Kriegsmarine just a lead Minesweeper badge?

[Eric K.]

At first glance this would appear to be just another cast badge...... but one of my good friends father worked in a factory in Idar- Oberstein making war badges during WW2 , anyways this badge is a proto type ( I really dont know too much about these I cant see the differance in them ) They sure do look like fakes and I guess technically they are but these are 100% "original" at least pre 45, He has 5 or 6 more and from what he tells me is that when they make the press for the badges they use lead to see the final product, so Im hearing all these "war" stories about badge making when the father tells me that the presses are still around. Only bad thing is that theyre in a river not too far from his place, so we go to check them out , sad to say that they are in VERY bad shape and looks to be just a huge bit of machinery,Ill take some pics next time Im there. Heres some pics of the badge thast was given to me.

[Eric K.]

Heres the back,

Eric

[Martin W]

Hi Eric,great story.It will be interesting to see the photos of the machinery.

Thanks,

Martin.

[Eric K.]

Its amazing whats still arouund, when I looked at the machinery it still has the die stamp in it, it looks like it was for an EK but its really coroded and I didnt feel like getting wet so I couldnt tell for sure. theres maybe 3 presses all together, but one of them is partially covered with concrete and they are HUGE!!! alot bigger than I thought they would be. I know some EK's were made in Idar-Oberstein but i wasnt aware of any KM badges?

Eric

[Gordon Williamson]

Its amazing whats still arouund, when I looked at the machinery it still has the die stamp in it, it looks like it was for an EK but its really coroded and I didnt feel like getting wet so I couldnt tell for sure. theres maybe 3 presses all together, but one of them is partially covered with concrete and they are HUGE!!! alot bigger than I thought they would be. I know some EK's were made in Idar-Oberstein but i wasnt aware of any KM badges?

Eric

Very interesting piece Eric.

I think it was quite normal to do "test" stamping in a softer metal before production started, so this story is perfectly believable.

Klein & Quenzer from Idar-Oberstein did make some Kriegsmarine badges for sure.

[Eric K.]

Klein & Quenzer yeah i guess they made KM badges LOL.

Thanks

Eric

[Eric K.]

Does anyone see any major differences, or maybe the closest match to a known minesweeper badge?

Eric

[Martin W]

Eric,sorry but i do not have a K&Q badge in my collection.Maybe some other members do.When your time permits iwould still like to see photo's of the machinery.When i was a teenager i worked weekends in the Austin motor factory at Longbridge in Birmingham.I worked in the shop where various engine parts were struck.Cam shafts ,etc.I bet the machinery for striking badges was very similar.

Regards,

Martin.