Daniel Murphy

Actually the reverse is much nicer, the arms on the core are convex like the enamel on a PLM.

Mike, Great variation, is it yours? Actually that is another point I was going to bring up......later. I have seen that "KM" mark on three different styles of KMST EK1s. Since you mentioned it, there are some VERY high quality EK2s out there marked "KM". The most common makers list notes "KM" as maker unknown. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a connection? Here is my "KM" EK2. Due to the extra wide flange on the frame this piece measures 44mm by 44mm. Dan

The label has instructions for use. "Dabs for skin decontamination 1 Use dabs with your uniform on and also several times with clothing off (do not smear) 2 Once dabs become poisoned use new ones. 3 After use destroy dabs(if possible burn) 4 Treat poisoned dabs cafefully to prevent injury . Smelling means (Breakable Ampule) For nose and throat exposure (by blue cross agents). 1 Break tube in the center 2 Hold by the nose and deeply inhale contents" I told you it was neat. Dan

I just love the way the Germans glued the instructions / contents into stuff. Unfortunately it is empty. I have been tempted to cut down some Tucks pads and stick them inside.

Here is another medical item I just found. It is a tin for holding issued gas decontamination kit. Just as the moden soldier needs his, the WW1 German soldier needed a decontamination kit. This little piece measures just 74mm by 47mm and is 12 mm thick. This may be a little rough, but how many have you seen? The title on the lid reads "Dabs for skin decontamination" and shows it was manufactured by the "Main Sanitary Depot in Berlin". Dan

I have seen these open backed badges in many configurations, Genuine silver with frosting (which I sold like an idiot), Silver plated tombac (or neusilber), and silver plated iron. The seller on this one states it is silvered tombac, so it is silverplated. A silver wash is fairly thin and would not have lasted very long under service conditions. I have a silverplated two piece hollow badge from late in the war. It is not marked for silver content, but until I looked at it with a jewelers loupe, I had thought it was silver. The loupe brought out the tombac peeking through on the high points. Dan

Mr. Smith, Unfortunately that seller does have a number of questionable badges. I have had very good experiences dealing with Emedals in Canada. They currently have a badge, like the second one Stogie posted, for sale right now for $750 US with a COA from Detlev. This may be a little high, but real badges are going up in price substantially. Here is a link. Dan http://www.emedals.ca/catalog.asp?item=GEM308

Personally, I have always doubted that the Kriegs Ministerium Standesamt in Berlin(which conventional wisdom notes as the maker of these crosses)was the actual maker. First, why is the War Ministry designing Iron Crosses? Is this not a function of the Orders Chancellery? And second, the marking on these crosses is "K.M.ST.", there is no period between the S and T on these crosses (which would support a maker in Stuttgart). Is it possible that the actual maker of the KMST EKs is the Koenigliche Muenzamt in Stuttgart? Please give me your thoughts on this subject whether they be positive or negative. Dan

Now here is a KMST EK1 with a locking catch, that I was offered a couple years ago. Notice the similarity of the pins and the EXACT same type of locking catch as on the Wilhelmskreuz. The pin lifted.

Gentlemen, I saw these photos by Wild Card(demonstrating an original piece) in the Imperial Fakes thread. With Chris' permission I reproduce his photos here. This is the back of a Wilhelmskreuz 1st Class showing a unusual locking device on the pin. Please bear with me, all will be clear in due time. Here is a close up of the locking device. And the makers label from the original case.

Here is a side view. It has a nice high profile crown.

Obverse. It would appear there was a tombac plating which shows alittle around the roundel. You can see it better on the reverse. Dan

Here is a piece I lucked into about a year ago. I had been looking for one for years and this one just "dropped into my lap". It is a Imperial German buckle used by both naval (including See Battalions) and colonial (Schutztruppe) forces. Reverse (nothing wrong with a little suspense). Dan

Robert, Great photo. They are definitely from the Bavarian 14th Infantry Regiment. Judging from the few Bluses and Stahlhelms being worn, I would say it was taken late 1916 to 1917. I love the tree shaped "guard shack", you almost expect to see a gnome standing guard. Officer #2 would work, he looks a little gnomish Dan

I can only say one word. WOW!!! You are hereby crowned the King of Mini Enamel. Rise and greet your subjects. Dan

Dave, I had no idea you had branched out into Imperial Russian. That is a fantastic grouping. Top notch. It is great that you could reunite at least part of it and find out where some of the rest is. Dan

Peter, I believe that is the most magnificent mini bar I have seen to date. I would say from the array of awards that the original owner was a diplomatic officer. Since the Swedish order is 1st in precedence, he may have been from that country. Still a great piece. Can you give a measurement on the EK so we can put it in scale? Dan

Chris, Sorry I did not post earlier. I just kind of went and forgot what I was doing. That is a fantastic one of a kind group. Dan

I would not say that this definitively shows stamped core EKs being made. The photo of the steps in making the EK could show the different sides of two cast cores. Since there is no photo shown of the making of the cores, there is no way to know. If there was one photo that showed the cores lying about we would know for sure. There are EK2s with 2 piece stamped cores, but these are most likely replacement pieces made later. I do not believe these were made as early as 1916. Even when you see the frames deteriorating later in the war to neusilber or silver plate, we still see cast cores on issued EK2s. The two I have with stamped cores are unmarked with plated frames and one has a split ring for mounting, which shows it is a spangenstuck. One thing I find most interesting is the pile of little planchets from which a number of mini EKs have been cut. Dan

Alex, It is cast, not stamped like a real badge should be, the poor finishing (or lack of finishing) on the back, the cast in hinge and last but not least, the Goede maker markings. This maker has made thousands of copies of many different German badges, medals and orders for sale to the "collector" market. They can be found on ebay all the time for a few dollars or euros. They are modern made. Sorry. Dan

Karl, 2 of them definitely are IVIs, the third I am not 100% sure of. Dan

I have seen numbers on several 1914 EK2s. In fact I have seen both a number AND the makers initials in two separate stamps on one cross. These were most likely "new old stock" left over from the last war. Once the LDO regs went into effect they could not sell them without the new style numbered marking. Dan

I agree. It looks like a well worn original. It does look stepped in that one corner doesn't it? Dan

Pat, VERY nice piece. I have NEVER seen a "tramp art" German reservist piece. Thats a great item on so many levels. I believe the "L" "B" are his initials and the 1900-1902 are his time of service before passing to the reserve. Since Metz was in the occupied Alsace Lorraine, this was a Reichs territory and as such units from all over Germany were stationed there. There were 3 Bavarian units stationed in Metz; 4th Infantry Regt. , 8th Infantry Regt. and the 2nd Foot Artillery. The foot artillery wore white boards, but he should have served three years before becoming a reservist in the artillery. Were he in the Infantry he would have served two years as shown, but their boards were red with a number. With white boards with what looks like a 2 (plus the dark collar on the uniform), it would appear he was with the 2nd Foot Artillery. I have no explanation for him only serving 2 years unless this was all that was required for Bavarian Artillery. Dan Here is some info on "Tramp Art". "This relatively little known form of folk art, called "tramp art," was produced by these anonymous skilled artisans in the hobo jungles of the U.S. but was introduced in the early 1860s by the German and Scandinavian Wanderbuersons, or wandering apprentices. These men popularized chip carving as they traveled the countryside in search of jobs or in the pursuit of the vagabond life. Chip carving had been used as a method of decorating wooden objects in Europe almost since the beginning of time. By using any sharp-edged tool, but most often a pocketknife, small chips of wood were removed from a larger piece to form geometric patterns. A simple V could be cut on the edge of a piece of wood, or an elaborate gouge covering a large surface could be used for more elaborate decoration. In the hobo jungles, it became commonplace for the trampers to combine chip carving and whittling when using their pocketknife on cigar boxes. The availability of cigar-box wood was a major factor in the production of tramp art. In the 1850s, the wooden cigar box came into use both in the United States and Europe. Since it was difficult to ship cigars cheaply and easily for packing into boxes, wherever cigars were made, cigar boxes were made nearby. At the turn of the twentieth century, cigar smoking was at its height because cigars were considered symbols of masculinity and affluence. Success bred competition, and competition meant advertising. As a result, cigars were magnificently boxed. Revenue laws did not permit the boxes to be used a second time for cigars, so enterprising souls found new uses for the boxes. Since the boxes were plentiful and easily carved, ornamenting them by chip carving became popular. This technique of chip carving consisted of notching and layering, with each succeeding layer being a little smaller than the preceding one, to create a pyramidal design. One cigar box or many cigar boxes could be used for the frame of the piece as well as performing the decorative function. Either way, the carver had to have a great deal of time and patience to create his finished product. He had to notch-carve each individual piece of wood many times. Then he had to layer the individual notch-carved pieces of wood into some kind of recognizable object. And then he had to decide if he wanted to add further decorations to the piece. One of the most fascinating aspects of tramp art is the evident desire of the carver to produce detailed and often very skilled work with only make-do and simple tools. This layering of piece upon piece was done for decorative purposes, because it was felt that many layers of wood were more interesting-looking than just one layer."

Pat, Nice helmet, if it was battlefield pickup it was from many years ago, perhaps even during the war. I would not try to restore it. If it were me all I would do is to put some light oil on a rag and go over it inside and out to kill that rust. That will make it dormant so it will not get worse and spread. In addition it will probably bring out the color of the paint better for display and is not irreversible. It is your helmet and your choice of course. I would NOT clear coat it with anything like I have seen some people do with relics. Good find. Dan