Lost Skeleton
Well-known member
It can be a costly undertaking.
Before posting pictures of the Prussian observer qualification badge (Beobachterabzeichen) I purchased at the MAX, I think it would be worthwhile to examine a badge I purchased from a high profile Internet dealer a few years ago.
The obverse looks pretty good: frosty with polished highlights, lots of detail in the wreath (every leafy cell and vein of each laurel and oak is crisp), and nice red orange in the enamel work (it's even chipped; therefore, it's not plastic).
Let's take a closer look at that Kaiserkrone. Yup, it certainly looks okay:
Now for a view of the reverse. Uh-oh, something is amiss.
Through the miracle of macro photography, a revealing close-up:
The hard lesson learned by me is this badge is a phony. Surprised? I sure was.
What has come to be accepted regarding Juncker marked badges is that the large crown hallmark is completely incorrect. It is correct for a smaller crown, crescent moon, and 800 or higher proof to appear on select Iron Crosses and commercial silver service, but this combination never appeared on any legitimate army Luft badge. I don't know exactly when this wisdom came to light. Suffice it to say, I was behind the curve.
However, there are other damning features to be considered. The hinge well is very shallow, the silver has a very mottled appearance (often attributed to corrosive gases weeping through a vent when soldered), and extremely sloppy holes through which the enameled Armee Korps symbol is affixed.
Now for the real deal! This is an apples to apples comparison, Junk to Juncker.
Again, the Kaiserkrone. Here we see a voided crown with the inside of the hinge well visible.
The reverse. Note the deep hinge well. No mottling anywhere:
Finally, the hallmark. Note, the crescent moon is solid and not merely outlined. The slots and holes for the army corps badge are regular and evenly spaced.
In conclusion, the second Beobachterabzeichen satisfies every characteristic of a true wartime Juncker badge. Perhaps, Tony will add to this article with pictures of his Juncker. I have heard every argument postulating badge number one to be of postwar, or Third Reich manufacture. However, if both badges are Junckers, why reinvent the wheel? Why change the the proportions and details? Did the old dies wear out? Where they destroyed after 1918?
The most logical explanation is these nonconformist badges are relatively modern copies (they certainly outnumber the authentic pieces).
I hope this little essay will prevent someone else from making a similarly expensive and discouraging mistake.
Chas.
Before posting pictures of the Prussian observer qualification badge (Beobachterabzeichen) I purchased at the MAX, I think it would be worthwhile to examine a badge I purchased from a high profile Internet dealer a few years ago.
The obverse looks pretty good: frosty with polished highlights, lots of detail in the wreath (every leafy cell and vein of each laurel and oak is crisp), and nice red orange in the enamel work (it's even chipped; therefore, it's not plastic).
Let's take a closer look at that Kaiserkrone. Yup, it certainly looks okay:
Now for a view of the reverse. Uh-oh, something is amiss.
Through the miracle of macro photography, a revealing close-up:
The hard lesson learned by me is this badge is a phony. Surprised? I sure was.
What has come to be accepted regarding Juncker marked badges is that the large crown hallmark is completely incorrect. It is correct for a smaller crown, crescent moon, and 800 or higher proof to appear on select Iron Crosses and commercial silver service, but this combination never appeared on any legitimate army Luft badge. I don't know exactly when this wisdom came to light. Suffice it to say, I was behind the curve.
However, there are other damning features to be considered. The hinge well is very shallow, the silver has a very mottled appearance (often attributed to corrosive gases weeping through a vent when soldered), and extremely sloppy holes through which the enameled Armee Korps symbol is affixed.
Now for the real deal! This is an apples to apples comparison, Junk to Juncker.
Again, the Kaiserkrone. Here we see a voided crown with the inside of the hinge well visible.
The reverse. Note the deep hinge well. No mottling anywhere:
Finally, the hallmark. Note, the crescent moon is solid and not merely outlined. The slots and holes for the army corps badge are regular and evenly spaced.
In conclusion, the second Beobachterabzeichen satisfies every characteristic of a true wartime Juncker badge. Perhaps, Tony will add to this article with pictures of his Juncker. I have heard every argument postulating badge number one to be of postwar, or Third Reich manufacture. However, if both badges are Junckers, why reinvent the wheel? Why change the the proportions and details? Did the old dies wear out? Where they destroyed after 1918?
The most logical explanation is these nonconformist badges are relatively modern copies (they certainly outnumber the authentic pieces).
I hope this little essay will prevent someone else from making a similarly expensive and discouraging mistake.
Chas.
