Farkas

Well Gents, I’ve looked into this for ages now… there is no recognised maker known to use GW. There are a few German makers including Wellner who it could match, after all KTK were made for veterans in the 30’s and GW could be one of them but there is one reference claiming to identify it. I still wouldn’t bet the mortgage on this because it was/is only one reference in a ‘for sale’ ad, however it is an Austrian maker and who am I to discount it. Graham, thanks for this 👆, it was the 18 that led me to it, it was also a wound medal, apparently marked GW&18 and representing Grossman, Vienna. Though other Grossman marks exist and no records of this one does… I’m going with Grossman. cheers tony

Absolutely, I’ve got a sentimental inclination, which is why (luckily for my wallet) I happy with the small items. Examples... When I bought this little shaving kit i just fancied it. Embossed initials JAT. When it arrived it unexpectedly had the badge with it and when i enquired i was then told it had belonged to a WW2 RAF Pilot, who knows eh but maybe? Of note, some of the razor blades are American. —-///—— Cheers tony 🍻

Hi Gents, i knew i had one medal tucked away somewhere... i have a note with it just saying ‘veteran organisation medal’, it’s nice to see from the previous posts that this had more significance, won not awarded, and gave its recipient a proud smile no doubt. Now i just have to go through my pin badges with a new eye too. cheers tony 🍻

Hi Gents, Photobomber top right ☝️ tony 🍻

Any chance you saved a picture 1812 ? tony 🍻

Hi Igor, I can’t really see too well but looks like a pattern in a single diamond shaped stamp, i’d expect more for a hallmark, possibly this is only the jewellers makers mark? I know the French were keen on diamond shaped ones but that’s all I can say without a better look… if you can post a better angle of it that would be 👍 & What medal is it Igor? cheers tony

I was surprised that ‘Gebruder’ was such a frequently found name amongst medal makers… you live and learn 😊

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Thanks Dan, I didn’t know what it was but it looked great! I think the fact they wrongly listed it as a Japanese navy cap meant it slipped under the radar of its true market… luckily for me! cheers tony

Thanks Danijla, always good to know what’s what… In the UK we have a Royal Fleet Auxillary that supports the RN. Would the Soviet merchant marine fleet have supported the Soviet navy in any regular capacity? The cap only cost £8 & made no mention of the name or B448 written on it, it wasn’t used to boost the price. So could that still be relevant in your opinion? Thanks for your help 👍 tony 🍻

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I bet you there is a return guarantee to exploit…😉

Is that AbeBooks one the real deal? at 130 its worth it if your picture is in it but if it isn’t... 🥺

Good suggestion, I found this excellent page about the Wellner family business history, there was a business partner called Gaedt and a brother called Gustav, ‘Chief smelter’, so a few more G possibilities 👍 https://www.ascasonline.org/articoloMARZ155.html tony🍻

Cheers Graf 🍻

The other day me and my Mum actually saw a copper wearing his helmet and he had no hi-vis on either. He looked great, a fine figure of a man. As you say they’re a sorry looking bunch nowadays... tony 🍻

Seems appropriate then to buy it for yourself... i hear you’ve been a good boy this year. Just promise to ‘pay yourself back’ a pound a day til your birthday & sorted. Seriously, It actually seems to be a scarce book, it would go nicely with that lovely piece you have. But otherwise there’s this 👇 It’s cheaper but in Australia & in the description it says ‘facsimile edition’... from 1987? You really should get one of them tony 🍻 PS Georg Michael Kirn 1810 - 1882

Yes, that’s exactly the mark Graham... Thanks for looking Graf, I couldn’t find a name for it, the few examples i found were ‘unidentified’ and i wanted to make sure those sources were upto date, so thanks 👍👍 So Gents, i think i may have cracked it 🤞 But what do think of this suggestion?👇 Gottlieb Wellner A German silversmiths which operated until 1946 from, some sources say, 1850. (but certainly existed by 1900) The usual mark attributed to them is GOWE At times a different GW mark (also seen above) was used 👇 by them. I don’t believe that 2 different coexisting firms would ever use the same letters for their marks. So.,. I dont think attributing these medals and this GW mark to Gottlieb Wellner is too much of a stretch, especially as no other matches for the initials GW are apparent. What do you think? All thoughts and opinions welcomed as always 👍 cheers tony 🍻

When’s your birthday? 😊

Hi Gents, i’ve got a couple of Karl Truppen Kreuz with a GW makers mark and as far as i know the maker is unidentified. Has anyone got a GW mark or maybe even know who it is? cheers tony

My pleasure K.A. 😊 tony 🍻 PS, one last thought… the French for phoenix is ‘phoenix’ & for order it is ‘ordre’ I’d say whoever wrote that translation was ‘thinking’ in Greek not French & (likely) The recorded translation was provided during the 1927 visit, by a Greek who knew French. ((During the early 20th century French was the only compulsory language in Greek schools.)) (That’s all now I promise 😁) t 🍻

Very much official… That was unexpected! 👉 A German record, in French, for a non existent Greek ‘Commander superior of the palm battalion’… I said several times I felt the entry must have been informal/flippant. But clearly not. I enjoyed looking for clues about this the other night. I (of course) enjoyed finding the Phoenix link. So I thought I’d have another go armed with this different new viewpoint. If “battaillon de palmier” is used in the officially recorded title, there must be a explanation other than as ‘a joke’? I had already looked but I looked again… & found it. 👉 “Modern Greek military ranks are based on Ancient Greek and Byzantine terminology. In the army and Air Force, these names are often based on the unit or post that a holder of each rank usual commands. For example, a tagmatarchis is in charge of a tagma, which is derived from an Ancient Greek word translatable as "command", "order", or "class", and in modern Greek is a unit equivalent to a battalion in other armies; “ So, by my reckoning, we’ve got Superior Commander = Grand Commander Bataillon = Order Palmier = Phoenix Thats 3 for 3 now matched 👍👍 tony 🍻

Hi Gents, I’ve picked this up along the way. It’s a commemorative piece, a paperweight I would guess, presented by the Uruguay Naval Academy/school. It a nice chunky thing, 20 mm thick. With the face measuring 12cm x 8cm. A heavy stone, marble I think, with a cloth backing. The inscription roughly translates as… ‘To/For British Naval Attaché Captain Gerard D Van Someren To remember your visit.’ XII 1969 I so like random things like this. I like this because it’s a personal item, regardless of its origin or significance. To think, it’s survived for 50+ years, then it’s unwanted… but a sentimental little hoarder like me comes along, pays £5 and now it’s safe again, it’s in the sun again (on my window sill) and both it and the name of Captain Gerard D Van Someren are recorded ‘forever’ here on the GMIC. Whats not to like about that 🍻

The details are much sharper than on mine, I’m glad I had Elmars evaluation before I saw it… 😊 A reminder of the differences amongst the ‘same’ piece and the need for friends to help assess such things. 👍 tony 🍻

Well… I thought it is P M and surname starting Kir with one or maybe two more letters P.M. Kir… does not exist. The first letter looks like a P should but it also looks like a G could so I’m gonna stick my neck out and say… G.M. Kirn he does/did exist tony 🍻 zzz