opinions on this 1937 frog

[Orca1]

I know some frogs came with a strap and some didn't but did they ever make the frog with the cut out holes but didn't put in a strap? Or is this frog missing the strap? Last picture shows a 1941 Wilhelm Eilers Jr. Bielefeld with no factory strap holes.
Thanks for the opinions.

 

[AndyB]

That are total different frogs, the one with holes for additional secure strap were most real started as normal frog, but was prepared for possible adding of secure strap, even in this case not realised or the strap was removed later after field repair adding. The right one is a LW type frog with short middle stitching. Should be normally on backside LBA marked in case of pre 1940 date. 1941 is wout LW stamps probably, the LW didnt use in large scale secure straps on frogs.

 

[Slash]

I know some frogs came with a strap and some didn't but did they ever make the frog with the cut out holes but didn't put in a strap? Or is this frog missing the strap?

Yes, there are frog examples that were made with the slotted body but without a strap ever being installed. The frog in the first two photos is not such a piece however. Instead, this was a normal slotted frog body that has had the original retention strap removed at some point. You can see that the stitching between the slots is missing to allow for the strap to be removed. The rare/scarce examples with slotted bodies and no retention strap will have an extant line of stitching between the slots.

 

[Orca1]

Yes, there are frog examples that were made with the slotted body but without a strap ever being installed. The frog in the first two photos is not such a piece however. Instead, this was a normal slotted frog body that has had the original retention strap removed at some point. You can see that the stitching between the slots is missing to allow for the strap to be removed. The rare/scarce examples with slotted bodies and no retention strap will have an extant line of stitching between the slo

Thanks for that information. As AndyB wrote about the 3rd picture, he referred to it as a "LW" does LW stand for Luftwaffe? It is stamped on the back "Wilhelm Eilers Jr. Bielefeld 1941" your opinion on that one would be appreciated.

 

[AndyB]

LW should be Luftwaffe.

 

[Slash]

Thanks for that information. As AndyB wrote about the 3rd picture, he referred to it as a "LW" does LW stand for Luftwaffe? It is stamped on the back "Wilhelm Eilers Jr. Bielefeld 1941" your opinion on that one would be appreciated.

Eilers was a prolific producer of web and leather products. This pattern of frog (no retention strap and short center stitch to body) is of the type generally associated with those issued to the Luftwaffe. Many frogs of this pattern are observed with a Luftwaffe LBA stamp to the reverse particularly early dated examples. As Andrej noted the LBA stamp is generally not observed on frogs dated after 1940 or 1941.