Gary B

Paul,

When I was stationed in Korea, there were shops downtown that emboidered flags for soldiers. They were sewn by people who operated a special sewing machine. Pressure on a foot pedal operated the up and down of the needle. The more pressure the faster the needle moved (just like a regular sewing machine) . Additionally, there was a bar near their knee which controlled the side to side movement of the needle. Greater pressure would increase the width of the needle arc, less pressure created a narrow arc. The Koreans operated these machines making hundreds of these framed Regimental flags for people. All were done by hand (without the assitance of a diagram on the cloth). I have always wondered if tabs were sewn using the same method.

By hand sewn do you mean with a persons hand and no machine assistance? Possible but given the number of tabs that would have had to have been made that would have been a serious undertaking. Were tabs made the same was as other TR patches? if so how were they made, was there a template that a machine could follow to mass produce them?

Hand sewing would account for the great number of variations encountered even among matched pairs.

Puzzled,

Gary B

That is actually a very good question... I thought that they were hand sewn.

Hi,

Ok this might seem like a silly question but how were tabs made/sewn? I dont think they were hand sewn...were they sewn by a machine that was run by an individual? Was there a machine that automatically sewed them?

Any help?

Gary B

Laurence,

Nice tabs, especially like the musician tabs!

Gary

Hi,

A few threads ago Don started a thread regarding tips on medal bars. It was thought to be a little wide in scope but I thought it a good idea. Let's try to focus the thread some and see what we get...

So to start it out, what things does one look for in a good war constructed medal bar?

1) Threads should not glow.

2) Consistent wear on all of the medals

3) Ribbon wear should match the medal wear (I like to see some wear on the ribbons where the medal rubbed against the ribbon)

4) Is the combination of medals possible?

5) Quality of constrution, bottom edges of medals should all line up, medals should be centerd on their respective ribbons.

But what about finer things....what type of backing plate, what type of pin/catch.....I recently saw a TR medal bar with a snipped brass catch (scribe line visible). All of the medals were original and had wear consitent with the rest of the bar. I know on ribbon bars the snipped catch is a no go, but is it ok on medal bars? I believe brass pins and catches are ok on medal bars but a bad combo on ribbon bars...

Just starting it out....

Gary B

Dear Don,

Please post it when you have time.

Dear Bob,

Thanks for the comments. Yes, the SS bars are quite rare. I have only seen 2 others in the past several years.

Gary B

Nice one Gary.Got a new double in the mail

don

Hi Laurence,

Here is what I have. Not a great collection but a start. The bottom row is Reserve flight tabs.

Gary B

Nice tab's, whats the set look like

Reverse

One more for the collection.

Gary B

Hi,

Here is a relatively common pair of tabs in very nice condition. It was important to me as it is the final tab I needed to complete my flight/para tab collection. (I do have one other set of flight 1LT tabs but they were in cellophane so I did not count that )

Gary B

Not only are they extremely rare...thay are mint!

Gary B

Garth,

Those are beautiful! Orange was not used again until 1943, for field police. I believe that Garth's boards and tabs are the rarest in the Luftwaffe series!

Paul

Lawrence,

I belive that Garth Thompson posted some pictures of these orange waffenfarbe tabs on a different forum a while ago. You might want to inquire with him.

Gary B

Does anyone have any tabs or have you ever seen any? They would have an "Orange Rot" waffenfarbe

Dear Rick,

So based on your answer, why would there be single parade mounted LS awards for 25 and 40 years awards floating around. The ones I hgave seen look good, were they salesman samples or has the medal been switched from a LS 4 year award??

Gary B

Hi Jan and John,

Beautiful pieces.

I do have a question that I hope one of you can answer. I have seen several single parade mounted 18, 25 and 40 year LS awards in the past few years. It is my understanding that the higher grade LS awards had to be worn in pairs with a lower LS award i.e. 12 year with 4 year. This was in accordance with the German regulations. So why would there be single parade mounted LS awards for 18/25/40 (not including the LS 4 which could be worn as a single)?? Additionally, wouldn't someone who had 18 or 25 years of service have more than just that award??

Were these single parade mounted awards for salesman display boards??

Gary B

Dear Vic,

You should post pictures of some of them as they are, I am sure, exceptional pieces. Mike had/has quite an eye for condition and quality.

Gary B

Hi Don,

The LS award is in my safe and I will have to get it out to scan the reverse.

As an aside I do collect doubles...triple.....and anything else I can find! I will have to post my small but growing collection of medal bars.

Gary B

Hi Vic,

Yes, I was quite fortunate to purchase this gourping along with a few other things from Mike's collection. I only wish I had been able to purchase more.

Gary B

THen....you were the lucky owner of the ex Mike Heuer group!!!!

Dear Peter and James,

My friend sold the grouping which consisted of pictures, 2 RCAF/USA patches, 2 USN Wings, a RCAF Mini wing, helmet/goggles and paper work for $900. SO I guess it was a rare grouping indeed. Thanks for your assistance.

Gary B

Dear Sal,

That has top be the best Gold Span Cross I have seen in 30 years of collecting! Great purchase!

I only have 1 SC, the one with the medal bar grouping that I posted previously. I hope to get the rest of the series one day.

Any assistance/advise from you, Jacques or any other members would be appreciated!

Please post some more!

Gary B

Dear Laurence,

Very nice piece. Hard to find them in the original carton.

The 26s seem to all share the "problem" of paint lifting on the black core. It is really hard to find one without any lifting. As an aside, from my understanding, none of the Russian horde pieces came in the outer carton. So this would be a piece that just happened to stay minty on its own.

Gary B

Police LS

Gary B

Dear CJS,

The War Merit Medal (the round one) was awarded to civilians for meritorious service (it is rumored that even some Jewish people received the award for their work on making counterfit money for the war effort). The War Merit Cross without swords was awarded to soldiers for meritorious achievement in a non combatant role. The War Merit Cross with swords was awarded to soldiers who for meritorious achievement (bravery or good leadership/staff work) in a combat role.

The War Merit crosses on the ribbons are the 2nd class version of the award and are in bronze. The silver pinback versions are pinback and are for a higher degree of meritorious service. The 2nd class medals were, I believe, the most awarded medals in the Third Reich era.

There was also a Knights Cross of the Wart Merit Cross (worn at the throat) which came in 3 classes (Bronze silver and gold with and w/ swords) for the highest achievements to the Third Reich. They were only awarded a few hundred times

Hope this helps.

Gary B

Sir

I may have a War Merit Medal w/swords. What were they awarded for, for what and how did someone earn this award.

Thank you

CJS

Dear James,

Thanks for the information.

Gary B

I "believe" there were two different types of this badge. One version had the Canada, eagle, and USA on it, and the other type had just USA and an eagle on it. The lettering and material they come on can differ from white lettering on blue cloth to red lettering on khaki material for summer uniforms. I've seen both types being sold for around $15.00 US a pair.

Cheers,

James

Hi,

Does anyone know about the rarity of the RCAF US shoulder flash that was given to US soldeirs serving in the RCAF? PIctured on the following link:

http://www.57rescuecanada.com

I have located a grouping to a Marine who served with the Canadians in 1941 and then transferred to the USMC in '42. KIA in Solomons.

Gary

Hi,

Does any one know anything about the Canada/USA shoulder flash worn by US personnel who flew with the Canadians. I have an opportunity to purchase a group from an estate sale from a man who served with the RCAF in 41 and then transferred to the Marines in 42. Killed in the Solomon Islands.

Patch pictured on this site. http://www.57rescuecanada.com

Gary

Hi,

More info as follows:

Started flying with the RCAF in 1941, transfered to the USMC in 1942, trained at JAX, was missing in action / pursumed killed in the Solomon Islands actions, July 1945. Served with RCAF desigation of #9 SFTS.

Patch pictured on this page.

http://www.57rescuecanada.com

Gary

Gary

Sounds legit., then. Maybe the Cdns did issue such to American vols after the USA entered the war. Love to know what you eventually find out.

Peter