Peter J

I wasn't sure were to put this, but I guess the EK would get the most attraction . I have a couple of EK minis, but none of them equal the details on this one, the beading is outstanding. The non-combatant ribbon is of no disadvantage KR Peter

Here'a an ugly duckling KR Peter

Gentlemen, due to some unexpected illness, my friend Lars isn't able to attend to this thread. I'm sure he will respond as soon as he gets better. KR Peter

Ed, didn't mean do obfuscate the wiewers, I wrongly assumed you meant all Persian Orders. Mike, we seem to share the same thoughts in regards of quality KR Peter

Ed, if this is an improvement, I think they did a poor job KR Peter

Thanks Mike, great comparison shot. I buy your theory about a long period of production, accounting for the need of a 2nd obverse die. KR Peter

Rick, this has probably been brought to your attention before but I'll say it again, you are a living encyclopedia . I greatly appreciate your response. KR Peter

Thanks Rick . With the presence of the Centenarmedaille, I suppose I should have considered that possibility . I guess this bar was made before 1913 due to the early LS ribbon. Could you please elaborate on the "ahead of its time"-part a bit further, as I'm trying to catch up on ribbon bars. KR Peter

Getting older isn't always that bad . This little beauty arrived the other day from my favorite Stuttgart resident, Christian, thanks mate . I can't recall I've ever seen this type with angled edges, similar to the normal size bars. KR Peter

Hi Robert, I can't really speak for the box, but I've definately seen the badge before and wouldn't mind adding it to my collection KR Peter

Thanks for sharing Don . I agree to your comparison regarding the reverse, but the obverse doesn't look too bad. I noticed in Werlich's book that there were several variations on this order and the two pictured had the face of Bolivar facing to the right and also different in design. The order pictured below is of a third design, facing to the left. Are the variations mentioned by Werlich related to this difference in the heads and can the date of issue also be detemined by this? KR Peter

Very nice badge John . Here's a thought for consideration. We often discuss whether a manufacturer used different dies for the same badge, this has failed to come to my attention in regards of WW1 era badges. I suppose it would be logical that this occured with these badges as well. The badge posted below looks the same at first glance, but there are anomalies big enough to rule out they have been struck in the same die.This is also marked with the Meybauer logo under the pin. So do we have different dies or is one of these two badges a fake? KR Peter

Hey buddy, You should know, I got it from you . Correct, it's a "J" and most probably related to youth. Had this type of badge any connection to any TR period badge or is it newly instituted? Same with #4. There was actually one TR badge with he letters DSB, but it had additional dates 1933-36, Goldene Ehrennadel der Deutschen Sportbeh?rde f?r Leichtathletik. KR Peter

Here are four pins for your consideration. I have no problems with the 1st (Deutsches Reichsportabz.) or the 2nd (57er version of the same). The other two are unknown to me though. Both are marked Lauer, N?rnberg and my guess is that they are some kind of 57er member-pins of Deutsches Sport Bund. Any thoughts? KR Peter

Eitze, I believe you picked the right answer . With the activities of his wife Anne-Lise in mind, manufacturing his own buttons doesn't seem too far fetched KR Peter

Let's see if you can figure this one out KR Peter

Robert, finding TR related items in a cigar box was more than plausible in my early collecting days. The thrill of the hunt is long since gone . It's nice to see that there is still some hope. Nice find KR Peter

Don, I echo that. These badges might very well be legit, but there are way too many available on the market. Nice drawer KR Peter

Hi Douglas, I have no elaborated opinion, only my gut-feeling: no. The ribbon though is not correct, the 1943 issue should have a narrow white stripe in the middle. KR Peter

Hi Joe, If I'm not mistaken this is the DRL/NSRL "Ehrennadel f?r verdienstvolle Mitarbeit". I'm sure someone will verify whether this is correct or not. A rarely seen object KR Peter

Pat, that pin has been cut deliberately, notice the sharp angled edges. KR Peter

Mike, it's not easy to know what foot to stand on, when it comes to 1957 miniatures . My thoughts on pre-45 minis are not a problem and until I ran into this "strange" piece, nor was the 1957. Although the details occasionally can be quite astonishing on a 57er, the shiny appearance is usually consistant and a dead giveaway. The specific metal used for these minis is unknown to me, not zinc or "kriegsmetall", which I believe the "strange" combo is made of. With the exception of the one shown by me, I've never seen a 57er with the curled type of pin, normally seen on the pre-45 minis. One explaination could be "spare parts", as seen with i.g. 1957 Deutsches Kreuz, but that won't hold water. There was no WB 1939 without swastika! Your suggestion that there were different manufacturing techniques over time regarding 1957 minis, would possibly explain the exsistance of my ugly duckling and put my mind at ease . So if there are any other zinc 57ers out there, with the type of pin seen on my 1939 WB combo, please bring them on KR Peter

For crying out loud, I'm getting senile . Just realized that I have this 57er NS Reichkriegerbund pin and what do you know, the same manufacturer! KR Peter

Hi Mike, Thanks for sharing, first MM 57er mini for me as well . I presume the larger set has a 16mm RK and two 12mm EK's and the smaller one a 12mm RK and two 9mm EK's. Now that 57er minis are on the agenda, here's one that has puzzled me for years. It's a combo, EK2 1914 and WB 1957 . I know this combination is plausible, but I can't figure out the date of manufacture. The pin is the horse-shoe type (some have an issue with this type, I don't) and the metal consistant with what I would expect from a pre-45 manufacture. The same goes for the pin. The image on the far right is for comparison. Are there any other minis out there, with the features represented on my combo? KR Peter

Hi Pat, I'm not too excited about the NSRL pin. There are a couple of features on these pins that I would expect to be consistant on all original pieces i.g. there is a distinct center ridge above the swastika, the tips of the feathers form a straight line at the bottom, the top of the "shoulders" are squared and there are visible claws. With the four anomalies featured on your pin, I would be very hesitant. But hey, I might be wrong, but always open for new information KR Peter