Ferg1

Hi , yes those are much clearer pictures and having said that I feel that the badge is good. Probably 1920's.Ferg1.

Hi Eric, I think that Mike is right , a few more detailed shots would be useful, but IMO on first impressions the badge looks suspect. The finish around the edge on the reverse looks rough, also the hinge block too. The front details around the inner and outer edges of the wreath look vague and worrying! Something doesn't feel quite about the whole thing. Need better pics please ! Ferg1.

Hi guys,here is an EK I picked up at the weekend, seems to be almost devoid of a ridge around the outer beading but most interesting is the placement of the 800 silber mark ( reverse bottom edge). Anyone seen this before? Ferg1.

Hi Lee, yes the badges are the same maker. The base metal is the same but one is more worn than the other. One has more of the frosting lacquer remaining than the other thats all. Ferg1.

Hi Lee, base metal looks to be brass or ' buntmetall ' . It is very likely that yours is the same as this is quite a commonly seen example. Note the die fault area in the right side crown arch ( slightly lumpy) this seems to be on most of the ones I have seen to a greater or lesser degree ,so I assume that the ones with less of a ' lump ' are earlier than the others. I have also seen an observer badge with this mark on too , indicating one basic badge stamping ( pilot) being used for the four types of qualification award. The centre would be removed and the required centre applied i.e. rayed centre for observer,flat plate for airgunner and eagle for retired pilot ,(the land scape was left on this badge). The observer I saw had a 1930's type enamel plaque so I assume either the dies were still being used by this firm in the 30's or the plaque had been replaced. The two badges I show are from the same die one has been slightly ' under pressed ' giving rise to slight lack of hard detail on extreme high points, but hey ..... Ferg1.

Thanks Rick, it is a nice quality piece. Eric, I have not seen anything other than these lapel pins with the veteran airshipper association initails on MLV . Maybe there are full size pieces of these but I somehow doubt it ! I think that the full size pieces would have been the commemorative zeppelin badge itself. Ferg1.

Here is my latest arrival courtsey of Ebay , and a snip at the price too ! MLV stickpin ( Marine Luftschiffer Verein) Old airshippers club !! Ferg1.

Hi Alex , it has the title of Erinnerungszeichen fur offiziere und mannschaften die nicht unter die mobilmachung fallen, in other words ,as far as I understand, it was given to indviduals who had trained and attained pilot status prior to August 1914 but were required to return to their army unit/duties at the time of mobilization. Apparently very few were given out and the bestowel is somewhat obscure/vague. D. Chaliffs book (for what it is worth) mentions that the details regarding the badges issuing appeared in a 1914 edition of the ' Armeeverordnungsblatt ' . Of course, there are plenty of fakes and copies of this ultra rare badge knocking around ,I am not even that sure that the one I have is original but it does conform to a photo of one I have seen that I believe is 'right'. A certain seller on Ebay a while ago was putting these things out every few months,but it did nothing to stem the flow buyers!! The fake ones looked to be an electro-formed piece made up from a ' hybrid marriage' of observer badge with the centre taken out and a pebbled one with prop and wings in its place. very clever workmanship but not correct. The one I show ,although not that great quality is the style not seen often. If anyone has an example then I would be very interested to see (and buy if for sale!! ) Ferg1

I would be very grateful if anyone out there who has one of these badges could show some pictures of it. I know they are rare but someone must have one ! Thanks,Ferg1.

Hi Guys, here are a few stickpins pertaining to the aviators,Ferg1

Hi Guys, I would value yours comments on this Prussian military honour award 1st class. It came from the dissolution of the famous Colonel Dodkin collection several years ago. I believe that fewer of these were awarded than the militar verdienskreuz (O/Rs PLM) This one looks to be slightly different in centre details . The actual cross is solid silver and has three different markings on the ring! One being Fr another maybe Z or N and the other not readable but maybe a silver purity mark. It looks to be manufactured from a smooth armed red eagle order 4th class which I suppose would make it an early piece? REO glatte arme 1854-1879 ,Militar Ehrenzeichen 1864-1918 . This came in a bag of mixed Prussian medals another of which was a Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen kreuz first type (1810-1820) yes, I could not believe it either.The lot went for almost nothing !!! Your comments are welcome.

Strange,but i thought that the Centenary medal at the end of the bar carried a yellow ribbon that one seems very dark ? Ferg1.

Yes,the initials are FH,anyone know who that could be? Ferg1.

Three more pieces from the lesser visited areas of my collection . Three of the same medal, two in bronze one in gilt finish. I am always suprised when on the rare occasions these do appear for sale they do not make much. They were struck in anticipation of the German troops entering Paris,but as we all know it never happened ,the medalists/authorities or whoever were a little premature in there thinking when they ordered the creation of these ! I believe that the majority of them were recalled but they still do appear from time to time. I think that there is even a bigger size example of about 60mm. I thought that they were all from the same die until I noticed the 'P' of Paris on the Gilt one. Ferg1.

Just routing through the dark unseen corners of my display cabinets and found these, haven't looked at these for ages. They are interesting in the fact that they celebrate German victories on the Eastern front in 1915 ,well three of them do the fourth one is a tribute to the U-boat commander Weddigen who died in that year. They are beautifully struck in bronze,anyone seen these before of know the artist ? Ferg1

Judging by the pin set up it looks like a 1930's piece ,Ferg1.

Everyone has seen loads of Prussian railway service badges,here is something less often encountered, 25 year railway service badge for Hessen-Darmstadt. (different crown) Reverse marked Wagner and 800 silver marks.Ferg1

Hi,first cross is definately dubious. The second one IMO looks no better. sorry ,Ferg1.

Hi Alex, the badge on top left is an unmarked Juncker, 100% conforms to weight ,size and detail of the said maker. Interestingly, the eagle is cut out in a slightly different way to the other two,leaving slight excess material around certain areas of the edges. May actually a solid eagle and target as opposed to a hollow stamped one. This type of eagle profile is seen on unmarked Juncker airgunner badges both issue pieces and the rare silver two piece badges . I am entirely comfortable with it as a period piece.Ferg1.

These badges seem to be everywhere these days, real ones are actually very rare, anyone interested in buying one take a look at these pictures first. The top one (with the lighter green enamel) is the genuine piece the bottom one is the one you see everywhere. Loook at the difference in detail and quality.The airship should be die struck and shear-cut out with nice sharp details so too should the back-plate.(look at the difference in sharpness/crispness of detail on the front gondalas. The writing around the outer rim should be double edged ,i.e. have a thin silver rim around each letter, a detail barely noticable but not present on the fakes. The pin is poor quality also on the copies. Hope this helps anyone thinking of one of these.Ferg1.

Some marine Luftschiffer badges all by Juncker. Beware ! There are some very,very good fakes of this very badge ,spun cast and almost perfect in every detail ,just the wrong feel about them. These badges (genuine ones) should be die-struck and shear-cut they vary in finish and fitments but are the exact same size ,although there is some cut-out/registration variation to the outer profile but this does not affect the overall size.There is also some ' shadowing' noted on the lower wreath in varying degrees due to slight platten slip in the striking process. Note the different styles of pins on two of them. The vaulted badge is maker marked on the reverse top wreath not the centre zep body......reason ? There was once an engraving where the MM usually is but this has been erased and re-finished. The one with pierced crown arches has had the tail section ground away ,I don't know why but it also sports a solid silver pin.Third badge has good amounts of frosting remaining and sparkles. The finishes are elaborate too,this one is base metal Bronze/Brass with a copper flash plate then silver plate then frosting then rodium highlights then top coating of protective lacquer !! The earlier examples of these show a definate pattern in manufacture, most early pieces have a block hinge (later ones have the hinge soldered directly onto the badge) also the silver plating is noticably thinner than the later ones. Early pieces appear to have the open areas sawn out and chased with a fine file while later ones are just sawn out. Details,details ! Ferg1.

Here are the Bavarians! As you may have noticed by now I do not always choose the perfect minty clean examples to collect. A used and slightly worn badge has much more appeal to me than an untouched squeaky clean example (although I like those too) They have more of the ' smell of the battlefield ' feel about them. Here are two silver pilot badges (spokes in both wheels) One is Karl Pollath 800 and the other is Carl Poellath 800 (marked on pin ). Lighter one of the two was recovered from a lake in Bavaria!! Still retains much of its frosting. Next are two observer badges one is ,again, Karl Pollath 'silber' and the other is an interesting altered Prussian issue piece . I have seen this crown change before on an issue pilot badge ( there is a sanke card of a pilot wearing one ,can't remember who it is though). This badge has definately ' been there' ! Then the retired pilot badge ,this time marked just C.POELLATH. SCHROBENHAUSEN it is neusilber and is probably 30's or so. Finally is a 900 solid silver air gunner badge. Heavy pin marked 800 to take the weight of the badge three rivet attachment for the eagle and four rivets to the patinated brass back plate. Again, probably a 1920's private order but lovely detail and not a type I have seen before . Ferg1.

Here are some air gunner badges for your viewing. Three are issue Juncker badges,tow marked ,one not but still Juncker. Three rivet construction on applied back plate,as it should be !! Fourth is IMO a 1920's/30's private purchase,silvered bronze. I will post some Bavarian badges next ( real ones !) .Ferg1.

A small selection of Erinnerungsabzeichen (retired pilot badge). This type of badge is a little thin in my collection for some reason,I am looking for a issue stamped Juncker of the same ,anyone have one for sale !! The badges are 800 silber Juncker piece (why is it that all Juncker marked retired badges have the C E Juncker mark erased just leaving the crescent and 800? All the ones I have seen are like that . Why ?? The other ones are tombak Maybauer and a screw back which if you look closely has a battered air gunner badge crown replacing the existing one. Maybe he had his damaged air gunner crown put on to his retired badge for remembrance ? The halbgrosse is 800 silber. The cloth embroidered piece is interesting and one of my favorites, it measures 140mm by 90mm maybe from a veterans flag or pennant or even an Ordenkissen for a dead pilot. Chain stitched in german colours red,white and black. Ferg1.

Yup, not a good one I am afraid. I would say too that it was a casting ,sorry,Ferg1.