Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in Silber, Joseph Bergs & Co

[rbminis]

A new addition to my collection.
I do not have it in hand yet.
Am I correct in thinking that this is from the maker JB & Co.?
Ralph.

[big ned]

I agree on it being a J.Bergs & Co, badge. They were a Gablonz maker and member of the AGMuK conglomerate I believe. The obverse design is practically identical to one of the Rudolf Karneth die types. They were also a Gablonz based firm, I wonder if they shared die patterns at anytime as the similarity to me is remarkable?

Regards, Ned.

[rbminis]

Thanks Ned!
I will certainly post better photos when it arrives.
Ralph.

[Adrian]

There's a maker you don't see or hear of very often. In fact I'm not sure I've seen any other award from this maker. Did they make anything else?

[Walkwolf]

Nice one Ralph.........!

[big ned]

There's a maker you don't see or hear of very often. In fact I'm not sure I've seen any other award from this maker. Did they make anything else?

They were a very small outfit compared to other makers, in fact their name doesn't appear on the PKZ list of approved suppliers, but there is conjecture that it is one of the 'unknown' numbers subscribed, in this case possibly No.38. Their small size is probably why they became members of the AGMuK conglomerate, so as to be able to tender for government contracts that would otherwise be out of their scope.

They are known to have produced various badges for the RAD organisation (the ones below are just samples of the types they are known to have produced, not actually made by Bergs), and also particularly fine versions of the 'Oktober' medal. I believe the company still exists today.

Regards, Ned.

[Adrian]

How interesting, thank you.

I wonder if they made EK2s......?

[big ned]

How interesting, thank you.

I wonder if they made EK2s......?

I wonder that too. I've just been looking at the Sticky on the awards and decorations forum and noticed that the firm with the no.39 is described as 'Rudolf Berge'. also of Gablonz, a.d.N. Here's a copy from the sticky for reference:

.......
37 Ad. Baumeister Ludenscheld
38 (Unknown)
39 Rudolf Berge Gablonz a.d.N.
40 Berg & Nolte Lüdenscheld
......

This is incorrect. The surname should be 'Bergs' the same as Josef Bergs & Co, I found the photo below on Google images of one of their award packets. Note that this company is listed immediately after the no.38 'Unknown'. Furthermore, the addresses of both companies show that not only are they located on the same street in Gablonz, they are actually next door to each other. Could they be related? It appears more than coincidence, but needs greater research, which is beyond my abilities. But no.38 'Unknown'; COULD be JB&Co., but that remains to be seen.

Interesting stuff.

Regards, Ned.

[rbminis]

Nice one Ralph.........!

Thanks Steve!
Up early?......or late?...
Ralph.

[fischer]

Hi Guys

Another nice addition Ralph, congrats!

As Ned states, these are now attributed to the firm of Josef Bergs & Co.

For years, these were thought to have been manufactured by Julius Bauer Sohne, Zela Mehlis. The Weber book also states Bauer as the maker. This is not correct.

A new theory was presented to the community by a collector who studies the Gablonz an der Neiße badge makers in depth. He suggests that J. Bergs & Co. produced these examples.

I agree with this theory and base it on the following;

1. Ground dug Infanterie Sturmabzeichen examples were found in the Gablonz area along with J. Bergs & Co. marked medals.
2. The Ball hinge is used almost exclusively used by the Infanterie Sturmabzeichen manufacturers from the Gablonz area; JFS, RSS, etc.
3. The maker marked examples have the initials JB&Co. and not JBS.

Not concrete proof but substantial enough IMO to attribute these examples to the Bergs & Co. firm.

Best Regards, fischer