Crusher cap with black insignia

[svejk]

Is the following crusher cap with black insignia genuine, or has it been tampered with?

http://verzamelen.marktplaats.nl/milita ... ind=9&fs=1

 

[horseback leader]

WW2 Cap with WW1 Cap device.

 

[unclegrumpy]

The hat is probably just post war to the early 1950's....and maybe even not military.....think bus driver or gas station attendant or whatever. Note the extra holes above the chin strap where something was, that should not have been there.

In any event, it is clearly humped up and not close to being right.

 

[watchmanjimg]

The hat is probably just post war to the early 1950's....and maybe even not military.....think bus driver or gas station attendant or whatever. Note the extra holes above the chin strap where something was, that should not have been there.

In any event, it is clearly humped up and not close to being right.

The holes above the chin strap are merely rivets used in the construction of the cap. If the chin strap were positioned properly you wouldn't be able to see them. I've seen others like this. I suspect the cap was privately purchased or perhaps even a repro, but in any case I agree that there are far better examples out there.

 

[unclegrumpy]

Not that it really matters, but I still think those are extra holes.

WWII US Visor hats can be difficult to sort out until you get a feel for them. That can take some time and study. I don't know if there are any threads on this topic, but maybe there should be.

 

[Hamsterbear]

That is not black. It's BRASS that has tarnished to a very dark color. 15 minutes with a bunch of rags and a can of Brasso will have it shiny again.

 

[unclegrumpy]

I think horseback leader is right that it is probably WW I.

At first I thought it was an early 1950's USAF Officer's hat badge that had tarnished from silver to black, which they often do. However, after looking at the picture again, it looks a notch or two too small, which would be correct for a WW I hat badge. Either way, brasso is not going to help it.

 

[zoomer]

I sense some internet sleight of hand. One of the pix is of a vintage Bancroft Flighter, which doesn't match the hat for sale but could easily fool the unobserving into thinking this WAS a real Flighter.

Looks to me like it came from the (modern day) maker that did the US Wings cap - very high woven band, high squared peak on top of that. Close to present day milspec, ie not for daily service wear, flying, or walking out impressing the local birds. It's made to be worn dead level, low brow, with dacrons, corfams, and a posture and expression suggesting the wearer has had a fence post inserted in a personal region.

 

[unclegrumpy]

Well said Zoomer!

 

[svejk]

Thanks guys for your opinions

 

[unclegrumpy]

Svejk,

You might want to consider investing in some books. The picture of the original Flighter is from one of Jon Maguire's books. Links to his books are below.

They are not cheap, but are all excellent in that they show what the real stuff looks like. You can find them cheaper if you do some searching around.

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0764300911

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0887407447

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0887405789

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0764332449

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0764310658

http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0887407943

 

[svejk]

Thanks Unclegrumpy,

I have a pdf file of the book, I checked and found the one for sale odd in comparison with the examples shown. That is why I posted it in the board, because maybe the book did not show everything.

 

[unclegrumpy]

..... maybe the book did not show everything.

How true! There really is not one book that shows everything, and even with a bookcase full of them, the answers are not always evident. However, without any, you are really at a disadvantage.

New collectors today are lucky in that there are a number of excellent books with good pictures and information that was unavailable in the past. These books get expensive, but then again making buying mistakes is not cheap either.