cimbineus

Gents, Let me add one more early badge to this excellent school badge collection:

. This is the same badge from a different perspective:

Gents, This is the very last version of the "plain" "KIVALO DOLGOZO" badge. It existed just for some months in 1989, right before the changes.

. Peter, my friend, my deepest obeisance to you for your devotion, excellent and well structured collection and for wondrous photographs!

Most probably, no, there was not. Yes, there were some, but mostly politically motivated, colourful and not reliable at all stories, censored and approved by the Communist Party. cimbineus

... and here is the Certificat... ... and the seal of authentication:

Hi Gents, I would like to share with you some photographs of an original and authentic piece of the so called Iron Curtain. It is interesting, that this box was made still in communist times and used as presents. Just imagine the face of a General of the Soviet Armed Forces receiving this kind of "farewell present". Here is the box and its content: Regards, cimbineus

Hi Gents, Yes, this can be one possibility, but there are some others too. For example, this medal was awarded not only as medal, but as plaque as well. Some of those were like this one, but without the ring for the ribbon, of course. It is not excluded that simply a mistake happened, and the two pieces were mixed up. Or, during the production some medals avoided the phase of silver plating and the quality control did not notice that. Perhaps, there are some other options as well, but this medal is here, anyway, as a curiosity. Regards, cimbineus

…and here is a closer look at the two variations. The first one with the mane of the designer (below the factory building, "TOTH-L" = Toth Laszlo), and the second medal made of bronze.

Hi Gents, I must admit, I do not like this medal at all. I think that besides the politics and the philosophy behind, it is extremely militant and ill in its message, elementary or even primitive in design, simplistic in finish, to tell the least. But, nevertheless, this is also an HPR medal and, I think, it is interesting for you to see two rare variants. In this picture, in the upper row you can see the two usual pieces. Below there are the two interesting variations. Regards, cimbineus

... and the same medal with an "artistic" approach:

...and here is a closer look:

Hi Gents, Let me add one more nice medal, a 25 years Long Service Medal of the first type. Regards, cimbineus .

Yes, exactly, that is the box for the HPR Flood Medals.

Well, as far as I know, only the very last type of the flood medal is in blue box, but that medal does not fall under this topic, I think, since that was established after the fall of the previous regime and not in the HPR times.

Hi Yankee, No, I am not 100% certain about it yet, just thinking aloud. I am sorry, but I cannot answer the "heavy or light" question. What do you mean by that? To my best knowledge, bakelite already was used earlier than the '20s. Already befor the Great War there were buttons and handles for different small articles (like combs and hair brushes, for example) made of bakelite, as far as I know. Regards, cimbineus

Gordon, Let me give you a peek. Just for you... (This is the recent and not necessarily the final design of the book-cover.) (Civilian Honorary Titles and Distinction Badges, 1946-1990) Regards, cimbineus

Hi Gents, Let me add one more version to our Merit Order case bottoms collection, a „Christmas gift wrap"-type pattern. Regards, cimbineus

To my best knowledge, the case of this medal is red cardboard box, with red silk inside.

I agree with you, Gordon. These are extremely rare badges, especially the first and the last ones. As far as the book is concerned, I have to admit that the work came to halt. Other things got in front of the book writing temporarily, but I will continue soon. Regards, cimbineus

... and here is the second one:

Hi Gents, I also would like to contribute to this interesting discussion, if I may. As a result of an "accident" I am in a position to share with you two photographs. My hope is that they will help us to answer the question about material. The word "PATENT" and the fact that bakelite was invented between 1907 and 1909 suggest me that the white material is most probably bakelite, after all. If this assumption is correct, we can set a time frame too, which would start in 1909 (the year when bakelite was patented) and 1918, the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Regards, cimbineus Here is the first photograph:

That series consists of six badges (cart, road roller/steamer, tram, car, ship and excavator). Yes, indeed, those were quite early badges, especially if you look at the cart as a means of transportation of those times ... Yes, there is a book on those badges, issued in 1997, but was sold out immediately. It is impossible to get a copy nowadays.

... or another example: ("EXCELLENT WORKER OF TRANSPORTATION" - two versions)