Tschapka feldzeichen

A

Alba

New member
Hello,
Here are a couple of photographs of the feldzeichen from the tschapka which was the subject of a previous post. Hopefully you will see that the centre colour has been stitched to the surrounding white boss of the field badge. I have some other photographs of it, if it helps. Failing that, I can get access to a better camera to try and get some more photographs.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments. If it is incorrect or a copy, how much would an original be, if one were available?
 
Hi Alba,

Based on my limited experience (I own one and have looked at a loooooooot of pictures), this Feldzeichen looks ok. The stitching of the centre and the back looks similar to that on the Feldzeichen in my collection (on mine more stitches are visible), as does the white cloth and the coarser centre cloth (although the white cloth here seems to be largely covered in white paint). The cloth on the back looks coarser than on mine, but the metal pin again is very similar.

Of course, my Feldzeichen could be a repro........ :-k

Lars
 
Hello Lars,
Thank you for your thoughts. I hope both our Field Badges are original! I know nothing about them and have only just started reading about them on this forum. This Feldzeichen is from a 1909 dated Bavarian Ulan helmet that belongs to a friend.
Many thanks,
Alba
 
James has many of them. Maybe we can convince him to do a side-by-side photo comparison like he did on those helmets. I think we could all enjoy that.

Several years ago at SOS I got an officer shako with an enlisted badge. James whined so much about how hard it was to find those. So I gave it to him .... Just gave it to him. Didn't even buy me a drink. :-({|= :-({|=
 
Joe I have been paying for that Feldzeichan ever since :D

Here are pics of side by side of 2 Prussian and 2 Bavarian

James











 
Great pics James. I would stress once again gentlemen that OR's repros have glued centres. The oriiginals are stitched on and you can see the stitches. James pics prove this. So Lars and Alba, yours are originals. As to value, seeing an OR's feldzeichen go for $250+ would not shock me. Even finding one though would be a challenge.
Can't imagine how boring it must have been stitching these things by hand day after day!! Just brutal.
 
Yes Joe, if it had been me, the big guy could have whined all the way back to Minesota and I still would never have given up that piece! LOL! Guess I will be buying my own drinks at the SOS.
 
Hello gentlemen,
Thank you all for taking the time to have a look at my post and then finding time to answer. A special thanks to James for photographing and sharing photo's of his examples. My friend will be very please to know his is original. I have enjoyed learning more about this aspect of Imperial German headwear.
Many thanks,
Alba
 
The good thing about this forum is the opportunity to see top quality militaria, the bad thing that the items in my collection look rather cr**py in comparison. James, those Mannschaften Feldzeichen look absolutely pristine =D> (I couldn't find the smiley for "envious" :wink: )

I hope that Brian is right about all repros being glued; with prices at 250 USD I don't think it will be long before they're properly faked, stitching and all.

Here's the one issued Feldzeichen in my collection, colours of Schaumburg, for Jäger Bataillon 7.


Lars
 
Did German units often put whitener on their field badges etc? If not, would it be worth gently cleaning the whitening off of the feldzeichen? The compound is very dry and seems to fall away without too much trouble.
Regards,
Alba
 
b.loree said:
I would stress once again gentlemen that OR's repros have glued centres. The oriiginals are stitched on and you can see the stitches.
Click to expand...

I am curious what qualifies such a broad sweeping generalized statement that all field badges that are glued are fakes? By saying that you are declaring that many original private purchased field badges are fakes.

How many have you owned? I have owned over 40+ helmets with field badges and handled 3 X as many.

A great many officer bullion, private purchase cord, and even plain EM private purchase field badges were glued to the wodden core.

I do agree that for an issued field badge, it is preferred that the fabric is hand sewn. But do not dismiss the private purchase examples where the use of glue was common.
 
I stand corrected WW1. I should have been more specific in my comments and avoided a broad generalization as you have pointed out. I do feel though that hand stitching on issued OR feldzeichen is an indicator of originality. In addition, if you are able, please post some pictures of your officer and private purchased feldzeichen so that we can learn from your collection.
 
I don't collect EM uniforms and headgear but I ended up with this Saxon feldzeichen years ago in a trade. I presumed it was correct, based on the nice construction and look of the badge, but I didn't know conclusively since I had seen so few of these things. I was a bit disheartened when Brian had stated that all original EM feldzeichens have to be sewn, since mine is not. But now there is a chance that it may be a private purchase item. Any other comments, for or against, would be appreciated.

Regards

Dave
 
Black backing of polyester fabric; mercerized thread; interior form of cast urethane...and glows like two dozen fireflies under a black light
 
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