laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, whilst dabbling in Saxon orders and decorations I often came across the manufacturers Scharffenberg and Glaser&Sohne who produced well into WW2. Scharffenberg did produce medalbars after 1939, and Glaser&Sohne made FEK's. Did their companies survive the firebombing of Dresden in 1945 and are the companies still producing? I did manage to find some info on Glaser still working, but the info seemed scarce and the pictures bad, unlike Hemmerle&co from München who still produce in the building they were in 100 years ago. Kind regards, and thanks in advance, Laurentius

Reminds me of the theft of Hitler's Golden party badge in Moscow. Apparently some Russian mobster has a love for medals and decorations. With Dresden being close to a highway to the Netherlands and Poland the chance these are ever seen again is dismal. I don't believe this piece will be taken apart and melted down. Luckily (relatively) this will hopefully be the centre-piece of a collection.

Dear TJLA, most third class pieces are gold, whilst only some are silver gilt. Colour would be the first indicator. Next to that there would also be other awards in their respective grades, together with the rank insignae of the officer. Most of the rules we collectors take years to master were written down in handy books for officers, as to not emberass themselves. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear TJLA, the difference between a 3rd class and a 4th class is the flames. Third class has flames which are screwed in, and fourth class has them made together with the cross body. I believe your piece is a 4th class. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear Peter, although the miniature-chain and the ribbonbars are lovely, I personally don't think they belong together. Why would a miniature-chain miss several decorations from imperial Germany itself, but instead feature a foreign award? Sure, some might suggest that the DA and the Centenary-medal aren't worthy, or important enough to be on a chain, but would this also go for a BMVO4x or a SEHO? Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear GGH, although awards seem plentiful on this miniature, I fear an identification shall not be possible. If the crown and swords indicate a HOHx, which I doubt, that would only gives us an HOHx, EK2, HT, and an ÖMVK, because all other decorations can't be used for identification. This combination alone would still leave dozens of possible recipients. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, whilst browsing another forum I came across A14 cores, which are modified EK1870 cores. Would any of the EK collectors be able to help me understand this? What are the charastaristics and how do you recognize it? Kind regards, Laurentius

I shall refrain from saying anything, but I would advice you to watch this short video

Regarding the St. henry, I'm fairly certain this would be an RK, and not the medal. Especially combined with the other orders.

If this person is indeed a civilian working in the government he wouldn't have received a zentenarenmedaille, which was only given to members of the standing army, the navy, and veterans of 1870/1871. Someone of noble birth, with a civilian career and a short warservice in the rank of a Oberleutnant/Hauptmann seems fitting for this ribbonbar. Kind regards, Laurentius

@Utgardloki I found the picture As I said, the true embodiment of badass, the Bruce Willis of his time. This general, whose picture was taken in 1918, is wearing an enlisted men's belt and bayonet, a helmet and an 'old-style' ribbonbar. This picture would also go great in the other thread about the Johanniter Orden. Kind regards, Laurentius

They weren't forbidden, there are some pictures of them being used after 1915. However, they noticed that officers were being picked off by French snipers who knew that one of those big coloury pieces of metal on an officer's chest was a sure sign of a commanding person, so they'd shoot him. Cut off the snake's head, that kind of logic. I remember a picture posted on this forum by @Rick Research a long time ago. It was a picture of a general (the literal embodiment of a badass) with an old-style ribbonbar, an enlisted men's belt and a bayonet. I can't seem to find the picture, but if anyone knows or remembers this post by Rick could you be so kind to post the picture? Much appreciated. Kind regards, Laurentius

First of all I would like to apologize to mister Beery for hijacking his topic. I fully agree with Sandro here, a certain arrogance, which has no place in this forum meant for learning. The fact that FAR32 even dared to doubt our English skills is most insulting. It is indeed this arrogance which is unnecessary, but nevertheless present. When several members of this forum (myself included) where discussing in another thread the Bavarian ribbonbar owned by @Nicolas7507 he claimed high and mighty that there was no such thing as a wreath for a Crown Order 3rd class. When we asked you to eloborate you told us this was told to you by a famous Austrian collector, who apparently has a lacking knowledge when it comes to German ribbonbars because Nicolas and I were quick to prove you wrong with facts, with pictures, of actual ribbonbars with proper wreaths for the Crown Order 3rd class. It was only after this moment that you were willing to concede that the only source you used might have been wrong, and that we might have been right. This is not the way in which collectors help and teach others. I have a sincere hope, that in future, we will be able to discuss and talk in a proper manner once more, about German orders and decorations. Kind regards, Laurentius

I have to agree here with Sandro, we must all behave ourselves in a proper manner, this is a gentlemen's forum after all.

Junior officer, leutnant or oberleutnant. He either quit service after 1907, or he didn't bother to update his ribbonbar. He had been serving atleast since 1897. Kind regards, Laurentius

I agree here with ixhs, this bar has a RAO4 or a KO4. This is a so called 'old-style' ribbonbar and these were worn untill 1915. Some functioned solely as ribbonbars, but others functioned both as medal- and ribbonbars, usually with hooks on the back. A lovely piece, finding something related to a non-com RAO or KO is rare. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, would anyone be able to help me with this officer? I came across this picture on the internet, his rankboards indicate 2nd lieutenant, but his awards are pointing towards a hauptmann rank. Did he perhaps have a higher rank in civilian life, or has he been demoted? Kind regards, and thanks in advance, Laurentius

Dear Dave Danner, If I remember correctly what Rick Research said one time, backed up with info from the late Eric Ludvigsen, that the RAO came before the KO, but this changed around 1900 when emperor Wilhelm II started awarding the KO before the RAO. Here is a chart of awardnumbers of the KO We can see a gradual increase from around 1885/1890 onward, when Wilhelm II became emperor. I believe the roles of the RAO and the KO switched here. When we see medalbars of junior officers who started after 1905 we often see the KO, but not a RAO. This is logical ofcourse, they didn't yet have a long career. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear Roman, very interesting, and thank you for your excellent explanation. I do have one question, these men of IR 55, where they all wounded in the same battle or on the same day, or was this a retrospective ceremony for those who had been wounded since the beginning of the war? I do hope the loves of Braunschweig won't mind my questions Kind regards, and thanks in advance, Laurentius

Dear Solomon, lovely bar, as always. I do have one question, did the Military Merit Medal always have to be returned after receiving the war merit cross? Only yesterday I saw a lovely medalbar with both. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, I recently received a German medalbar with an Austrian Gold Merit Cross (without crown). What kind of rank in the German army received this award. Were the rules loosely the same as the German ones (members of other nations received one class higher than their counterparts)? Kind regards, and thanks in advance, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, here I have two pictures, one of the medalbar with the jubilee medal clearly visible, and one with the Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont wearing it on a pre-ww1 medalbar. Kind regards, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, I am looking for information on Otto Griepenkerl, all I know at the moment is that he had the rank of general, and his date of birth and death (1852 and 1930) Kind regards, and thanks in advance, Laurentius

Dear fellow collectors, here is a picture of the medalbar of the last prince of Waldeck-pyrmont, Prince Friedrich Adolf. He was the brother of the Dutch Queen-regent Emma. He doubtlessly had more international familymembers, most likely thje reason he also received the jubilee medal. It is the last medal on the medalbar, sadly, I took the picture from the wrong angle ?. I know that there are pictures on the internet of the bar, where you can see the medal better. In another case in the museum was another version of the jubilee medal, on a female bowribbon, which most likely belonged to his wife. Kind regards, laurentius

Dear FAR32, first of all I'd like to say that the picture of the Order of the Iron Crown with wreath is not mine. It comes from a database on this website, set up by the late Rick Lundstrom, for future research into ribbonbars. It would be an understatement to say that Rick would be excited to see this thread. I believe we have struck a most interesting topic here (Nicholas must hate us for hijacking his thread). It doesn't surprise me that the device on the ribbonbar posted by me comes from a different medal. This was often done by tailors (as mentioned by you, with the wreath of the Wurttembergian MVO). This is a lovely ribbonbar, one of the few originals, however, I do not think this piece is representative for Orders of the Iron Crown given to Germans, since the recipient here was Austrian (although German at the time the ribbonbar was made). I have a few more examples I'd like you to take a look at. They are pictured below (the pictures themselves do not belong to me, I do not actively collect ribbonbars). If what you say is true ( only improvised wreaths) than what would you say of the first of the two Order of the Iron Crowns here? It matches your description perfectly. It is only laurel, and it is half open (not opened like my previous example). Kind regards, Laurentius