Steve K.

Some computer problems on my end prevented me from posting the reverse last night. I was lucky to get the thread started! Anyway, here's the pic. All good points JTW but the eagle's tail is not soldered to the wreath and the bolts have not been removed from the claws. It appears the claws are just really ugly looking and have always been the sore spot for me on this badge. Granted the eagle does look soft and thinner. GWL has always had "goose"-necked birds.

Time to stir the pot! I have yet to see another one in nearly ten years and have never seen an attempted fake. All the characteristics match GWL by my eye, but what say you? Steve

The second one pictured in this thread (without the RC overstamp) is in my collection. There are only 2 others that I know about in collections. A very RARE bird! Steve

Superior examples! Thanks for showing such nice badges JTW!

I have one of these and have always thought it was wartime produced based on manufacturing elements and quality of construction. If it has not been found in the hands of veterans, that would certainly cast some layer of doubt upon these but I still can't dismiss them totally as a fake until there is more evidence. Cheers, Steve

Hi Seeheld I am back. I was in Munich, Vienna and parts of Croatia. Also, I just had a book published. The cover is posted here. I know it's not German Imperial, but I do collect in other areas. I'm also working on my Dissertation for my University work, so it may be difficult for me to post everything, but I'll try to get some scans up in the near future. Cheers, Steve

I just look for the shiny, bald head. It's like a beacon in the night sky of the collecting field! Great job researching this bar...a great story of collaborations and another bar saved from obscurity! Steve

double post

I do not have one of these in my collection. I have never thought they were good for enecdotal reasons (nippled rivits!). I think the analysis here by JTW, especially concerning the maker's mark, makes a good point.

I would very much like to own that cupal version! Thanks for sharing. Steve

There were many bars to purchase at this year's show but most were out of my price range or of questionable content. I thought Paul got the best score with those first two bars. I was very jealous. I did get the Banderkatalog which has escaped me for some time, and it was the new edition! (thanks Paul)

Seeheld, Ahhh, I think it would be the other way. I will post more pics after I get back from my 'trip'. Steve

Tom, Interesting badge. However, the use of 800 silver for qualification badges has always been suspicious to me. I tend to avoid them (unless its an Army Paratrooper presentation badge -- then I perk up). Steve

last pic! It is more crowded, so I'll need more space soon. I'm very slow at collecting. I'm happy to add only 1 or 2 bars to my collection per year, preferably Mecklenburg bars. Ignore the Japanese pamphlet in the corner. It is something I found at an estate sale that still need identification.

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Alex, I agree! It has been 3 additional years since I first posted my collection. Let's see how far I've come! Steve

Reverse

obverse

I know Steve Previtera (Winidore Press) is working in this direction. Some of my German aviation badges have already been photographed. Cheers, Steve K.

Beautiful bar!

Nice badge! I originally vetted this piece for the seller. Kindest Regards, Steve

Hi Martin I agree with JTW 100%. It looks really good from the front, but the maker's mark looks skewed, which is very unusual, plus the rivets have that look as if they don't fit correctly or that they've been messed with. Hinge and pin are also different from known originals. Given all this, I would not feel good about having the badge in my collection. There would always be that question in the back of my mind about it. Steve

Mark, Thanks for the quick reply. Stephen and I shot the photographs of my collection at two different shows, SOS and Chantilly. I thought I had made it clear to him concerning the IMME badges but the text states that the eagle for the IMME first pattern is a Juncker eagle...which it clearly is NOT. Then, on the second pattern IMME eagle, the text states that this eagle is unique in die construction, which it is clearly for both eagles BUT wasn't reflected in the text for the first pattern IMME. The text boxes were obviously switched or changed at some point. I know these things can happen. I was just surprised to see this mistake and that it took me so long to discover it. Thanks much, Steve

Mark, I'm bringing this back up because I noticed this badge in S. Previtera's book on combat badges. It states that the eagle is a Juncker eagle, and you questioned it here in the post above. Did you add the comment in Previtera's book that this is a Juncker eagle? Thanks, Steve