1957er ribbon bar with Red Cross "add-on"

[HPL2008]

Recently purchased from Klaus Butschek, here is a a little oddity that I thought could be of interest: A six-place ribbon bar that originally consisted of five 1957er ribbons, to which the wearer had made the do-it-yourself addition of a post-war German Red Cross long service award.

The WW2/1957er decorations are the EK 1, EK 2, Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold, KVK 2 mit Schwertern and the Ostmedaille. The add-on is a single ribbon bar of the German Red Cross' Auszeichnungsspange für 45 Dienstjahre [Award Bar for 45 Years of Service], which is actually mounted the wrong side up: Properly, the wider stripe shold be on the right.

Some views of the item. Obverse view:




Reverse view:




Two detail shots of the hand-made add-on. With three little pieces of padding/"connective tissue" and a liberal amount of glue, this is fairly solid albeit not exactly refined craftwork, although its crudeness was of course hidden from view with the bar in wear:






As a contrast, three views showing the neat and quite substantial construction of the original assembly:

[harryamb2]

nice bar HPL.

[oradour]

Great looking bar, I have seen this done before.....where to save a few bob the owner has attached a "new" ribbon himself ....it is a nice early bar as well, with its red backing and "C" clasp catch fitting
Prost ! Steve.

[Erno]

That's a very nice and interesting bar! Personalized and customized items are always interesting to see.