CRBeery

Thank you all for your comments! It is really nice to share something like this with those that have shared so many nice items in the past. My collection grows one item at a time. I still stray but I come back to Imperial every time. I blame you guys and that is not a bad thing.

It was a rare find to come across a five place medal bar that fills five voids in my collection.

The interior.

The little red case Rick mentioned.

This is why I stay in Imperial. I do not think I would pay the extra money from a dealer for one of these. This was the only way one of these would fall into my collection.

Tomorrow marks another yearly gathering in my town of antique peddlers. About three years ago I went expecting to find my usual nothing. To my surprise there was a military dealer there. I bought about 8 items from him. One item was this poor rusty, beat-up bar that nobody wanted. I bought it as I was leaving around 2:00. It was $60 and I figured I could strip the medals off and scrap the bar and still get my money back. I checked before I bought it and was disappointed that the EK2 was not marked. Sad to say - IT TOOK ME 8 HOURS TO NOTICE THE 3!!!

Rick,

Feel free to come and visit anytime you want. I figured you had seen this a couple of owners ago.

The 3-D construction of the Bavarian Michael the Brave is one of the best details I have found in Imperial medals. Unique does not cover it !

Another detail I love about this bar is that the silver is taking on that rainbow effect that happens as patina forms. I will not clean it off. It is so subtle but a great bit of character.

The finale two. The Albertskreuz is one with the seperate medallions. These are priced higher in Nimmergut and on dealer sights. I own this multi-piece kreuz and a one piece and in my opinion they multi-piece is WELL worth the extra money. The detail is far superior.

The Inhaber Kreuz. This is the only one I have ever seen mounted.

A little closer on the first two. They are a tad hard to find, even more so mounted!

The back side per the request from Rick.

Here is newer bar to my collection. It is one of those pieces that just speaks to me and calms my inner child. I had to do some better pictures before posting it. Sorry to all of those that have been squinting at my avatar trying to see this.

Bill,

I found the information in Uniforms and Insignia of the Luftwaffe Volume one: 1933-1940 by Brian L. Davis. This is covered on pages 64-65. If you do not have this book let me know and I will try to get the information to you. There is only a line drawing of the armband in the book.

Thanks,

Chet

Another set from me. They did not come together. The medal bar came from one of my bad sources that turns up a keeper a couple of times a year. I think the ribbon bar is from Stogieman.

Ralph,

That is a great surprise! An early EK2 to boot!

I forgot this one. I did not buy it for the NSDAP awards. The third ribbon under close inspection is the Danzig cross. A rare one to find. I think the original owner had a very short left leg so he should be easy to spot in photos!

Here is my duo. John beats me to the punch every time. I have purchased a new camera since I took this so sorry for the poor quality. The 10 year is aluminum which I like better than the zinc ones.

OK, time for someone else to post some. I am about done with my little collection. I have a couple more and a few that are now gone. I have been selling off some of these smaller bars as a larger brother shows up. The St. Henry is one exception but I REALLY like those. My collection is just now evolving to be more than a majority of these little bars. I find that I tend to keep "pure" ones but anything with the Hindenburg Cross is liable to go.

I will end with my little gem. I know I have posted it before but I like it. Thanks for you comment about it Wild Card.

Chet

Another one. BIG for a 2 place!

Bavaria - you didn't think I forgot them did you?

2X from the Non-comm thread. Ex-Stogieman piece.

Here is one that I keep wanting to sell but never do. I like them this clean.

I know the middle ribbon is wrong but these are a little hard to find mounted.

I think this bar may have come from Rick also.

My friend Gerd helped me get this one. A very nice and clean set.