Steve K.

Beautiful Group!! I love those early 835 silver Goblets!!

Beautiful medal!! This is the first time my eyes have seen this Lippe-Detmold medal!! I love the crown!!

Jos, Yes, I saw your badge for sale at a fair price......I can not buy them all!! But, rare will always be rare...... I?ve seen many times people selling badges or medal bars at good prices on forum sites and they just sit......seller ends up sending them to Ebay or elsewhere....Maybe it is a sign of the economic times or maybe a sign of the maturity of the collecting community...... Steve

Eric Nice!! That's only the third one I've seen!! Your finish to the wreath is better than mine, but it appears my eagle has retained the darker color better.....interesting! The only other difference is the RC overstamp!! It's nice to know that there are other GWL ROs out there!! But I've always wondered why so few...Wegerhoff seems to have been a prolific maker of pilot badges and other high volume qualification badges.....why not the RO & AG? JTW Can I put you at the top of my list for this one too!! Cheers, Steve

Here's one that can be considered "rarer then hen's teeth" -- I've only seen 2 in my time of collecting....how about you??

AHHHHHHH!!! What a huge photo you posted ....I, too, hate to scroll sideways.....(but I had the liberty today to search through the archives and found some good stuff!!) Anyway, here is a mounted 1870 FF2 from today's update, no EK on the bar but still nice to see an early Mecklenburger - in for 1866 out before 1897 -- nice 15yr long service that is rarely seen!! Details on this FF are much better!!! Steve (Photos courtesy of Detlev Niemann)

I can NEVER get tired of this WAR Bird!!

Kurt Thank you...much better picture to see that those marks aren't casting bubbles. I have no problem with this bird.....truely a rare one as it is only the 3rd I've seen!!! Regards, Steve

Here is my contribution to buttonhole attire and "wearing the day awarded"......One older chap with Bavaria's MVK3mS (ribbon can not be seen) standing next to a younger fella with one of Bavaria's higher bravery decorations, the Military Verdienst Medal Max Joseph (silver grade) with its ribbon, and the EKII pinned below with no ribbon!! Gotta love Bavarian audacity!!

Here is my contribution, but I see Jan Arne has one of these rare birds as well (Is there anything you do not have yet in your collection, Jan.....I'm humbled by your collection!). I think this bird is in slightly better condition, but I would take this badge in any condition. Near MINT!! It demonstrates that 60+ year old badges in aluminum can still exist in near mint condition......Cheers, Steve

Maybe my scans are just crappy......the reverse of the eagle is almost completely silver and the yellow of the wreath has turned a dark orange, almost as if it had been baked in the sun. On the reverse of the wreath, the majority of the finish has been worn away, leaving only small remnants of color (haze or halo) around the rivets, catch and hinge. There is no other explanation for the color on the wreath. Why, on the front of the eagle, there is no silver left is also strange, and I've only been able to conclude that the original owner rubbed it off, because even low areas, like the swas, have no silver finish. Why the eagle and wreath have a black sub coating is a mystery to me as well,...... I think it is the effects of aging...... For me....it is a Pilot/Observer. The color of the wreath in low spots and the remnants of silver near the talons point to this conclusion. John, even on your P/O that you show, there is a clump of silver color 'pooled' at the talon that would wear/age much more slowly than a thin coat of silver elsewhere. Do you not see that?

CUPAL? I wish!!! Quite simply this was sold to me as a pilot's badge. I bought it just seeing the obverse pic, knowing full well it was a nice First pattern Assmann. It even sat in my collection for nearly 2 months, making me believe it was a pilots badge....when in reality it's a pilot/observer!! Nothing 'odd'...just special!! The tiny bit of 'grey' where the eagle clutches the swas is the only remnant of what was once a 'silver' obverse.

Color is important here!!! Scott, the swas is actually not a highpoint of the badge, so it has seen little wear....that's why there is less buntmetal showing through the black on the swas....

George, the cut-out legs are normal and fine for this style by Assmann (BTW -- nice stein collection....I like the pretzel-shaped whiskey container...at least I think it was for whiskey). Joel, The different leaves are perfectly fine too (Laurel leaves for victory, Oak leaves for strength)....although it would be nice to find a badge where these had switched sides!! I will post the reverse here...........look at the rivets and catch (it really is a sublime difference)....Why is this not a standard pilot badge?

That is one heck of a cross!! When you tire of it, send it my way....I will gladly trade a whole cat for it (not just its left paw)!!!

No other comments from those that collect LW qualification badges......

Structurally the badge is sound!! But it is far from STANDARD.....

Richard That's not the case here...the finish on this badge is original...look to the reverse. The other excellent example shown by John is stunning too....... Those in the states use something called Simi-chrome, I think. Looks dreadful!!

The clues are easier once you see the reverse, but all the information that is needed can be found on the obverse.......look to the feet!!

Kurt That is a wonderful badge!!! IF you ever want to part with it, I know a good home. I've been looking for these uniformly finished variants.....they are difficult to find! Steve

What is so special about this LW Pilot badge?

My small contribution to the crown, in a nice fitted case......

Jan Arne That is the smartest looking cross I've seen in a long time. The quality is top notch!!! And it has great character to boot!! IS the color of the beading the same as the color of the core (seen through the paint)? I'm just curious!! It may be the picture..... Kindest Regards, Steve

Dave Thanks for your time searching for this one. A time frame has escaped me for years on this one. It is the only single piece U.S. Navy buckle I've ever seen. I was thinking it might date to 1880-1900 but that is a very uneducated guess. Steve

Bob I have to disagree with you. This style of badge has been linked through a family member to a known pilot during the war, and has been evaluated by experienced collectors. For me, it falls into the realm of 'original beyond a reasonable doubt'. Kindest Regards, Steve