Mike Huxley

Tom, Thanks for that. It's so hard to work this sort of thing out and be fair to seller. Guess I'm just too much of an honest guy

Rick, You are 100% right ... history is what counts and overall I think this grouping is one that deserves preserving and valuing as history together .... before somebody splits it up in order to make a profit. I have the chance to do that ... and I want to make a fair offer in view of the background. So I will do my beat to retain the group as one. My thanks to you all for your imput ... believe me, it's valued Cheer's, Mike

Thanks Don, Ulsterman and Stogie plus of course Rick R Hey Stogie ..... that's what my thoughs were as well. Only one slight problem The family owner of the collection does not know the value of the grouping and has asked me to make an offer ???? ... not sure about that though!!!! I need to be fair on this as it's from a colleagues family from where I at work. Ulsterman, you say the Deutscher Volksorden Bekenntniskreuz 2nd class is in Detlev's book. I don't have that, so can you tell me the price that he puts on it? Would any of you think that an offer in the region of 700 Euros would sound about right? Hoping for some thoughts here Cheers, Mike

Thanks Rick, What's the last award on the bar along with the second one next to the EKII. It seems that this bar was mostly a vanity type with loads of " I've been there, got the award and the tee-shirt" sort of thing.

Here's a shot of the recipient ... but he's wearing an earlier version of the bar. Any idea of the regiment?

Gent's, This period of German history is far from my strong point. A German contact of mine has offered me this very nice bar and mini chain, including a picture of the recepient and the Schlesischer Adler 1Kl. Well, I can only identify four of the awards on the bar, obviously the EKII, SAII, Kyffh?user medal and the 15yr LSA. My question is .... what the hell are the others I can't find them anywhere. Please help Gent's Cheers, Mike

Maybe I'm being a little tight with the information on the owner of this award. The group I obtained included a photo album of most of this guys military history along with his "Patent" to Leutnant of reserve in March 1905. His Medal bar, the badge that I have shown and a few other items including his Parade Belt and Eppelettes to the 28th Regiment He was promoted from Visefeldwebal. His name is Heinrich Leists. Any other help would be apprieciated.

Thanks Tom, my feelings also that this could be a Freikorps badge .... I can't see a freemason badge having swords on it. Better pictures will follow

Rick, The badge is 75mm from top to bottom & 65mm from side to side. It looks like it is a brass badge in a tree piece construction, back piece of star and swords, centre circle of oakleaves and berries and the third piece the centre "K". There is a period looking pin and catch attachment on the reverse running from top to bottom. The reverse is flush brass looking with the pin attachment as I said above I will take pictures of it as soon as I can.

Well this one has got me caught, I just can't find any information on it. The badge was part of a group that I recently bought. The seller believes that it could be a 'Freimaurer' (freemason) award. If anybody here has any other thoughs on this, then I would be happy to hear them. Please gents, your assistance is required. Here's the badge

Well I never thought my original question would cause such a storm . But after all the comments and advice I've received, I'm going to leave it well alone. Jim thanks for your comments on the uniform. It is in, to be honest very good condition for its age and now all I need to finish it off for display are the remaining parts. So if anyone has a shirt, neck tie ( don't know the correct name for it) and the mutze then I'd love to here from them. Thanks everyone for your help. Mike

Very nice indeed, but as Stogie say's ... I also would like to see larger pictures of both sides of the badge.

Hey Tony, I've got this one in my collection. Same markings on the top off the lid

Ohhhhhhhhh this guy just has to be a total prat ... he doesn't even understand his own countries awards. What's more he's abusing SAXON awards now

Ohhhhh Christian, I LOVEeeeeeeeeee that 4x enamel button hole you have there .... fantastic

Bloody hell saschaw, fantastic picture that proves the point. This certainly rocks the boat for presidence

Paul, see this post, the question has already been asked? http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10177

Don't I know it Rick, I've asked for further pics, lets see waht happens

Rick. It's not a case of trying to get the uniform back to top class .. more a case of just keeping it clean. Dirty things just bug me and I'm sure that if the original owner of this uniform still had it in his possesion .. then he would keep it in top condition. My question is towards what would a Marine that was still wearing this uniform do to keep in a clean condition and looking as it should. After all these things were supposed to be bright and shinny when the soldier was on parade. OK, we can just leave things alone, but from experience of my own Great Uncle ..if awards or uniforms were worn until now, then they would have been kept in good condition. Just my opinion ... or do we just leave things to decay and rot through not taking care of them? I know that my Uncle took great care of his awards and other uniform items that he owned and he would not let them decay through lack of care.

Have a look at this one guys ... got to be the real thing ..... hasn't it OMG at such a snip as well ..got to have it http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A%3AIT&rd=1

Dan, The right hand sleeve is nearer to the actual colour and it's only the way that the picture was taken that makes the other sleeve look bright and clean. As you said, I was thinking of using just a gentle wash with a toothbrush with warm soapy water. It just seems such a shame to leave silver thread in a dirty condition while the buttons and the rest of the jacket look so good. Dolf, thanks for your thoughts, but to be honest, as Rick says, using any kind of abrasive cleaner on the thread would I am sure do serious damage. I even quiver at the thought of using such cleaners on solid metal items, and would NEVER do such a thing to any medals. Rick, No I won't ask what you treated in such a poor way ..... SHAME on YOU ... the EVIL ONE must be grinning widely over such a thing Thanks to you all.

Hi all, I have a uniform for a 1913 Imperial Marine in the Torpedo Division. The rank insignia on the cuffs is in silver thread, but is dirty. Is there a safe way of cleaning it to bring it back to bright condition. Or is it best to leave alone? Here's a pic of the Jacket.

Chip, The "Maat"badge on my jacket is the raised metal type (needs a little cleaning I think). My understanding is that the metal badges were worn on the dress uniform and the cloth on regular use uniforms? but I may be wrong. I'll look forward to a seeing the completed Matrosen Regiment outfit I picked up a beautiful Deck Officers cap badge today, for a snip, at a local military fair. I'll take pics tomorrow and post it here. Rick, thanks for the info on my jacket. I had a feeling that it was for the Torpedo Division I would like to find out more about the differences between the two main divisions of Matrosen and Werft? Any help on this would be gratefully received.

Again, nice badges Chip, I have a couple in my collection, the same as your last two. A slow process of collecting these now. I recently obtained a complete uniform for a Maschinistmatte that has the unit printing on the inside of the jacket and the trousers. I can make it out to be issued at Willemshaven.... but the unit I'm not sure about. Any ideas on it? Here's a pic of the markings and the complete jacket.

Rick, as you say "it's a weirdie" and unfortunatly I can't get a better scan of it. Even under a loupe it's impossible to see what that badge under the chevron is. Those are very nice Marineingenieur insignia you have there. At the moment I'm trying to build up a collection of as many navy insignia as I can, but as you say Ahhhhhh ..... the price There does seem to be a lack of information on the Kaiserleiche Marine which makes it even harder to find out even basic things about the service. Maybe a forum on here dedicated to the service would help????? Chip, nice set of badges as well .... let's see some more if you have them please