Schießplatzmeister

Hello folks: Tom is correct in his translation. However, I believe to be more specific, in reality, these awards went to field nurses (on bow ribbons) and were also awarded to doctors and other medical personel. I further believe that awards were made for activities well beyond the 1870/71 conflict (but it seems that awards had practically ceased by the start of WWI). Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again everyone: I am definately out of my area of expertise on this one. However, I still say definately Prussian (not Baden, not Bavaria). The Schulterklappen look like they are for enlisted men of the Grenadier-Regt. K?nig Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreu?isches) Nr. 3 K?nigsberg. I am rather certain about this now after finding an example in a catalogue. Where are our Prussian uniform experts to verify this? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Robert: These are Prussians in my opinion. Notice the drum hanger which is a Prussian eagle. I'm not sure of the unit. Perhaps some of our uniform specialists can make out the cipher on the epaulettes. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Mark: Yes, it certainly does look like a RAO IV (although the photographic resolution is not good enough to be 100% certain). There are no listings that I know of for the HUGE amount of RAO IV last-type badges awarded. A Prussian Rangliste will do no good obviously and I know of no other listings which would include awards to foreign military personnel. You will have to find a ranklist for Danish Officers if such a thing exists (not my cup of tea). Or, you may have to look in Danish who's who/peerage lists or other Danish geneological sources. Perhaps Tim Eriksen could be of some help? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Mark: Yes, there is information available regarding the RAO awards. A listing exists for the early 1st and 2nd Class awards (to civilians and military personnel). Also, of course, rank lists show all awards to military personnel (including the 3rd and 4th classes). Do you have a particular individual in mind that you are trying to research? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Mark: Thanks for sharing the information! Very interesting indeed. I wonder who has that ONE! genuine badge with swords? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Alex K: Don't panic. There is nothing so terrible that it detracts from the appearance or value of the piece. I suggest that you don't apply anything to it as this could cause bigger problems. Being as old as it is, a little bit of verdigris is expected and not a problem. You blokes over the pond always want to polish these bl**din medals or make them look new! It looks good. A nice piece. Congratulations! Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Veteran: Your photo is of the same-era (1846-1854) badge as that posted above. A very nice piece congratulations! It should be noted that this is actually the 2nd type of eagle as far as 4th Class RAO badges are concerned as the first type had a silver center and was made in one piece. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Alex K: What you have is an 1846-1854!!!!! example with the "Lila Adler" (lilac eagle). This is much less commonly encountered than the later type of the smooth-armed cross with the "Karminrotem/Ziegelrotem" (brick red) eagle. A very fine piece! Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again everyone: I'm sorry that I was not able to reply sooner. Everyone has exactly expressed the identical thoughts that I had as to why the bar is German. The mounting is exclusively German in style. If the recipient was Austrian the ribbons would be tri-folded or furled (Bavarian fashion). Also, if an Austrian Officer who happened to receive an OZL, it would be mounted behind a good many other Austrian Orders and awards. It is rather common to see German groups with the Austrian War Merit Cross. It should be easy to find the pieces to fit the bar in order to restore it if you so desire. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Mark: Beyrei? is a collector and specialist regarding Oldenburg Orders and decorations. He wrote a book a few years ago which has become the "textbook" for Oldenburg. I'm not certain when the swords were instituted for the Officer's Cross (I am a work and don't have my reference material here, but they certainly existed from 1914-1918). My assumption is that persons in the military services received the award with swords and that one didn't necessarily have to be under fire to receive them. I don't know where your photos are from, but I just remembered one of these Orders being offered in Germany with the original case and award document. That one is undoubtedly good due to the context. Contact me by PM and I will explain if interested. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Naxos: The wearer of this bar was definately a German and not an Austrian. So, most likely, he was a junior Officer from the Grand Duchy of Baden. "SPM"

Hmmm....... 1) Looks very much like the example listed by Beyrei? (good) 2) But with only 328 awards, I have seen far too many circulating in the last few years (bad) 3) Therefore, personally, I would not purchase one without documentation and the proper context, etc. Sorry that I couldn't be of more assistance! "SPM"

Hello Naxos: A nice bar that you have. The second position would most likely be a Baden Order of the Z?hringer Lion Knight 2nd Class with swords, and the third position would most likely be an Austrian War Merit Cross 3rd Class with war decoration. These are the awards that are most commonly found on these ribbon combinations (although other combinations are possible). I believe that your fellow was a junior Officer. Thank you for sharing this nice piece. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello everyone: Yes the Order of Adolph of Nassau was awarded well beyond 1866. At some point beyond 1866 a knight's badge with a crown was added to the Order also, so any of them with a crown is definately post-1866. Thus, any badges without a crown could have been awarded by Nassau or Luxembourg until at least 1909. I am not certain when all awards ceased. Is there anyone out there with the book by Schoos (sp?) who can tell us? The first fellow does look like a diplomatic-corps member. It seems to me that they are not the same individuals, but have the same mustache! Nice photos none-the-less! Thank you for sharing them. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Naxos: Your interesting cross looks like it had something soldered on the reverse at the center. Perhaps there were prongs of some sort there at some point in the past????? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Pluribus: Good observation, I was thinking the same thing. It does look like St. Stanislaus Order ribbon. Would any of our other Imperial Russian Order collectors care to comment? If it IS St. Stanislaus, this would be a very unusual group. Good observation Saschaw a Grecian award would make more sense politically. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Chris: Unfortunately, the citations for the GMVK awards were never published. I'm sure that they existed at one point, but were probably destroyed during WWII (or else someone would have been circulating the information or have attempted to publish it by now). Of course you have Ophaus and Nickel as the sources for name, address, occupation, unit, and date of award information, but that is about it. The document is probably going to cost you a lot as it has been noticed by a lot of people by now. I noticed it too (you can find a copy of the Ophaus book offered by the same seller). Undoubtedly, this book came from the estate of the recipient. Where is the GMVK? Note that I believe that it is a bad idea to talk on this forum about things that have not yet sold (on Ebay or elsewhere) as it makes it harder for everyone to get them at a good price. It is great for the seller, but bad for the buyers. You may have just contributed to making the document less affordable for yourself! (sorry for the lecture!) But, since you asked the question, I thought that I would respond. Good luck bidding. I hope that you get it! Chris I will not be bidding on this item (against you). Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Stogieman and Steve: I do not believe that the second place ribbon is for a Bavarian 1905 Jubilee medal. It appears to be a red ribbon with white stripes. I do not think that it is Bavarian, but perhaps something else? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Andy, Tom, and Tony: Yes, this fuse is a bit different than the one shown in the illustration. The numbers in Arabic go from 2 to at least 48 (they go up in increments of 2) from what I can make out. Also, the threaded base for this fuse is of larger diameter proportionally compared to the width of the fuse than the one for the fuse shown in the illustration (which is narrower compared to the width of the fuse). Thus, we have a Krupp made Ottoman Army/Navy fuse but what model exactly? Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Andy: So there we have it, a Krupp made 1898/09 S22? made for Ottoman Turkish forces. A very nice item! My supposition was totally incorrect regarding aluminium usage. I stand corrected! I learn something new each day. Congratulations regarding your acquisition! Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Andy: A nice fuse that you have! Indeed the markings around the base are numbers in Arabic. These were to dial in the proper timing for the fuse. Perhaps this is Ottoman, but with Aluminium used for construction, I would assume that it is much later (perhaps WWII-era). It is my opinion that aluminium was too valuble to use for shell fuses during WWI. At the time it was considered rather expensive and uncommon and would have been used for aircraft parts, not for fuses. This is not my area of expertise though, so I will have you rely on the opionion of others regarding the maker and exact era of manufacture. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Sandro: Congratulations regarding your acquisition! Best regards, "SPM"

Hello again Sandro: Thank you for the close-up photographs. With the close-ups, it now looks to me as though the center pieces are probably gold (I was mistaken regarding this earlier). It also looks as though the pin is gilded. The engraving for the numbers on the reverse looks period. Everything looks good regarding this star as far as I can tell. This could very well be an authentic pre-1892 Samuel Friedeberg und S?hne, Berlin star. Best regards, "SPM"

Hello Sandro: If not mistaken (which I sometimes am), I believe that I see the mark "S. F. S." stamped on the reverse center. I don't recall which firm this is, and I am at my office w/o my reference books. Does anyone recall who this maker is? The center parts appear to be possibly gilded-silver (or bronze) and not gold. If so, this would make the star probably a post-1916 piece. Best regards, "SPM"