Fakes, reproductions, replicas, an investigative report, by Harry Ridgeway

Fakes, reproductions, replicas,
Alabama two part plates, Confederate plates 210 to 214

Disclaimer:  by clicking onto this page you are expressly accepting the terms of the disclaimer explained fully on the fakes main page.

Plate 211, map on tree with oak leaf wreath, fancy keepers  
Original was cast tongue and wreath, die stamped motif brazed onto tongue bar.

F1217      Alabama sword plate, oak leaf 


Tongue keeper 49.8mm
Wreath keeper 48.6mm
Wreath height 52.7mm

Aged wreath, keeper 48.8mm
Aged wreath, wreath height 52.8mm

Editor note:  The original of this tongue is in the Ridgeway collection, found by Steve Baker, Pumpkin Ridge, near Clearbrook Va.  I allowed Hanover Brass to copy it around 2001.  The wreath was never found, so the wreath used for this repro is from another buckle.  Because I did not have a wreath, an "aged wreath" (pictured above) was given to me to use in my display.  I did not use the repro, I do not use any repros in the museum collection, but it is an interesting example of how a nice deep dark patina can be applied rather quickly to a repro.  It also fit the tongue, which is larger than the repro tongue, it appears this was facilitated by cutting the slot larger so the bigger tongue motif would slide into the wreath.  There is a sprue on the top of the wreath that may be distorting the outside measurement somewhat. 

Note that the tongue on this example is boldly marked with Hanover brass name, neither of the wreaths are marked.  I also note that this marking was applied when the casting was done, they can cast any of these plates with or without this logo.  Indeed the example shown on civilwarfakes.com does not bear any of these marks.  Since Gary Williams, knew that this buckle was being given to me, and he knew that I was suspicious that he was not applying marks, he certainly made sure this one had a nice bold mark.  However since then many fakes made by Hanover Brass are showing up in the market place with no attempt having ever been made to mark the plates.  The scheme seems to work like this, convince the collectors that he marks plates, this temporarily removes suspicion, if a plate shows up that is not marked then it has a much better chance of being accepted.  This whole claim that Hanover Brass marks their plates to protect the collectors is simply not true.

Gary Williams explanation, (civilwarfakes.com Photo # CSAL11) 

Plate 210 (1855-1861 Alabama Two Piece Belt Plate.) 50 x 87/wreath ht.53mm. Marked GW. Original tongue is in the Harry Ridgeway collection. This is another two piece that should not be a faking problem. I have destroyed most of the detail in the back of the tongue disc before I apply it to the bar. The original is a very detailed center disc front and back. Also very thin where my applied disc is thicker. Use the center disc as your reference.

Editor note:  To anybody that has gotten burned by this plate, my sincere apology.  I own the authentic plate that he used to make his copies, and it has been retained in the collection of the Old Court House Civil War Museum in Winchester, Va.  If I had any idea of how these copies would have been used to fool collectors, I definitely would not have allowed him to copy it.  The reason that the detail is blanked out in the middle of the disk is not because he "destroyed" the detail.  That part of the disc was covered up by the tongue and he couldn't get to it.  However when he puts these things together, it will be covered up again, so that is not going to be much of a test.    By the way, can anybody find any maker marks in this picture?  Funny thing about that isn't it.  But it isn't too funny to the collectors that buy these things.

Plates 212 and 213, map on tree with laurel leaf wreath, plain keepers  
Original of plate 212 was cast tongue and wreath, die stamped motif brazed onto tongue bar.  Plate 213 may have been a Confedederate cast copy of plate 212.  Most repros will be cast.

F1099      Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle, crude pattern manufactured by Hanover Brass 
 
"This reproduction Alabama plate was cast from an original. The original was a Confederate copy of a pre-war Alabama state militia 2- piece, this is why it is a crude casting since the Conferate makers, in their haste, lost much of the finer details of the original pre-war buckle. Still a desirable buckle with it's crude Confederate look. A beautiful belt plate. Cast in red brass."

Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 "1861 Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle Plate Crude Confederate casting Item number: 6626586608"

Editor note: "jaglady00" is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions.   

F1101    Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle
    

"This reproduction Alabama two piece plate was cast from an original."

Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 "1861 Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle Plate Item number: 6626631463"

Editor note: "jaglady00" is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions. 

F1007     Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle manufactured by Hanover Brass
  
"This reproduction Alabama plate was cast from an original. The original was a Confederate copy of a pre-war Alabama state militia 2- piece, this is why it is a crude casting since the Conferate makers, in their haste, lost much of the finer details of the original pre-war buckle. Still a desirable buckle with it's crude Confederate look. A beautiful belt plate. Cast in yellow brass.".

Source: ebay auction by jaglady00 3/12/06 "1861 Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle Plate Item number: 6611626409"

Editor note: "jaglady00" is Hanover Brass, items sold as reproductions.   

Plate 214, cast Alabama map on tree with exagerated roots.

F1124    Alabama 2-Piece Belt Buckle

"WOW.......................... UP FOR AUCTION IS A TRUE RARITY, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A AUTHENTIC EXCAVTED CIVIL WAR ALABAMA MAP ON TREE BUCKLE THAT IS BROKEN. THIS IS THE MAIN DISC PART OF THE TONGUE, WHICH IS STILL VERY VALUABLE AND VERY RARE. NICE SHAPE, I HAVE TOOK GOOD PICS SO YOU CAN GET A BETTER FEEL OF HE BUCKLE. THIS WAS DUG ON PRIVATE LAND NEAR FRANKLIN TENNESSE AND IS PART OF A HUGE DUG COLLECTION I WILL BE SELLING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. 3 DAY INSPECTION PERIOD, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL WITHANY AND ALL QUESTIONS, US SHIPPING WILL BE $3.00

Source: ebay auction by vintage_comics_and_collectibles 7/5/06 AUTHENTIC CIVIL WAR ALABAMA MAP ON TREE BUCKLE BROKEN Item number: 250002884313

Editor note:  This seller sells on ebay auction under "Private Auction".  It is highly doubtful this piece can be shown to be authentic.

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