Article about: by Glenn66 Personally I couldn't care less about the maker. If the cap looks good and more importantly is original then I would be happy to add it to my collection (price permitting of cours
I am not really an Erel fanatic (I prefer more obscure makers), but when I find their pre-war quality hats (especially those that are private purchase and in minty condition) I go for them. This is one of them--a minty Infantry officer's visor circa 1938-39. This one is in plush doeskin wool:
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
These early ones are heavily padded, unlike the wartime examples. They always have a nice sattelform, with the peak being parallel to the band at the top:
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Interior. This is an Extra. Note the absence of the OKK markings. It is a also a DRGM-era piece (ie, made before August, 1940 when Erel's patent was granted). Also note that the wool trim on the bottom of the hat (below the bottom ring of piping) is not doeskin. This is common on a lot of hats, and is for durability reasons.
On wartime models (with the trikot wool body) you will often see a boiled wool trim.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Here is that grommet/vent everyone gets so excited about. IMHO, they would be worthless in terms of providing any "fresh air" and was just a marketing gimmick on the part of Erel:
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
I used to have mostly Erels back in the day, with just about every piping color (no propaganda or Chaplain, though). Now, my Erels are all political/civil, except for this waffenbruder:
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
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