Quote:
Originally Posted by knockoffnigel
Hi David, i think this is 50's, i was just wondering why you'd go for 60's rather than 50's???
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Hello
A bit of background first of all, which can be applied to any early, quality new form EK, and which, among other things I bear in mind when estimating the production point for a piece.
The actual laws and regulations that established the 1957 new form items didn't pass through the then West German parliment until mid 1957. The manufacturing instructions, (which were only really followed during first few years of production) were issued in August 1957, for example,
Der bundeminister des Innern, Herstellungsvorschrift fur das Eiserne Kreuz 1939 I. K1. Nr 20 August 1957 I A 1 - 11965 A was the formal specification for the manufacture of the new form EK1s.
Now, it is assumed that production of the new form pieces was underway by late 1957, at the latest very, very early in 1958. Over the first year, maybe the first couple of years as I undertsand matters the manufacturers tended to stick to the regulations, and make them in basically the same way as the WW2 versions. Over the first year or so a lot of the EKs were made with left over wartime parts and, or parts produced using the original wartime dies etc. Time and care was clearly taken over the pieces, with highly burnished rims, excellent quality pressing of frames and cores, and good, deep frosting. The soldered joints were very finely done and the cores were, as per the new regulations, made of iron. In other words, the quality and workmanship were all still there.
On the basis of what I've said above, then viewing Mikes EK from the front, you could very easily say that this one fits the bill for a very early one, from maybe the late 1950's, and given the first class quality of the finish, stampings and frosting I wouldn't agrue with that. On the reverse it has the solid hinge block, again indicative of the earlier EK1s. It's the pin, and only the pin, that makes me think perhaps it's from the very early 1960's. Purely a personal, judgemental thing, but I've only encountered this thinner style of pin on items thought to be early, but from the very early 1960's. I fully concede that I may wrong on this, and that they may have been making this style from the word go, (S&L certainly seem to like changing pin styles) and continued it on into the 60's, before changing the pin style (yet) again.
Anyway, that's why I said 1960's, but no later than 1962. A bit of rambly explanation, but at least you get a small insight in to some of the comments that I make. At the end of the day a really sweet gem of an early one, that any of us would be really proud to have in our collections. Late 1950's or very early 1960's? It's within the same and correct ball park
Regards
David
50's EKI???
"forced to fight behind...the crooked cross"
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