Kriztofer

Don't forget the most important thing. It's the coolest looking award...EVER that's why we all collect them haha

Hi Mike Nice crosses buddy. I don't believe the bottom model is of the same line as the others, not sure if that's what your saying or if it's just in the group. It doesn't share the same filigree lines as the other Blue cores or the closed 4. Any chance of photos of the reverse? Chris

Congratulations Micha, another great find. Does your first one have the same back plate? The reason I ask is that I've seen this style on other crosses, I was wondering if it was a standard for KMST? Chris

I've tried to enlarge and clean up the image a tad and put arrows on the area's of concern. I also noticed the uneven lower feathers/wings by the legs and the eye looks to be right on top of the head. Hope this helps. Chris

Hi Matt I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling from the photo provided, the date box looks like it's curved or bent and from what I can see the gaps between the wings/neck look uneven. As stated the photo is really bad. For me personally with all the fake spange out there, if I didn't have large, detailed photos to study I would pass on it. Chris

Micha Would you say that this particular model is harder to find than, lets say, a KMST or AWS? I must admit that these are my favorite EK's, the detail on the cores and the lines of the frame are unmatched IMHO. I've also noticed that some have the Blued cores and other don't. Another detail of this type is the extremely fine coating of paint, it's almost like a chemical process rather than a coating as the ones I've seen have the color worn off and not chipped or flaked like normal painted models. Chris

These are extremely hard to find, especially with the backing plate! Is this one now a part of your collection Micha? Chris

Looks like he enjoyed his Sausages & Beer!

Dan, this mark is still somewhat of a mystery although I haven't seen it on any other EK's except for the Blue cores, but you never know. Please post a photo of your EK & the pilots badge here for reference, I would like to see them. Chris

Nice pick up Glen, I really like the theme of the engraving. I wonder what Thea looked like, sounds like she was a romantic hottie! Had a girlfriend years ago named Thea, maybe this is why I think that These engraved pieces are through the roof price wise. This hobby is going crazy. Chris

Good point David. The spange collecting field is still a Gray area, a lot of doubts and many different opinions on what's good / bad, with this reason in mind and the fact that there are no photographic comparisons readily at hand, apart from searching through old threads, I've asked the gents over on MCF to post large, clear photos of their collections in order to start a spange database. Hopefully, it will be an excellent resource for those, like myself, who are confused with all the different types out there. Chris

Hi David Nice cross, looks good to me. There has been some debate over the clamshell plates with no one really knowing which is genuine and which is a copy but, IMHO I believe yours to be the real deal. The one factor that the majority, if not all, of the original types seem to share is the small "tit" on the reverse and the sharp/defined edge on the inside circumference. Yours has it all. Chris

Hi David Thanks for your reply. I've since found out from a couple of spange guys, that this is actually a Mayer type with no Veins. Mayer apparently made three models, With veins, short veins & no veins, also with, I believe, three types of pin. I've since found three identical other types like this all with the Mayer features, especially the talons, date and head, here is another example.. Chris

No one can help me? Where are all the Spange collectors :unsure:

This dimple reminds me of a mark from a press cylinder, possibly these particular crosses were vaulted in this manner. It would be quite simple to vault a cross with a small hydraulic press.

I've seen this crown on another maker, just can't remember right now which one, maybe F.R. Sedlatzek?

Hi Bill. Funny, the rust pattern/pitting is very similar.

I've always believed that this was a factor of bad handling/storage of the cores after the stamping process. Like you say PK, it seems to be with a few of the Zimmerman types but not all.

No idea, probably stored badly over the years and the rust ran rampant. I sort of liked the look of it at first but it seemed a shame for such a potentially nice cross to just rust away.

I actually used a tiny plastic model scraper to remove the paint which, was nearly falling off anyway! The one million grit sand paper was for the rust & pits. Thanks for the tip though.

Beautiful, minty EK2 you have there Eric. It is LW, look at the space between the top of the L & the top of the W, to accommodate horizontal part of L. On IW marked crosses this space is very small between the two letters. I would also say that it isn't a TR era piece due to the MM. I believe most TR replacements pieces, in schinkel form, were unmarked or had a number. I've darkened the contrast of your photo a little and you can see the L better and paired it with an IW MM (Iohann Wagner) for comparison Chris

Mmm minty. Nice cross :cool:

rev..

Howdy gents Can anyone tell me if this is a good Mayer without veins. Sorry about the poor photos. Chris

For ease of reference I've put the three examples together, hope you guys don't mind me using your pics for this :whistle: