SS Collar tabs, Item # F8082 Real or Fake???

Chucky9 · Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

What do you think of these? The construction looks kind of sloppy to me. I have doubts about originality. Help please.

http://www.germanmilitariacollectibles.com/classifieds_detail.asp?classified_ID=8082

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Right Here.

Define sloopy if you would please?
Next Explain what it is you would be looking for in construction?
As an example; base materials, glues used, thickness, textures etc.

As well while we are on the topic, how many SS tabs have you ever acquired straight from WW II vets?

Please do try and be honest with your answer.
As in, if you never have acquired from real WW II vets, just say so.

As well please explain what to look for on - NON period - items of such. As in base materials construction, glues, textures, thickness etc.

Thank you for your answers in advance.

Chucky9 · Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 2

Sloopy because of the poor stitching of the runes. Look at this one that's for sale on the site. It's not the best I've ever seen but it's worlds better that the other one. Also, the runes on the one in question are not lined up with the sides of the tabs which is the usual case with originals.

http://www.germanmilitariacollectibles.com/classifieds_detail.asp?classified_ID=2668

As to how many of this or that I have aquired from vets, I don't understand the thrust of your question. Are you saying that if someone has never aquired an item from a vet that he is then not qualified to have an opinion as to the originality of a similar piece? If this is the case then we might as all give up and only collect pieces we find from vets.

While we're on the subject I notice a cloth SS skull was just posted. This looks fake to me too. I'm not going to give my reasons, but would like to hear you're thoughts on it.

http://www.germanmilitariacollectibles.com/classifieds_detail.asp?classified_ID=8101

sscollector · Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

I noticed that David Declich is a member of this forum. I think he has only posted one time. I wish he would give his opinion of these.

The Thicket · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 134 Location: Right Here.

Chuckie, I am not going to tell you all I know but will give you an outline that will help you better understand what you are looking at.

#1, The Germans never used Synthetic glues, The glues used during the era pre 1945, do NOT glow underblack light.

There is not a period made tab of any kind that was made with Synthetic glue, as these glues were not even invented until the late 1950's.
-- Synthetic glues GLOW underblack light, a few colors to look for Pale Green the oldest, - blue green 60's, yellow 1960-90. So when you peel back the backings of tabs and expose them to a Black light you can find out what your looking at in less that a nano second.

#2, Next is the base materials, FAKES / Reproductions use a synthetic base velvet material. This can be figured out by a simple bun test, To better understand this take a piece of REAL 100% WOOL light it with a match, learn that smell, note the powder ash it turns to.
REAL SS tabs of this type shown are on a BLACK WOOL base and will smell just like that wool you burned. Thats why you need to know that smell.

-- Fakes are on Synthetic velvet looking material, that burns into a hard blob.

#3, Next remove a single piece of thread that holds the outer ALUMINUM wire on. Burn this, it will turn to ash like a fuse,
REAL ONES use 100% real COTTON.

--Fakes use cotton synthetic blends. They burn into a blob.

#4, REAL TABS be they sloopy or not, are ONLY ALUMINUM on officers grade tabs, Its that simple. NO two tabs of any branch of servive done in bullion will ever be 100% congruent in configutration ever.
REAL TABS have a white cotton inner thread that the Aluminum is woven over. The white will NOT glow under black light.

--FAKE tabs use silver bullion, totaly differant texture totaly differant color. Again we go to -under black light if you pull the bullion apart it will expose the soft underbelly white synthetic blends that will GLOW BLUE.
--To date NO FAKE tabs ever ever been seen that DO NOT glow underblack light with this simple test.

#5, The white powder noted in the write up, this is only found on Aluminum from the era, as in PRE 1945 made.

Where as with MODERN aluminum bullion they have a method of washing the bullion strands to eliminate such degeneration, as well the synthetic base cording dose not hold moisture like cotton threads do. Thus eliminating this aging issue only found on items made pre 1945.

So that brings us back to point 1-5 Understaning base materials.

One last point, in the area where the center PIP has a large hole into the center fiberboard area of the backing, when this area is exposed as in the size of that hole; on a FAKE YOU will get a nice BLUE GLOW under black light.
Why; back to all the above BASE materials.

There is also a smell that just plain OLD cloth has that you just can't FAKE. But thats up to you to learn on your own.

In conclusion, the tabs are just what they are noted as being late war and 100% congruent for such.

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