JBeltram

Hello, I would like to share with you this EK I got in the mail today. I have always wanted one to frame with a U-boat document set I bought from Gordon a few years back. Any ideas who the maker is? Regards, Jody

Hi Gordon, Those are two absolutley wonderful pieces. I hope to someday add a RK des Kvk with swords to the version I have without swords. I loved those cased minis. You have some great stuff! Regards, Jody

Hi Bob, Thank you. I have owned this badge since 1980 or so, I have really have not seen too many with gilt as nice as this. When it comes to KM badges, I am very pciky and want them as mint as possible. Regards, Jody

Hello, Nice Highs Seas Fleet badges. Here is my example by Schwerin Berlin. Regards, Jody

Here is the reverse. Notice the odd ball maker mark. Once again, does anyone have any ideas? Regards, Jody

Hello, Here is another Imperial U-boat that I used to own. The badge was zinc, and I still never figured out who the maker was. Does anyone have any idea? Regards, Jody

Here is a close-up of the maker mark. Jody

Here is the reverse. Jody.

Hello, Here is another Schott U-boat badge. This is in my collection. Regards, Jody

Hello, To begin with the US Civil War was about how far the rights of the state should go and where does the power of the federal government end and begin. Lincoln was anti-slavery (was not on the ballot in 10 southern states in 1860), but he did not want to end slavery in 1860. Lincoln wanted to restrict slavery to new states coming into the union. Lincoln wanted to prevent another "bleeding Kansas". Keep in mind when the US Civil War began, border states that stayed in the union like Maryland and Kentucky could still retain their slaves. Even the Emacipation Proclamation did not free slaves in these border states (that came later on in the war). The Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in states that were in rebellion with the union and were occupied by federal troops. Once federal troops entered Confederate territory the Emancipation Proclamtion came into effect. Slavery was far from being on the decline at the start of the US Civil War. Even though shipping slaves from Afirca had ended by the early 1800's, slavery had increased in the South with the invention of the cotton gin (Ralph pointed that out). The cotton gin allowed more lint to be removed from the cotton, as a result cotton production increased and the need for more slaves to farm and harvest it. As a result, the South could sell more cotton to nations like Great Britain. By the late 1840's slave families were now being split up more and more. Slave marriages were not considered to be legal in the South, but Southern owners stilll allowed it, as the famous Ken Burns documentary put it, slaves wedding vows now had in them "till death or distance do you part". That shows how easy it was by the late 1850's to have the family unit broken up and sold. In states like Mississippi when the war began almost 7 out of 10 people belonged to someone else. So slavery (particularly in the cotton states) was far from being on the decline in the South at the start of the Civil War. After Lincoln's death on April 15, 1865, most free blacks and former slaves did hold Lincoln in high regard. Lincoln did not believe in giving them full rights but he did support given black males the right to vote (no women had the right to vote in the US and the 19th amedment was far off). When it came to picking last names, most African Americans picked known names like Jefferson and Washington. The reason Lincoln's name was not picked is simple. Lincoln was too current and most blacks felt too close to him to use his last name and which many felt they could not live up to it. Probably a reason why caucasions don't name their boys Jesus. In many of the black churches in the later 19th and early 20th century Lincoln's picture did hang in these churches and in many times shared the same wall with the Christian cross. Lyndon B. Johnson was a politician first and knew that the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act would help secure the black vote not only in the south but in the north where blacks for years had voted Republican. That part worked, for most blacks today are members of the Democratic party. I think in the last election one news poll said it was almost 89%. Keep in mind the Civil Right Act did not pass when JFK was president and the reason it passed in 1964, wasn't so much support of LBJ, but to pay homage to the dead president. Still many southerners and some Republicans like Barry Goldwater of Arizona did not vote for it. The 1964 Civil Rights Act did one other thing it helped change the political demographics of the US. In 1964, a majority of whites in the South voted Democrat. By 1968 the Republican party was getting a hold on white Southerners. Many of these dis-gruntled white Southerners helped to make up President Nixon's "silent majority" in the 68 and 72 elections. Now the South is the stronghold of the Republican party and the Eastern states are now a Democrat stronghold. There were exceptions like Carter and Clinton, but still the demogrpahics have changed. Look at George W. Bush a white Republican from Texas. Look at the red and blue states from the 2004 election. Demogrpahics like that would of been unheard of 40+ years ago. My family is a good example, they were Democrats and hailed from the South. My grandmother was as hard core Democrat as you could get. Things changed by 1964. Since then my family has voted Republican in every election beginning in 1968. The only exception was 1996 election (Clinton vs Dole) they were split on that. So the 1964 Civil Rights Act not only gave African Americans a better way of life it helped change the political back drop of this country. So the US Civil War had a long arm. Well I am done rambling. Regards, Jody

Hi Gordon, Thank you very much. I like it a lot as well. This badge was actually given to me years ago. Regards, Jody

Hi Rick, Very interesting and I think you are on to something. Rick would you please e-mail me at jodybeltram@cox.net I need to ask you something. Many thanks, Jody

Hello, It is a 100% good zinc ball-hinge Flak badge. In my opinion, the early ball-hinge flak badge is the nicest made and probably one of the first types awarded. It can be easily spotted in early photos of men wearing the flak badge. You can keep the Junckers and Brehmers, I will take a ball-hinge anyday. Regards, Jody

Here is the reverse. Jody

Hello, Great crosses. Has anyone seen this type of variant before? This was veteran obtained in 2000. Regards, Jody

Hello, Police long sevice awards rank as some of my most favorite awards. Here is my contribution. Here is an example that is rather tough to find on a bar. The 8 year Police award. I have noticed that most medal bars have the 25 year or 18 year. I wonder why the 8 year is so tough to find on a medalbar? Regards, Jody

Hello, Here is my 1st pattern by Schwerin Berlin. Regards, Jody

Hello, Here is my Schwerin berlin example. Regards, Jody

Hello, Here is my coastal by Schwerin. It was vaulted by the original owner. Regards, Jody

Hello folks, Great badges and the destroyer happens to be one of my favorites. Here is my example by Schwerin Berlin. If I may say it is one of the best gold examples I have seen. This is one badge I would probably never sell. Regards, Jody

Hi folks, Great stuff, here is my Schwerin hallmarked example. Regards, Jody