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FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

Article about: Here is another fake Bavarian Observer badge, but not a very good one. The fixtures on the rear are modern, and the overall detail of the badge is poor. The crown is ill-proportioned and the

  1. #1

    Default FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    This thread is not about trashing the individual who may be selling the wings we post, it is about educating ourselves so when we do see them on sites, we can steer clear of them. There is a lot of deliberate "crookery" that happens - true, however sellers in some cases may really not know that what they are selling is bad. As Oddball would say "Don't hit me with them negative vibes man".

    There are literally thousands of supposed original Imperial Flight badges that have been, and continue to be purchased on ebay and other venues. Research, and handling actual period examples are invaluable tools to prevent you from becoming of those clueless individuals that pays hundreds or thousands of dollars for a fake.

    I am posting known fakes of these badges. Some of these badges are very convincing, and some are extremely crude.

    **Click on all photos for larger view**
    Last edited by Steven M; 01-31-2010 at 05:35 AM.
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  2. #2

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    This first group of badges posted all have the same thing in common, a small "tick" mark or flaw on the reverse, lower right side of the crown well.

    Die flaws did, and do exist even today, however, when you see the same mark in the same place on various styles of badges, AND on different makers...something isn't right.

    Is it possible that a period original badge did possess this mark, and one of them was used to make forgeries - yes...or perhaps this mark may be the result of an oversight of the faker when creating dies.

    I have personally observed this mark on Meybauer, Carl Poellath, Karl Poellath, and CE Juncker. It is found on not only Prussian badges, but also on Bavarian badges in Pilot, Retired Pilot, Aerial Gunner, Sea Pilot, Land Pilot, Observer grades AND the fantasy "Imperial German Balloon Badge". Do the math...

    As a point of reference, I am posting a close shot of this flaw mark. Perhaps, some have not heard of this before or seen the mark, so here is a visual:
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  
    Last edited by Steven M; 01-31-2010 at 06:36 AM.
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  3. #3

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    Here is a badge that is total fantasy, as in - never existed. This is a supposed Balloon Badge. Note the flaw mark on the reverse.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges   FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  

    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  4. #4

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    Prussian Observer with CEJ mark. Note the mark as shown above, same position but this time on a style of badge that did exist. Not to get too far off topic, but there are other indicators as well that expose this as a fake. The serif on the J in Juncker, should not be there. Also, to date, no attributed flight badge has been found with the crown, moon AND silver content mark. However, there is documentation from the period that called for these marks to appear on silver items. I personally am not comfortable with them as of this date, but I am open to further research on this particular topic. But that is another subject for another thread.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  
    Last edited by Steven M; 01-31-2010 at 06:23 PM.
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  5. #5

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    How about an fake Bavarian Pilot badge marked 'Karl Poellath'...complete with engraving? Same mark, same position.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  6. #6

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    Perhaps Bavarian isn't your style...no problem. You can have a fake Prussian version engraved and marked 'CE Juncker'.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  7. #7

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    Army badges really aren't your thing? No problem, how about a fake Imperial Navy Sea Plane badge marked 'CE Juncker' then?


    *Seller's name has been removed from the picture.
    Attached Images Attached Images FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges 
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  8. #8

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    OK....you say you want something REALLY rare? How about a fake Bavarian Aerial Gunner Badge marked 'Carl Poellath' (yes, Carl with a "C"). We can address this later.
    Look close, can you see the die flaw?
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  
    Attached Images Attached Images FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges 
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  9. #9

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    The above badges are just a few examples in different variations that feature the same flaw mark in the same exact area. Would any of these fool you if you didn't know about this wandering die flaw? They have fooled many out of their hard-earned cash...be careful.
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

  10. #10

    Default Re: FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges

    The previous examples posted are of good quality, and as stated, can easily fool an unsuspecting and uneducated collector. The following badges fall into another category of fakes - crude.




    The first is a supposed product of Steiner and Luck. Beside the fact that S&L didn't produce flight badges during WWI, an obvious red flag is the mark 'M5/83'...the M markings did not come into being until much later in Germany. The hardware is completely wrong in every way, and resembles nothing that would have been used in the period. Additionally, the buildings, bow, Taube, placement of wreath berries and background sky is all wrong. This one includes some rays or beams above and to the left of the plane that are completely inexplicable...
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges   FAKE World War I Imperial German Flight Badges  

    Last edited by Steven M; 01-31-2010 at 06:39 AM.
    [B][COLOR=Black][SIZE=3][FONT=Book Antiqua][I] Steve[/I][/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

    [CENTER][I][FONT=Georgia][COLOR=orange]Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?[/COLOR][/FONT]
    [/I][/CENTER]
    [B]
    [SIZE=3][COLOR=lemonchiffon][I][CENTER][FONT=Georgia]"Fly on dear boy, from this dark world of strife. On to the promised land to eternal life"[/FONT][/CENTER]
    [/I][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B]

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