Crank Catch DAF-Werschar by Richard Sieper und Söhne, Lüdenscheid.

[Guido]

David,

when I saw this particular buckle for sale I imagined already that it could be of some interest to you. So it took the obviously the right way - fine!

The crank catch and the obverse design remind indeed strongly of Assmann.
But I am used to see these somewhat vestigial ears on an Assmann DAF/Werkschar buckle, so on the one in my collection. I would say the ears on the Sieper marked buckle do not show the typical Assmann ears, am I perhaps right?
Also the prong and post sleeve construction need a further discussion in my eyes. Assmann pieces are usually coated with nickel! The shown buckle had obviously never a particular coating on this assembly.

Best,
Guido

[David North]

Dear Guido

I could not agree with you more. The ears to the Sieper and Assmann boxes are somewhat dissimilar and especially the lower ear.

Pin, pin shroud and claws are however totally different.

Regards,

David

[Wilhelm Saris]

I always have asked myself if Assmann was indeed "the inventor" of that crank catch. With the
registering of a special protection plate, to be fixed next to the leather tab, the concerns of
Gebr. Gloerfeld and Julius Dinnebier from Lüdenscheid had this crank catch designed with a
protection-request, dated October 1935 (Gebrauchsmuster Nr. 1352 183, Klasse 3c) and drawing
numbered as P.A. 655638, dated October 3, 1935.

With order 32/35, published in the "Amtliches Nachrichtenblatt der Dt. Arbeitsfront" the first
notes were published about the uniform for the Werkschar-members. The order from Ley was
dated August 1935. This was the "about start" for purchasing this uniform. The buckle was in
this order phrased as "Arbeitsfrontschloss". It took until February 1936 as when the uniform
was completed: the field-cap was introduced.

The positioning of the M4-code started after a publication from March 9, 1935. Instead of the
earlier used UE and KH codes, the M5 and M4 codes came into being (Mitteilungsblatt der RZM,
nr. 10 from March 9, 1935). May 5, 1935 The "Mbl.d.RZM" noted that the planned uniform for
Werkscharen was not yet decided. Manufacturing of items was at that moment not allowed
they note. July 6, 1935 the RZM announced that the introduction for the uniform was postponed
for the time being. Items that already were offered were not valid!

In the "Mitteilungsblatt der RZM", nr 24 from August 31, 1935 it was announced that Hitler's
deputy, so Rudolf Hess had agreed the introduction for the Werkschar-uniform. The black belt
with buckle, still phrased as Arbeitsfrontschloss, was included. They felt under the law and
were only allowed to be manufacturerd by concerns with an RZM-permission. In number 25 from
September 14, 1935 the drawing for the buckle was included, then phrased as:
DAF-Werkschar-Koppelschloss. Samples one could ask for at the RZM.

It took until December 1935 as when the full description for the buckle was published (issue 31
from December 7, 1935. Page 333). The material described was light-weight-metals: Leichtmetallblech.
It was noted that in fact the crank catch (Einhakbügel) was to be positioned or the belt-hook, which
was the soldered form: Steg mit Beinchen.

So, was Assmann indeed the first concern to use the crank catch?

[Wilhelm Saris]

I forgot to mentioned that the material was to be stained and covered with a protection-coating,
which is known as Zapon. Buckles with a silvered coating were in the beginning not manufactured.

The use of the shoulder-belt was announced January 1937 (order 1/37). The "Amtliches Nachrichtenblatt
der Dt. Arbeitsfront" from April 21, 1937 noted the use of the 4.5 cm wide black belt with silver-
colored Werkscharschloss. Leading persons were to wear 6.0 cm wide belts with a double-claw in silver
for those wearing silver distinctives and golden for those with golden destinctives. It is obvious from the
functions that an Ortsobmann (Oberstwerkscharführer) and the Betriebsobmann (Betriebswerkscharführer)
may started wearing the golden anodized rectangular buckle instead of the double-claw.