Question to the experienced skull and blackhad specialists. I have the option to buy a 'RZM M1/52 transitional' skull. Is this a kind of skull that would fit this kind of black cap? Or would my Assmann skull and eagle set also fit well on this cap?
RZM M1/52 transitional
Assmann set
I feel that if you have the matching Assmann insignia it will be fine. It will be harder to find a matching eagle for that deschler transitional shown
You could be quite right about that. I've been searching a lot for the past week, and the results are zero in matching sets.
Now I am not in a hurry with this restoration, so it may be that if I have patience I will come across a suitable eagle. But if you say that the Assmann set would also fit the cap, I guess I'd better follow that path.
It has been a while since my last post, but the search for suitable cupal insignia for this black cap was not easy either. I have bothered many forum members with my quest and have bombarded almost every dealer with requests. Of course I already had an Assmann set in zinc, but this actually does not belong on a late Algemeine SS cap, I had heard from the restorer. So look for a cupal or aluminum version.
In my research for reference examples I saw many versions that had some bronze or brown patina. This also seemed to fit very nicely with this black cap, and this had become my goal.
I recently found an eagle in an aluminum version of Assmann 155/36. But now I have finally received a nice totenkopf. It ended up being a beautiful Deschler & Sohn M1 / 52 with 'rusty' brown patina. Unfortunately a tad darker than the eagle, but ok. It's not that I have a wide choice.
The next step is to send the cap for restoration and hope that customs will not be difficult in the UK. I will keep you all posted.
Customs is always difficult in the UK .... Tax, Tax and more Tax.
It would be cheaper to fly to the States return ticket, then wear the cap back home as part of your clothing .... No import Tax then
"wear the cap back home" haha I would pay to see that!
I wonder what HVM did with the cap? Has it been restored yet?
Unfortunately not yet. In the meantime I bought another TK that matches the eagle a little better in terms of color. Slightly less dark. Everything has now been shipped to the UK and handed over to the specialist hands of BenVK. "Vol verwachting klopt mijn hart", as we say in the Netherlands. Translated, this means that I am eagerly awaiting the end result.
Latest set:
The moment is finally here. The ASS Lubstein (EREL) black cap has been restored and delivered. Entrusted to the capable hands of BenVK in the UK, and with 'full confidence' in the postal services between the Netherlands and the UK, I now have it in my hands. And it's like new (almost). Still a little warped from shipping, but I'm going to put it on a display head to get back in shape soon.
Bought as a worn Algemeine SS cap at an auction, in the knowledge that the cap is good, but the insignia repro. And that turned out to be true. The cap has been through a lot and has unfortunately been taken abused more often in the past. After delivery, the peak apeared to be broken, the lining was almost completely loose, as was part of the visor. Most of the paint had also worn off the visor.
My approach was therefore to return the cap to its original condition as much as possible. I quickly found out that it probably wouldn't be smart if I did that myself. I searched the forums for people who already had experience with this. That's how I ended up in the capable hands of BenVK. Fortunately, he was willing to do this job for me, since it was a nice cap in potential and it is not very common. But first I had to look for original insignia that matches to the cap and the period (approximately). That cost me quite a lot of money unfortunately, but I am very satisfied with the beautiful TK Deschler & Sohn M1/52 in cupal and Assmann SS RZM 155/36 eagle
Sent all together to the UK, where BenVK kept me very well informed about the progress of the restoration. Ben went to work with a great eye for detail. See the photos for the progress. The end result speaks for itself in the photos as far as I'm concerned. I'm currently in a move, but when that's done it will get a nice spot on a display head to get back in shape.
Before restauration
During restauration
End result
Beautiful cap any collector would be proud of.
Thanks for sharing.
Congrats not only on the cap , but also on having retained the services of a Master Craftsman, BenVK--he has brought this beauty back to life.....
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Similar Threads
Posting Permissions
.
Bookmarks