Wehrwirtschaftsführer

[Wehrwirts1]

[Wehrwirts1]

1923!!!

[Wehrwirts1]

Thanks Matthew!!!!!

[Wehrwirts1]

The 900 was custom made. I will measure the standard and Silber custom and post them ASAP

[matthew4108]

The 900 was custom made. I will measure the standard and Silber custom and post them ASAP

The silver pin looks like a regular, mass produced pin like any other silver one. What makes you say it was custom made?

[Wehrwirts1]

Let me clarify - when I say custom silver vs ready made, I’m saying that when you go in to buy the lapel version, you would have to specify that you didn’t want a cupal or zinc, you wanted the best. I’m sure the first choice wasn’t silver. Maybe instead of custom I should have said ‘best material.’ By the time zinc was used, maybe there wasn’t even the choice of silver.

Fun fact, this grouping is from 1938, and the pin on the large badge is longer than standard for some reason, although the shape is the same.

Another Fun Fact, The Merkblatt is much more rare than the award document, and all of the documents are much rarer than the pins themselves.

[matthew4108]

Reason why brass was replaced by zinc was due to the war effort- it was needed for (mostly) munitions. I can't think of any reason why silver would be discontinued and replaced by zinc.
I also can't say I have seen the WWF in any of the period catalogs being offered for individual sale (it does not mean they were not offered of course) through LDO or retailed through their manufacturers.

To the best of my knowledge, the set was presented when awarded (full size + mini).

Be that as it may. Whether the pins were silver, brass, cupal, zinc or anything else- they should all be the same size if they came from the same die.

Those I had a chance of examining, all featured the same minute details, at least those I would consider genuine ones.
Knowing their sizes will give us the answer.

[Wehrwirts1]

I don’t have the right tools to measure these, but on close up examination they look, detail-wise, extremely similar/from the same die.

The only difference I see is the curvature on the silver one, as opposed to a flat back on the zinc.
However, details of the obverse are really close.

A

B

68E3B16A-00EA-4EE0-AC2D-FBE0DD7FFB49.jpeg (291.59 KiB) Viewed 787 times

[matthew4108]

The only difference I see is the curvature on the silver one, as opposed to a flat back on the zinc.

That's why I asked for the height- the curvature alters the size but only runs side to side. It's top to bottom size should be the same.
You need calipers, preferably digital to determine its exact size. They cost a fraction of what this badge costs and is an absolute must, IMO.

I have always been skeptical of the 'zinc' ones. At least those I came across. Having them side by side and being able to compare their details AND sizes would set the record straight.

[John G.]

Fantastic ultra rare, thanks for sharing these.....
John G.

[Wehrwirts1]

Matthew, I will definitely get some calipers, because at this point exact size matters so much in detecting real from fake.
And I will get a better scale.

John G., thank you for your comments! I’m glad you appreciate the rarity of the Merkblatt and Honor Award for the W Wi Fü to Schuler of Rheinmetall Borsig.
In 1938, the instructions about the award, how to wear it, the ties that the men in industry had to the Wehrmacht, were quite secret.

Rheinmetal Borsig, under Goering’s auspices, became the actual Largest weapons manufacturer on the European Continent, and according to one American Allied intelligence analyst, it was the largest industrial weapons combine in the Whole World at its height. Think about that! I have this all documented.

I can easily post it if anyone is interested.

Also, for those interested, there is a dearth of information about the whole W Wi Fü award. I think I have discovered info not previously available, if anyone is interested.

Also, due to some incredibly smart and shrewd collector friends, I may have the largest list of W Wi Fü awardees in existence!

It’s only in the 500 - 550s.

[Wehrwirts1]

In fact, the most notable fact about the W Wi Fü Badge, is the utter mystery that surrounds it.
To be completely modest, I am the only collector to bring information about this award to light, thanks to my collector friends, information missing for 70 - 80 years.

Mathew, there are remaining unanswered questions about how it was awarded, when did the award criteria change, when did the secrets concerning this badge come out, etc.

Whether an actual Order of Wear has been found is far more rare and unknown than the size of the miniature badges.

And if you dig deeper into this badge, there are deeper mysteries still.

Not everything is solved by calipers and digital scales.

[matthew4108]

The badges we collect are nothing more to a wider audience than a simple commodity, if that. So is information about them.
Only difference is- when collecting information- you can hit and miss and not lose a penny. But every time you make a mistake where originality of the actual badge is concerned, it usually costs. Sometimes a lot.
For that reason, I'd take a set of calipers over a book or someone's opinion any day of the week. If you disagree, wait until one of your treasures turns out to be fake. Then try and recuperate your money.

History and background info for our collectables is a luxury and only a next, higher step on the path of collecting. Originality is a base and an absolute must.

[Wehrwirts1]

Nice , slick quote. Let’s stick with current measurements I can sell to you, and you’ll all go home happy!

Especially, you dealer money maker.

But for god sakes, don’t actually look into the profits the people have, especially since they aren’t he’ll bent of making s quick profit on you - apparently.

[matthew4108]

Little lost here. Language barrier perhaps.