08/07/unseen-world-war-i-photos-ger.html#! http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=198564&hl=%2Bgerman+%2Balbum I think you have to register to see the second one. Apologies if this has already been mentioned somewhere else on GMIC. Bill

Hi Lambert, Looks like a very nice example of the Official Type not shown in Laslo. Good marks on the edge and very nice condition - I'm envious! Bill

Hi Gents, Found this while searching for something else! It's worth reading through the descrption of the various scenes before viewing the film in full-screen. Some faces you might recognize ... http://resources.ushmm.org/film/display/detail.php?file_num=3354 Bill

Congratulations, Lambert - may we see photos? Bill

Hi Gents, Pursuing my obsession with Indian Army vics – I bought one and compared it with the standard vic to a British recipient – British on the left: Obverse … … and reverse. The colour difference is striking, and matches what I have seen – the British recipients’ vics most often have most or all of their gilding, while the ones to Indian Army recipients most often have lost all or nearly all. To be sure, there are examples of British ones that have lost all the gilding and look similar to the Indian, and Indian ones that have gilding, but it has been striking how I have been able to tell the Indian ones just by their colour, either on web sites or in seeing dealers’ stock in the flesh. I checked measurements to see if there was any difference: Weight in both cases was 29 grammes – my scales only show whole grammes. Diameter in both cases 3.64cm Thickness – measured at the 7 o’clock – the British vic was 3.5mm, while the Indian was 3.2mm. So, there probably was a weight difference, but my scales aren’t sensitive enough to show it. This picture of the edges does seem to show that the lower, Indian vic is slightly thinner than the British. Also of note is the form of the lettering, which seems to me to be identical on both. I understand that Indian Army vics were made and lettered at the Calcutta Mint. Northeast Medals web site has a thread on naming of WW1 medals http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ww1_victory_medal.htm and my two seem to conform to the first example shown – lightly impressed. There has been discussion on the Great War Forum about naming of WW1 medals - http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17269&hl=+calcutta%20+naming#entry133154 and http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35290&hl=+calcutta%20+naming#entry285515 These discussions seem to indicate that vics to British recipients were in some cases named at the Calcutta Mint while the BWM to the same recipient was named in England. This brings up the mental picture of boxes of medals being ferried between England and India, and someone trying to match up the vic and BWM for an individual when they all get back to England! However, my two may lend credence to this idea. The Indian vic obverse shows less detail than the British example – Victory’s face has no features, and the palm branch is almost smooth. This could be due to polishing by the Indian recipient, or by worn dies at the Calcutta mint. A comparison of the initials of the designer – WMcM – shows that they are almost gone from the Indian vic: The British … … and the Indian. Polishing or dies? The reverse of the Indian example does not show any reduction in detail, but there are some tiny remains of gilding: Just a trace in the bottom of the leaves in the wreath at the 3 o'clock, and around the N. The gilding has otherwise completely gone, even around the barrel suspension and in the little recesses under it, which would be difficult to achieve by polishing. So, that’s my thoughts on this example of the Indian Army vic- any comments welcome. Bill

My favourite has nothing to do with death or battle - it's called 'The Naming of Parts' by Henry Reed. I see a wooden hut on a military base, new recruits going through the parts of the rifle - anyone who has done time in the military will have gone through this stage of training. The NCO is delivering a lecture he has done many times, while the recruits would much rather be outside in the Spring sunshine ... To-day we have naming of parts. Yesterday, We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning, We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day, To-day we have naming of parts. Japonica Glistens like coral in all of the neighboring gardens, And to-day we have naming of parts. This is the lower sling swivel. And this Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see, When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel, Which in your case you have not got. The branches Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures, Which in our case we have not got. This is the safety-catch, which is always released With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see Any of them using their finger. And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers: They call it easing the Spring. They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt, And the breech, and the cocking-piece, and the point of balance, Which in our case we have not got; and the almond-blossom Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards, For to-day we have naming of parts. Bill

Hi Rob, I agree with everything you say - my thinking was that someone could buy them as copies, then age them and try to pass them off as genuine. The other thing that occurs to me is the cost of these copies - between £9 and £13 - which links to the conversation you have been having with Jim - how much does it cost to produce die-struck copies like these, and can they be sold at these prices and make a profit? Bill

Hi Gents, See also http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/59309-let-me-keep-that-warm-for-you/ Different medal, same display case! Bill

Hi Gents, A seller in the UK is offering 'die-stamped copies' of various vics: Brazil - item # 111130907437 Cuba - item # 111134543740 South Africa - item # /121153624876 Romania - item # 111134542760 Portugal - item # /121153624876 French Pautot-Mattei - item # 111130907438 French Chobillom - item # 111134542930 Siam - item # 121151669390 Great Britain - item # 111134541121 Czech - item # 111134543527 Japan - item # 121153624690 Colour and detail should be a give-away should any unscrupulous seller-on buy them ... Bill

Hi Gents, For something you don't see every day - eBay item #' 221128508556 Bill

Hi Gents, Maybe my comment above about 'some effect of the climate' may not be too far off the mark. On the 1914-1918.invasionzone forum - "Normal" gilt finished Victories if polished,or the Finish cleaned off & stored in damp conditions will over time accquire the Brown Rusty finish that has led to this abberation, thus many such Brown finish victories arrive from the Indian sub continent,where such conditions favour this deterioration & resultant discolouring. The poster was referring to the chocolate-brown finish of the Type 1 British vic, but there is the soldered suspension that also points to the Type 1. In any case, the Indian examples I've seen aren't 'rusty brown' but dull, non-gilt finish. Bill

Hi Lambert, If it has the AC Triangle and BRONZE, and it's a good price, it should be a worth-while buy. Bill