TS Allen

Are they mounted there permanently? Also, I think I may know the manufacturer. I'd have to check, but they could be rather recently manufactured by SAE (Swedish African Engineers) in the 60's or 70's. Do they have any base markings? ~TS

These figures are called Nuremberg flats. What size (in millimeters, if you please) are they? I may be able to help identify the manufacturer. They were a common type of toy soldier, which dates back to the eighteenth century. They were originally cast from cut stones, which would serve as a long-lasting mould. The purpose of casting them in a 'flat' manner was to save metal, as metal was expensive. Some early examples of these figures are cast from solid gold (Napoleon I had numerous sets in gold and silver). German toy soldier makers had a good reputation throughout Europe, although around the early twentieth century patriotic feelings in England resulted in W. Britains toy soldiers (with MADE IN ENGLAND famously emblazoned upon the box) overtaking German figures in Great Britain, and, later, on much of the continent. How many figures do you have in total? ~TS

I'm curious, how common were they in the Victorian era? I was under the impression these helmets were purely twentieth century pieces, and, while admittedly I'm much more knowledgeable about African than Indian colonialism, but I can't remember seeing a Victorian-era picture of anyone (civilian or military) in this type of cover. Were they at all popular with explorers? ~TS

Great!!!! I'm already waiting for further information on it. I'm honestly considering putting together a diorama based on this, although I'm not sure if I'm not out of paint at the moment. ~TS

I've rarely seen Soviet boards that much up to anything like Imperial quality stuff. Lets be honest, the Soviets weren't big on fancy dress, I think much of the price bump in Russian items of late is due to collectors looks for a nice asctetic who end up paying too much for Imperial items. I've only got one set of these boards, and they're beautufil. I've also got a strange set which looks to be Imperial Russian but I don't beleive to be a shoulder board. Anyway, back to the point, I have a few Soviet general's items and I've felt even low-ranking Imperial items seem to be of much higher quality. And a most impressive collection!!!! ~TS

Sadly, I still don't have a copy of the book. I assumed they were the same because I remember Johan was selling boots featured in his book when I bought this. May have been a different pair. Still regret not having bought them, though. I probably could have guessed as much for the price. Oh well, I paid practically nothing for it and I'm proud to have such a nice example of such a rare item. I'm much more proud of my Spanish-American War items than my (often more expensive) WWI items just because I put a lot of work into hunting down and identifiying the SAW stuff. I always like to remember the true value of these objects we collect is not in their monetary value, but in the history behind it. I would like to note, I have nearly indisputable proof of what it is. First, it is in a well-respected reference book, which is always a plus. Also, I do have photos of men wearing this (I initially assumed they were in the 'standard' issue because I didn't know what it looked like and thought this was differentiated by something subtle). I really wish I had been able to purchase the originals, but I guess you can't have everything. I actually did find a illustration of the windjacke. I guess it is just something I'll have the rest of my life to hunt down an example of, though. A friend of mine seems to have a pair of ski trousers, at least, which he's willing to trade for any reproduction pair. I may just make a collection out of this. I really appreciate all of your help with this. I am really starting to love this forum, the amount of knowledge is quite helpful. Horrido!!!! ~TS

You know, I seem to remember that when I bought this tunic, Johan was selling those boots, wasn't he? Remember, this is the tunic from the book by Johan as well. Anyway, I almost bought the boots. I should have. I might know were to get another pair, and I'm considering purchasing them. It is nice to hear that I seem to have a rare item. It's definately probably ( ) Alpenkorps issue. I don't know if its worth mentioning, but I have to ask, what do you think this would be worth? I understand that it would depend on the collector, from Johan I got it dirt cheap (I paid what he was asking and still felt like I was stealing) but I usually try to keep all of the values of my collection listed for insurance purposes. I didn't pay much for it, I've been told that it is probably as valueable as issue bluse. Any thoughts? ~TS

Same style as yours, as in the one of this thread. The condition isn't as nice though. I can't get pictures, like I said. I would if I could. I don't really specialize in piths, my interest is in American items from the same era. I'm big on the Great War as well. There's really that little militaria in Australia? I just assumed with the Light Horse being so seemingly 'popular' that it would be more commonly found in its native country. ~TS

Well, that is quite helpful. I'd like to learn more about Alpenkorps gear, its always fascinated me. I've only seen those windjackes in books, although I'd love to have one. This Windjacke isn't canvas though. Its actually not got a very tight weave, but that may be from many, many years of sitting around. It isn't that decayed, though. One last question. I understand this isn't necessarily Alpenkorps. What other fronts were these used on? Or could have been used on? Like I said, I'm sure I've seen this exact same tunic in period photographs, as seemingly standard issue (worn by a whole, large, unit, EM's included). That's what has me confused, I new it was private purchase but it seems to have been somewhat common. ~TS

Well, I know that most of it was from Australian Light Horse troops (probably all hoarded away in Australia, and expensive to boot). There were also a bunch of Yeomanry and some forces from, I think, New South Wales. I could have sworn that I read they had their own flash. I guess it is good though, that the unit didn't have one, as it was provisional and this gives me a few more options. What would be a good reference for the Yeomanry and Australian flashes? ~TS

Sadly, it is not a Wolseley. I'm looking for one, though. Even if it was, I usually take a few months to get photos of anything done. By the way, I assume you meant http://www.militaryantiques.co.uk, militaryantiques.com isn't a normal militaria site. One of those miserable advertising things. I'm wondering, though, what do Wolseleys sell for? I've never actually seen one for sale, and I'd like to know since I'm looking for one and would hate to pay too much. I know that later piths seem to be dirt cheap, and the earlier ones are ridiculous, I wonder which one The Wolseley is closest too? I'd prefer one for the Royal Camel corps or one without a flash, but I could imagine the former being quite valueable. ~TS

Chip, could you be bothered top post the photos you speak of? Also, do you have any idea how the metal 'S' is mounted on the I don't think that the tunic is canvas, I do beleive it is cotton. I could be wrong but it feels like doubled cotton. Do you have any other information on 'Wihl.Norrdinghaus. & co.'? Did they make many private purchase pieces? Could it be possible this is one of the stranger forms of issue windjacke? If there were changes made throughout the war then the fact that there are only a few photos which the whole of this forum is aware of, then is it not possible this is a (probably last-pattern) windjacke? Just wondering, was something worn under these to keep the troops warm? There must have been something as it does get cold up in the Alps. ~TS

When exactly did the British stop doing that with the VC? I'd like to imagine that it must have bugged the hell out of the Russians whenever it was brought up, especially when the two nations ended up as allies.... ~TS

Now, if there were 30-40, I think I should have at least two or three. Don't you agree? Thanks, though. I always assumed that there were maybe 40-50, actually. ~TS

I've got one that is private purchase with a bunch of documents stuffed in the liner which relates to some English officer who was responsible for some sort of engineering during the events of 1947. I'm not entirely sure what the documents are anymore, one or two has been in the liner for so long that its gotten all smudged. But, where do you get all of these beautiful pith helmets? I am looking for some kind of Wollesly (it could be ugly as sh*t or have a really strange flash) for my collection and I can't find a single one!!!! Any advice? ~TS

In the unlikely event it isn't that, didn't the German student fencing socieities have belt buckles? I have always known that they had a variety of cover, but I'm not familiar with belt buckles used by them. The book/ sword combination would suit a German student fencing, or Mensur, association quite well. Are belt buckles common as organisational markers in Germany? I know that American Freemasons wear them, along with several other organisations, do, but I'm not that familiar with German culture. ~TS

Probably older than 100 years, actually. I'd like to think it was worn with pride. I can never resist bringing up a joke, so here it is (its shamelessly copied from another forum, I can't remember which): Four Generations of German's are sitting around a table. A young child asks one, "what did you do in WWII, dad?" He just points to his Iron Cross. He then asks "What did you do in WWI, Grandpa?" He just points at his Iron Cross. Finally, he asks, "So what medals did you get in the Franco-Prussian War, Great Grandpa?". He says, "None." After a moment, he finishes "But we won that one!!!" Now that I have that out of the way, I have to ask, was it common to make medals of captured artillery? I could swear I've heard of it in other conflicts (I'd say Napoloeonic era but I couldn't imagine Boney melting down any cannon). I'm just wondering because the Germans were very effective during the war when it came to artillery, and I was wondering if making the medal from captured guns was some kind of direct sleight (beyond what it normally would have been). I should note, though, the only French victory in the whole war was thanks to a clever French artillery officer sneaking up on a bunch of waiting Bavarians and raining hell upon them from the heights. ~TS

I'm not familiar with the buckles in particular, but Imperial Russian militaria can get pricy. The Imperial Russian stuff is starting to compare to Imperial German stuff quite nicely. I could imagine that the value is probably similar to a relatively standard Prussian brass buckle. Just to give you an idea of what Imperial Russian militaria is realizing lately, I recently saw an Imperial Russian officer's tunic selling for $1,800. So sad, I used to want to collect that era.... ~TS

I'm curious, how many men of this rank were there during the war? I would think that just having one would narrow the choice down quite a bit. I'm not asking for an exact figure, but I've got this strange feeling the actual number is going to make me think.... IF THERE WERE THAT MANY MADE WHY DON'T I HAVE ONE???? ~TS

That has EM rank insignia. Were German musicians EM's with officers as commanders or did the fellow the other nations in having SNCO's/ WO's as band leaders? ~TS

Fascinating!!!! Where did the German postal service get the bugle from? It looks similar to the old US infantry bugle. ~TS

I beleive that I've seen it before. One of my relatives had one (family's Polish) but it was apparently part of his medal grouping and I'm quite sure he wasn't a chaplain. Maybe this has something to do with Polish soldiers collecting all sorts of medals. Are there an other similar Polish medals to this? I do beleive the ribbon was different. ~TS

This is a rather strange tunic. I bought the whole thing for about $450, and I'd like to know if I got a good deal. The tunic is for a subaltern in the RE. It has the Victorian crown buttons, proper rank pips, everything. The wool is beautiful, almost too beautiful. Very, very fine doe skin, it seems like this was a very wealthy subaltern. Of course, I'm not very familiar with these tunics, this is the only one I've ever seen. Everything else seems to look right for the period (I also collect Indian Wars artefacts so I'm not entirely lost) and like I said it has Victorian buttons. The only thing I know about the tunic is that it came through a fellow named Ivor Chapman, apparently an Englishmen living here in the US. He's apparently a rather big dealer, although I've never heard of him. The thing that has got me confused is the stuff that came on it. It doesn't seem like its appropriate to the tunic, but I am considering, assuming it doesn't go together, selling off the strange stuff. The aigulette is, er, probably not British. If it is, it is from an early period, or some kind of private purchase item. I'm sure one of our experts can enlighten me. It has some leaves on the bottom of the (I think gold) ending of the thing and four hoplite-style heads around the aigulette. The stable belt/ sash make no sense. It sure as hell isn't Engineers, it looks like its for the 17/21st Lancers. It has fine tassels on the ends, in red and gold, and the back of it has beautiful red leather on it. Its all very fine, I would assume an officers sash from such a famous regiment would be rather desirable. The belt itself is silver with a red centre, possibly originall gold with a red centre. The belt has got a Victorian crown surmounted by a lion. It has that over-extended Victorian belt style, and has the same read leather interior. Overall question, what is the value of the tunic? Ignoring all of the strange stuff on it, what's it worth? And what is the 'junk' on it worth? ~TS

May be inspired by it, it looks a bit like one, but the artillery makes me think of the fellows who kept the Bosphorus all choked up. Isn't there a major reference for Turkish medals? What about those two German warships that were sent in to Turkish service at the beginning of the war, crew and all? SMS Emden was one of them, wasn't it? I don't think its likely, but its possible this is a variant woundbadge for this. You could always ask in the wound badge section for what inspired the German naval wound badge as well, it might provide some ideas. ~TS

I bought the tunic from Johan Somers, so I'm quite sure it's the same tunic. I know that it is private purchase, and the markings are not standard. Because it's private purchase it isn't even necessarily Alpenkorps, but it was clearly used by the German military. Immediately after I bought the tunic I found something VERY similar in some photos for sale in Germany. Unfortuneately, the seller was nothing but horrible when it comes to customer service and refused to sell them to me. In any event, I did save them to my computer for my own reference. This windjacke is a bit longer on some of the men but in general is nearly identical. Johan informed me most, if not all, of these items were private purchase. I'm curious, what did the issue windjacke look like and what are the differences? And the book by this fellow Kraus, where would I pick up a copy of it? I'm only aware of German publications covering the Alpenkorps. I should have noted that part of what confused me about the location of the holes was because it looked like it should be for collar disks of some sort. I couldn't imagine double Edelweisses, and the only thing that seems to fit would be a collar disks. I never thought of the 'S' marking but I can't think of ever seeing one which was in metal. The item is private purchase of course, it could be some kind of unit insignia is this tunic is not necessarily Alpenkorps, although is representative of one. Were there any states or units that would have had a collar insignia? The photo of the markings is attached. I should note that this is lifted right from Johan's old website, which I purchased it from, but I hope that he won't mind. The marking doesn't look to be standard, And something is seemingly scratched out above it. ~TS AlpenkorpsMarking.bmp