Danny70

Hi All... Firstly, If this is posted in the incorrect place, I apologise and can it please be moved. This is my first venture into this section and I know absolutely nothing about these helmets. It may not be American at all.... but I do not know what other countries used these. Today I just happened to buy, completely on impulse , a cheap (what looks to me) M1 helmet. Only, this one has 6 rivets holding a leather liner (something similar to the German WW2 liners). It has no stampings that I can see, except a painted stencil inside the dome of: 3 59 57. It's chinstrap is connected by a swivel catch to the helmet itself . The fastner has a stamp of a diamond shape with ther letters 'oLc' (see pictures). It doesn't look like an american set-up at all, so if anyone can tell me just what I have landed myself with, I would be most grateful! Thanks in advance for any comments or opinions. Regards - Danny

Hi Naoki, good to meet you too! Yes, I'm an EK collector also, but just EK2's as yet.... One day, hopefully I will have some crosses as nice as yours! - Danny

Congratulations Naoki, You have a great collection of beautiful EK's... I'm jealous!! Regards - Danny

Welcome to GMIC Paul, It's good to have you here, and thanks for the link to your website. I haven't previously seen pictures comparing these medals with the fakes. Thanks for giving me the opportunity. Regards - Danny

Yes, It's Hobachter in my list aswell. - Danny

HOLY S***!!! Micha... My jaw has just dropped onto the keyboard!! That is a SERIOUSLY impressive collection.... I love the display cabinet aswell!! Regards - Danny

Thanks Micha for the kind comments, I'm glad you approve! Since this one arrived, I'm beginning to warm towards Souval crosss! Regards - Danny

Thanks Joel! Hope you find something good!! You guys are lucky, military shows are non-existant in my neck of the woods! Regards - Danny.

Thanks Richard for the kind comments! I love the patina aswell... cleaned and polished crosses just don't do it for me, I prefer to see them with their age showing! As to my other crosses, I have: (Marked crosses) 3 - Wilhelm Deumer. 4 - Steinhauer & Luck. 7 - Paul Meybauer. 11 - Grossmann & Co. 13 - Gustav Brehmer (x2) 21 - Godet & Co. 23 - Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Heresbedarf in der Graveur-u Ziseleurinnung. 24 - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plaketten-Hersteller. (x3) 25 - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur-Gold und Silber- chemide Innungen. 27 - Anton Schenkl's Nachfolger. 40 - Berg & Nolte. 44 - Jakob Bengel. 55 - J.E. Hammer & Sohn. 65 - Klein & Quenzer. 75 - Franke & Co. 76 - Ernst E. Muller. 98 - Rudolf Souval. 106 - Bruder Schneider. 113 - Hermann Aurich. 120 - Franz Petzl. 122 - J.J. Stahl. 125 - Eugen Gauss. 137 - J.H. Werner. Unmarked but identified crosses: 6 - Fritz Zimmermann. 24 - Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plaketten-Hersteller. 65 - Klein & Quenzer (x2) 98 - Rudolf Souval. (x2) 100 - Wachtler & Lange. (x2) & Schinkelform - one piece. Unidentified unmarked crosses (x8) & 1914 EK2's (x6) That's my EK collection as yet, but the search continues!! Regards - Danny

And finally, the maker mark.... I think it's pretty safe to say that it is a '98'.

Reverse:

Obverse:

Hi All.... Here's another of my recent purchases up for scrutiny... a maker marked Souval. I already had a few unmarked examples of Souval framed crosses, and to be honest, they were never my favourites. But when a marked example came along, what choice had I?!!, these are not to be seen everyday. What I do like about this one is the heavy patina.... the frame is almost completely black. There is some typical (for the maker) paint loss to the core is loose and rattling under the frame. It has all the characteristics of a textbook Souval.... distinctive cornices and rounded inner corners on beading, jump ring not soldered on the reverse, die flaw on top left hand side beading of 12 o'clock arm and slightly off-centre date. The maker mark on the suspension ring, while stamped at an angle and not completely legible, does show a clear '9' and the bottom half of what could be a '6' or an '8'. Taking into account all its other obvious characteristics, I have no problem in proclaiming this one to be a marked '98'. As usual, all comments and opinions, be they good or bad, are appreciated. Regards - Danny

I agree Dave, and IMO all the features (especially the beading) of the '75' are very distinctive... a very easy maker to spot.... mind you, I can't say I recall seeing any unmarked examples of one in the recent past! Thanks again to everyone. Regards - Danny

No Alex, I compared the two crosses this evening and although somewhat similar, there are many differences. So, definitely not a common core. Regards - Danny

Thanks everyone for all the very kind comments! It's great to hear positive feedback about a purchase. Joel - what do you mean "a chance to find a decent cross?"!!... I still can't forgive you for grabbing that beautiful '66'!!! Alex - I was staring at your cross trying to work out why the beading looked so different to the my 75! The '76' marked crosses were made by Ernst Muller of Pforzheim, the beading is of a better standard than on the 75's. They are one of my favourite makers. Here's my '76', not as clean as your example, but I like them with a bit of wear! Regards - Danny

Incused relief maker mark (on distorted suspension ring):

Reverse:

Obverse:

Hi All... I haven't posted anything in a while, so I thought I would put one of my more recent EK pick-ups up for opinions. A maker marked '75', previously classified an 'unknown' maker, but now regarded to be made by Franke & Co. of L?denscheid (this is still being debated in certain circles). These crosses were considered one of the less seen makers, but lately they have been popping up a lot more frequently. (It makes me wonder!) The '75' is a very distinctive looking cross with unusual beading and a very 'chunky' pyramidal/beveled swastika. It has a die flaw running horizontally across the beading on the lower left side of the 6 o'clock arm. This one is a very clean example, with only a tiny piece of paint loss on the swastika, however, I think the swastika may have at some point been 'touched-up', as there seems to be a slight trace of a dribble from the base. Another tell-tale sign is a small paint blob on the suspension ring (see photo: just below the maker mark) which matches the paint colour exactly. The suspension ring itself is bent out of shape, but not broken. It has on its reverse an unusual looking 'dot', which is not stamped, but raised. It may only be an accidental drop of solder from the closing of the ring, but still, its regular appearance makes it look like it could be intentional. This is one of a small batch of marked crosses I have purchased of late and I hope to find the time soon to put the others up for comment. So, any opinions or comments are much appreciated. Regards - Danny

I'm no expert, but that is most definitely a fake! Regards - Danny

Nice find Joel! As far as I am aware, Friedrich Keller '66' marked crosses are rare enough! It's good to see you back into the TR EKII's, although, I wish I had found it first!!! Regards - Danny

Sure was Dave! At that price I couldn't let it pass!!