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These are two of the several specialty sleeve patches worn by Zeppelin crew members. The one with the propeller blade is for Machinisten (mechanic). There was another with a ship's steering wheel for Steuerleute (helmsman) and one with a "blitz" for the radio operator. These were worn by members...

Congratulations on a nice find. I have a M16 Type B and some other assorted German telephone equipment. The earlier models are difficult to find, much less in this type of condition. It looks complete, so you are very fortunate. My grandfather was an NCO in the signal corps of the AEF and he...

Too bad we can't see his shoulder strap clearly. I would like to get some better answers about what was worn by the various units at the camp. Chip

I remember that photo Joe. It's a great shot. The guy on the right is still wearing his unit shoulder strap, which looks like that of I.R.95. I think the instructors wore the "B" on the collar. Chip

Well, all I can make out are the first and last, Abs. (Absender) and Königsberg. I'll show it to a couple of Germans, who know how to read Sutterlin. We'll see if they can add anything. Chip

The man's unit is handwritten on the card. I just can't read it because I would have to stand on my head, which is not recommended for those of my age. If you could turn the reverse side of the card upside-down, perhaps we could decipher it. Chip

B., It would be pure speculation to attribute the shoulder straps to being produced in the camp. Though I am sure they had the capability there, the straps could just as easily been ordered from Germany. All were hand-made, so it is difficult to assign one to a specific place of origin. I have...

Strange indeed. The writer of the card mentions that they are in the training grounds of Beverloo in Belgium. A number of insignia were worn there that were worn no where else. I reference the metal "B" collar insignia and the "B" shoulder straps with unit number. My guess would be that these...

I own an issue lance and it is well marked. There are no maker marks, but there is the normal Prussian crown "W" with two digit date below, as on a bayonet. It is also unit marked to an Ulan regiment and has inspector stamps in multiple places. I have a private purchase Lanzriemen on it and an...

"Fl.P." = Flug Park. Nice photos! I have several of the sleeve patches, but this is my favorite.

Larry, If you have the time, I would be interested in seeing close-ups of those canteens. I've got some that I think are from this period, but you don't get clear photos of them that often. Thanks, Chip

I agree. The stamps are faked. Chip

James, First of all, as you may know, they are not from the imperial era. I believe they are boards of a forestry official from the Weimar government. Chip

A size 45 is a nice large size boot. I do think that these have features of a boot manufactured after the war. I've seen Luftwaffe marked side seam boots, so side seams are not a guarantee of WWI vintage. Several things stand out. First is the sole. Normally, the sole of a WWI boot will have a...

Gus, Nice navy items! Were the bottoms part of the set? My pair has the drop-down front flap like the blue wool trousers. I'm also curious about the cap. How is it marked? Thanks, Chip

Dave, That's a great piece and one of the few really attractive officer's Bluse that you will see. The ones without Litzen are painfully plain and I think you were smart to acquire such a nice example. I have a loose pair of the "alt Preußen" Litzen, but they are from an officer of the Füsilier...

Brian, I just read this thread for the first time and I can tell you that it is refreshing to see a website administrator that won't put up with this type of individual. They pop up on every website now and again. They immediately start with the boorish and negative comments and upset all of...

Joe, I just recently watched a video of a WWI German veteran from Füsilier Regt.Nr.80, interviewed in 1980 concerning his experiences at Verdun. He mentioned that on the eve the unit's attack, their spikes were collected and put in a bag. Later, when the unit was withdrawn from the front, they...

Milosz, They must be grenadiers. I can see the number "9" on some shoulder straps and Telegraphen troops would have shakos. I think that by this date infantry units had their own internal communications squad. I do find it interesting that these troops are still being issued the early war...

Brian, How about some advice for restitching projects? What thread do you use for instance? Needle type? Any other hints for self repair? Thanks, Chip