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    Chip

    Old Contemptible
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    Everything posted by Chip

    1. Chris, I would say that in general, enlisted custom made tunics are not as desirable as issue ones. Maybe that is just my preference. Otherwise, I think that much of the value lies in the originality of the tunic. Were the pockets added during the period, is the material an exact or near match to the rest of the tunic, is the tunic a converted issue piece or a private purchase example? Period alterations were common for enlisted tunics, especially for walking-out-dress tunics and those of troops in the rear areas. There are lots of questions, but in the end, I am sure that your sense for what you like and your experience as to whether others would like to own this tunic, will tell you if it is a "buy" or not. Good luck. Chip
    2. Vic, One more thing, I do own a photo postcard dated September 4, 1914 sent by "Lt. i/K.F.A.C., kommandiert z. Generalstab d. XV.A.K.". The name looks like Georg Siebert. It says that he has been in the field since August 8th. The photo shows Georg standing in front of his car, in uniform. There is also a batman, perhaps Georg's personal chauffeur in the photo wearing some sort of civilian uniform. Most of these club members were quite well-to-do, having their own cars. Chip
    3. I know this question has probably been asked before, but I have not been able to locate the answer through past posts. Perhaps someone could help. I recently acquired a grouping belonging to a former member of the Bavarian 209th Minenwerfer Kompanie. Among the other things, there was a Bavarian Vet.u.Krieger Verein pin as shown. In addition, there was this "medal bar" with the broach wrapped in the same ribbon as that of the pin. There is a hook on the back to suspend something. Does anyone have an idea of what would have been on this bar originally? Obviously it was something associated with the Verein, but was it a medal or some other geegaw? Thanks, Chip
    4. Vic, Unfortunately, I know of no organizational breakdown on the members of this unit. Since Prince Heinrich of Prussian was the head of the corps, perhaps his memoirs would include some information that might be useful. Cron also says that all club members became officers on August 10, 1914. Their mechanics were made Unteroffizier. Cron says that from May 30, 1915 both the members of the corps and their mechanics were taken on the nominal rolls of their service units. There are A.K.O.s associated with both of these dates. I would think that you might find something in wartime histories of the Kraftfahrtruppen. I don't know of any specific sources, but I am sure there is something to find out there (in German) if you are willing to look. Best of luck. Chip
    5. Vic, The volunteer automobile corps basically changed from a "club" to hired contract drivers upon mobilization in 1914. They were all taken into service as officers and kept this status until the summer of 1916, when their contracts were annulled and the corps was made a regular military formation as part of the Verkehrstruppen. This information is according to Kraus and is taken from his book "The German Army in the First World War". His dating for their status change from contract drivers to regular military differs from what Cron says. Chip
    6. Rick, The Sam Browne belt is the first tip-off. The "sunburst" star Wappen is typical of the postwar police. If you compare it to a Garde star you will find that even the basic outline is different and other than the general impression, they don't have much in common. Other clues are the plain pocket buttons, the Graugr?n wool material on the body of the shako (J?ger officer's would have had black wool), the black visor and trim (Garde MGA officer's would have light brown leather), the Weimar era badge just below the Turk pilot's badge, etc. My uneducated guess based on the collar Litzen (as opposed to the early police Kragenpatten with button) is that this photo dates from the late 20's or very early 30's. Chip
    7. Rick, J?ger? Isn't that a Polizei outfit? Chip
    8. The "German Forces in the Field" from April of 1918 identifies the IX.29 as being part of the Bug Army (Eastern Front), lines of communications troops. I like this guy's swagger! It does appear that he is trying his best to emulate the look of royalty. Chip
    9. Dan, There were a Prussian and Bavarian decrees (in September 1915) ordering all mess kits made from aluminum to be withdrawn from the front to be used for other needs of the army. It is hard to believe that this was universally adhered to, but it was mandated. Chip
    10. David, These equipment markings are issue marks and the marks pertain to the piece, not to the soldier it is issued to. There is some correlation made between the equipment markings and the issuee, but that would have been done on paper. Chip
    11. Chris, 51.I.R., 5.Komp.Nr.54 was in the 11th Division and the 51st RIR was in the 12th Res.Division, same division that the 38.RIR was in. Chip
    12. Chris, That's right. The "Schnappdeckel" 1918 was added to the filter canister for protection against bluecross smoke (Giftrauch). Chip
    13. Rick, These are pretty cramped quarters to be using that rifle rest/grenade laucher frame. I can't imagine trying to pick it up and maneuver quickly through such a narrow trench. These things weren't exactly lightweight either. Depending on the location, there may have been a lack of larger timber in the area (perhaps already stripped away for other trenches or even blown away). You will notice that the vertical supports are metal bars. These photos with various pieces of technical field equipment have aways been of interest to collectors, but recently the prices have taken off. Today, for instance, a photo I was watching of a Mastfernrohr sold for over $42.00. Granted, these photos show up only rarely, as the units were very small (1 NCO and four men). Units using this piece of equipment were discontinued in January of 1918. I have only seen two shoulder straps from the Mastfernrohrtrupps in over 40 years of collecting. Chip
    14. Theodor, All of your canteens are from the period. Most German steel canteens have a soldered-on manufacturer's name plate with date. It is usually on the shoulder of the canteen up near the neck. Of course, the aluminum Austrian canteens were almost always dated too. Chip
    15. Theodor, I am not sure what the Bulgarian pouches are for, but the German examples are for horseshoes. The one with the straps is a "Hufeisentasche" of the pattern worn on the "Bocksattel f?r Artillerie und Train". It looks like the other German one (without the straps) had them at one time and they have been removed. Perhaps the Bulgarian pouches were for some sort of artillery quadrant This is just a guess. Chip
    16. Mark, I think the answer is that the enlisted men wore the Kaiser crown without the riband and the officer's wore it with. I have an example of an issue enlisted man's shoulder strap from the regiment for the M1908 (Feldgrau) uniform and the crown is without the riband. Chip
    17. Theodor, Great photo. I was trying to see something in the photo that indicates that they are Bulgarians. Right off hand, I don't see anything distictively Bulgarian, although the uniforms look different somehow. You are correct about your can being the early pattern. It is the one that the so called "Gummimaske" (Gasschutzmaske 1915) were issued in. I prefer these earlier examples. I have five of them, including two in the Segeltuchtaschen, one "?bungsmaske", one with the owners name painted on the lid and an Austrian version for the same mask. I also have one that is made from metal and wood, but it is the taller size and I think it goes with the later masks. Chip
    18. Mark, Actually, the cypher on the officer's boards of the 21st Ulans did have the riband and did have the "II". See "Das Deutsche Heer" by Kn?tel d.J., Pietsch and Collas, volume III, second to last page "Nachtr?ge und Korrekturen...". Best regards, Chip
    19. Mark, The style of Wilhelm cypher that appears on the bow of your sword was worn by the members of the 116.IR and the Saxon Ulan Rgt. Nr.21. The cypher on an officer's shoulder board from one of these regiments is identical. This pattern sword is normally identified as a "Kavallerie Interums-S?bel". I am not trying to tell you that this sword must be related to one of these regiments, since this was one cypher of the several official cyphers of the Kaiser and could just be used here in a general way. Chip
    20. Robin, There is a picture of the parade drum banner of the regiment in D.H Hagger's paperback Almark book on the Hussars. There are only small skulls on the panels, whose main area is covered by alternating Prussian eagle and the Kaiser's royal cypher designs. The skulls are a frontal view, more like the 17th Hussar's tradition skull. They are much more ornate than your piece, which must be for field use. Like walking out dress as compared to full dress. Chip
    21. Chris, There are not really that many patterns, but there was a host of materials used and various combinations exist. One of my favorites is the artillery canteen with shoulder strap (not to be confused with the Labeflasche). Chip
    22. One of mine is made by "D.W.& M." at "Karlsruhe" (no date) and is unit marked "III.S.B.M. 1911". Two others are unit marked "104R" and "86R". The latter has no pour spout. Chip PS The Kraus book shows an aluminum Probe cup and it has no pour spout either!
    23. Chris, If it is not WWI, it could certainly pass for it. Aluminum mess kits were discontinued pretty early on in the war. All aluminum kits that were at the front were supposedly recalled and replaced. The need for aluminum caused tinned, painted and even raw oiled steel to be substituted by 1915. Later on, as the need for aluminum abated, I believe it was used again, as it really was the best material for this use. Chip
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