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THE MAGIC FLUTE SONGS

Monday, December 25, 2006

 

PRUSSIAN TELEGRAPHTRUPPEN BELT BUCKLE



The standard Prussian box belt buckle was first introduced in 1847 for wear by enlisted rank personnel. Originally the box buckles came in a 50mm, (roughly 2 inches), width until 1895 when the width was reduced to 45mm, (roughly 1 3/4 inches), in an attempt to lighten the weight load of the field gear. Initially the buckles were produced of brass with a nickel/silver inset until 1914 when steel construction buckles were introduced. Signals/Telegraph personnel were outfitted with a special, elongated, belt buckle which incorporated two raised bars designed to support a wire spool for laying communication lines. Large, 45mm x 105mm, (roughly 4 1/8 inches), die struck, steel, elongated box buckle featuring a smooth outer field with a circular embossed centerpiece. Centerpiece has an embossed Imperial king crown to domed center, encompassed by a laurel leaf cluster to bottom and script, "Gott mit Uns", (God with us), to top. Laurel leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and encircled by an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. Each end of the buckle has a raised wire feed bar secured by two rivets. Buckle retains about 75% of its original field/grey paint. Reverse of buckle is a mirror image of obverse. Reverse with brazed buckle catch, prong bar and prongs all intact. Unmarked example.

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