RobW

This thread is extensive and, dare I say it, almost too long and diverse. You can search countless pages to find that "one something" you're actually looking for.

I wonder if we would have enough support at this point to separate WW1 Victory Medals into it's own sub-forum? It would certainly make it easier to separate issues like clasps and medal variations, perhaps by country. We could expand it from there.

General concensus?

Tim

Hello Tim and others,

As a primary victory medal collector I would agree that having a separate WW1 Victory Medals sub-forum would be a good idea. There could then be individual country threads as well as a general thread. In this fashion all the information about each country and the myriad of sub topics could be contained to that country. This would not only make collection and information recall easier but it would also streamline the posting of new information so that the newer collectors could find what they are looking for without having to wade through pages of posts.

However I don't think it will occur for the same reason that it didn't occur the last time this was suggested. There is simply not enough regular contributors to this specific thread. There appears to be a relatively low number of active and regular contributors (up to 10-15) with a corresponding large number of watchers. With over 21,000 views you would expect a more active contributor rate but this is not the case.

It would take a little bit of reorganisation to move all the existing contributions into country specific threads as well.

If the chairman can be convinced I'd be all for it but then I think in reality, and given many competing priorities, a pinned topic is probably all we are going to achieve. I am happy to be proven wrong.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Regards,

Rob

Rob,

I may get a clue to pass on to you in a couple of days. I have another collector making me copies of the applicable pages out of a 1930's era Studley catalog.

Studley's refer to the medals sold by George Studley to veterans. He was a retired Navy man whose business was selling insignia and medals to veteran's starting in the 30's. Studley had a catalog as late as 1939. The Studley catalogs didn't give prices for full-sized decorations but on request he would quote everything up to the MOH. However, the guy was in the business a long time and knew the suppliers, so it's likely that a lot of what he sold was from the same people supplying the government and indistinguishable from issue pieces.

What I understand, he did business into the 60's. Initially he bought unnumbered planchets from companies who made the medals for the US government. Real studley medals are very nice pieces with good detail, reasonable quality and were bought and worn by real veterans. The planchet is usually thicker than government issue. The term Studley has been applied to all manner of reproductions, generally the thick crude repros with the coppery finish you find at shows. Some of these have been remounted with wrap brooches and attempts have been made to stamp numbers on the rim.

George Studley obtained most of his medals from J.K. Davison Co. and apparently from other (official) government medal supplies with permission from the Feds. He also had struck the Medal of Honor as he could not obtain these and he had campaign bars for the WWI Victory Medal that were never actually made. Some consider him a part of American Medallic history, as no other individual was sanctioned to sell federal medals. Unfortunatley the word "studley" has been used by many to mean any reproduction or fake US decoration.

Tim

Hello Tim,

Thanks for the info. I have an electronic copy of a couple of the Studley catalogues. They are a good place to find information.

Thanks for the assistance.

Rob

Hello JM,

Thanks for the link which I already had. It is a compilation of the navy bars and ship entitlements based on the 1948 and 1953 US Navy Awards manual. The list I am looking for was that contained in the original 1920s Navy Dept GO.

There are difference in ship qualifications between these lists hence I'm looking for the 1920 list.

Regards,

Rob

To all,

Given that none of our fellow US collectors has a copy of the original ND GO 528 from 1920 could anyone suggest a link to the US Navy archives where I might be able to find such a copy?

Regards,

Rob

......., which shows not only the vast interest in the Victory Medals of the World but that this medal alone is an area of collection all to itself.

Hello JimZ,

I couldn't agree more with this statement. So much variety to collect and study.

Regards,

Rob

First of all: Hello to everybody contributing to this wonderfull string of posts. I read them all.

I enclose a picture of my Cuban VM. I bought this one 2 years ago thru e-bay and paid not that much. When it came to me in the mail and i checked it, it looked good, had the marks in the rim etc.

What do the experts think of it.

regards

Herman

Hello Herman,

Welcome to the thread. As Tim stated, it is good to have a few more collectors here to share and enjoy.

Yes you have a nice official cuban vic in good condition. It is in very good condition as there is little wear on the face and feet on the obverse and the cuban arms on the reverse. The BRONZE and 'AC' Chobillon mark are nice and strong. A nice example.

Regards,

Rob

Hi everyone

Just arrived this morning - South African Victory Type 1 to Cpl A.C. Turton 4th South African Horse

1st of many

Hello Rayjin,

Welcome to the thread. It is a good spot to share and enjoy the spread of information.

Regards,

Rob

To one and all, and our US vic collectors in particular,

I have a number of these battle bars for the US vic mini in my collection. They are slightly different to the other variety that has recessed end loops as well as a different font.

I am attempting to identify the manufacturer of these particular mini bars. I realise that this may be a hard task but appreciate any input from our US collectors.

The thin backstrap is actually more of a shiny tin than it appears in the scan.

Regards,

Rob

Hello all,

Given the lack of a response since February I think I can safely assume that none of our vic collectors have any ideas as to the manufacturer of these bars? This may be more difficult than I originally thought.

Regards,

Rob

Hello Rob

Any news from your counterparts from medalcollectors?

Regards

Bison

Hello Bison,

I have checked over the past couple of days, on regular occasions and there has not been a reply. I shall keep checking.

Regards,

Rob

Kevin, there are no hallmarks on the reverse, nor is 'Paul Dubois' on the front. It does have a French ribbon, but there is no indication on the rim that it was made in France. Any ideas?

Hello Nick,

If it is possible could you measure the diameter. While the French produced models are of the same appearance there is sometimes a difference in the diameter. A closer picture of the obverse near the bottom would be helpful in ascertaining the parentage of the medal.

Regards,

Rob

France Decorations of an infantry corporal

3. Fighter Cross, in its original box (House KRETLY)

In regards the War Combattant Cross are you able to post some closer pics of both the box and the reverse of the medal. I would be looking to see what, if any, makers mark is on the reverse.

Regards,

Rob

Thank you Rob!

Unfortunately I cannot sign in to medalcollectors. When I try, this message appears: "Sorry. Registration has been disabled by the administrator."

The access seems to be now restricted.

Regards

Bison

Hello Bison,

I have posted the details of your CLC bronze war medal, with the picture of the rim, on that forum thread. If any information is provided as to the recipients details I shall re-post it here.

Regards,

Rob

Hi

I get this medal this week and I am very happy with it!!

Is there any chance to know the name of the Chinese #10107??

Thanks in advance for your help.

Aye

Bison

Hello Bison,

There is indeed a full medal roll for the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC) in existence. It is indexed by registered number, and includes the full name of the CLC member concerned, and an indication of the date, and sometimes location of death, if this occurred in service.

If you head over to the Medalcollectors.com forum there is a long four page thread on the Chinese Labour Corps BWM. In particular one of the forum members (James) has both a research project in progress as well as the medal roll for the CLC. I am not sure if you have to be a member but it is free and there is no shortage of information there.

The direct forum link is: Medalcollectors

Hope this is of use.

Regards,

Rob

Can anyone tell anything about this medal, ie manufacture, type?

Hello Nick,

Assuming that there is the name of the designer 'Paul Dubois' on the obverse, lower right near the feet of victory as viewed, this would be a standard official Belgian vic.

The pic of the reverse is a bit blurred but I cannot see any other additional marks of 'LA' or 'R' which are characteristic of the Czech produced models.

Of note is that the medal is on French ribbon which is slightly different to the Belgian produced ribbon.

Regards,

Rob

Thanks, Gents. The capbadge will come off tomorrow, when I get home from work. Guess I'll have to look for an earlier version. Can anyone tell me anything about the medal? ie manufacture, type, etc? Any information will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks. Nick.

Nick,

There is a long running thread in the 'Rest of The World' forum sub-section on the whole Interallied victory medal series. There are also a couple of pics of the British official type 1 vic that is different to yours, as a type 2.

Regards,

Rob

To one and all, and our US vic collectors in particular,

I have a number of these battle bars for the US vic mini in my collection. They are slightly different to the other variety that has recessed end loops as well as a different font.

I am attempting to identify the manufacturer of these particular mini bars. I realise that this may be a hard task but appreciate any input from our US collectors.

The thin backstrap is actually more of a shiny tin than it appears in the scan.

Regards,

Rob

Gents, if I may be so bold to add this picture that I came across in here:-

A varying assortment of national awards including Romanian, Polish, Italian, Belgium but with a US Victory Medal.

The picture had no information whatsoever about who was the owner, but possibly may generate some discussion here.

Kevin in Deva.

Hello Kevin,

An interesting group. I recall seeing this same group pictured somewhere else (maybe even on another forum) but the exact location escapes me at the moment. Considering the variety of foreign awards I would be thinking some sort of liaison officer or the like.

Given the pauctiy of contributors to this thread it will indeed be interesting to see what others views are.

Regards,

Rob

And the close-ups. Such lovely detail on something that is but 11mm in diameter.

Regards,

Rob

To one and all,

Here is a nice us vic mini of French production. It is the same as the French reproduction of the full-size us vic, illustrated as Figure 118 in Mr Laslo's book (page 86-87).

Close-ups to follow showing the high level of detail.

Regards,

Rob

And the reverses.

Regards,

Rob

Hello all,

Following a request from JM from a while back here is a side-by-side comparison of the Italian vic official type 2 (on the left as viewed) and the reissue type 1 (both S. Johnson).

Apart from the much thicker staffa suspender, reduced level of fine detail, minor detail differences, and different metal composition, there is little to tell the two apart.

Regards,

Rob

I checked last night, and there is a Mfg. hallmark of "SGDG" on the back of the service ribbon, and what appears to be some sort of a quality control stamp that looks like a square with one open end. Does this mean anything to you?

Hello Obergefreiter,

As far as I can recall it is the mark of a French medal manufacturer. I don't have my references to hand so I can't indicate the specific firm. When I have the opportunity and time I will look for the references and post more information if I can find it.

Regards,

Rob

Victory Medal Czech.

Medal Type 2. Signature of the sculptor O. Cavalier on the obverse.

Manufacture of Kremnica Mincovňa.

Hello Lambert,

The designers mark in the case should be 'O. Spaniel' for Otakar Španiel, 1881-1955.

Regards,

Rob

Here's my US Victory Medal, with the service ribbon attatched.

Hello Obergefreiter,

A nice us vic with FRANCE bar. Of note is that the ribbon bar appears to be of French manufacture. This is characterised by the two prongs of the lateral catch on the reverse. If you take the ribbon off there may be a marking of the producer on the reverse. Are there any such marking?

Regards,

Rob

Gentlemen.

I realized that my medal victory USA. with this clap "defensive sector" inverted. . This would be the last in the medal ribbon ..

lambert

Hello Lambert,

It is not entirely unusual to see a us vic with the DEFENSIVE SECTOR (DS) clasp on the top. There are numerous other examples seen with the Defensive Sector clasp out of order. It has been suggested that these clasps were placed on the top in the time when it was still not confirmed exactly where the DS clasp would sit. The original battle clasps were approved earlier than the DS clasp. It is interesting that in your example the bottom MEUSE-ARGONNE claps has no spacers. This would probably indicate that, at the time of issue, it was supposed to be the bottom clasp.

It wasn't until after the DS clasp was authorised that the dress regulations were changed to indicate the DS clasp was to be placed on the bottom. Now it is much more common to see the us vics with the DS clasp on the bottom with the spacers removed.

I have such a us vic in my collection that has the DS clasp on top which was issued in early 1920 and another couple where the DS clasp still has its feet. It is also not unusual to see us vis without a DS clasp if the recipient did not receive the medal originally with the clasp.

A nice example of an early issue vic.

Regards,

Rob

And this example is the 1919 dated reverse. Interestingly the detail on the arms, dates and background details seem a bit more worn and less defined than the 1918 variety.

Regards,

Rob