Desirable Railroad Eagle by Henschel-Werke – G252
This has to be one of the best examples of the so called 3rd Reich rail eagles that I’ve had over many years. Not only does it have the desired untouched look and appearance which collectors seek, it is also the 720mm (28”) version which is definitely a draw for this larger beautiful display. Next to the elusive 35” eagles which are rarely encountered, these 28’s project that same impact when you initially have a chance to inspect, or see one on display. If that is not enough for you, this “HE” produced eagle is a little more special than you might initially had thought. While this company was very well known for producing 680mm / 27” railroad eagles, rarely do collectors encounter these large 28” examples. I believe that I’ve actually only have had a couple in this size, ever. On to the description.
As previously mentioned, the obverse of this railroad eagle plaque couldn’t be any nicer than what you are seeing in the photos of this listing. Not only does it project a beautiful dark un-cleaned patina over the entire surface, but the original factory burnishing absolutely magnifies that affect as well. Shaded in the recesses, the features of the eagle’s feathers, body, as well as the wreath and swastika project and impact that elicits a viewer’s stare of awe. On the reverse you can see that 3 mounting studs have been broken or cut by the souvenir hunter who captured this war trophy. Where the wing studs were once located, 2 small improvised brackets have been fastened with a string laced between them. This perhaps fabricated by the veteran to display his souvenir. The hardware appears to have been there for quite some time, and the same with the cord. The reverse of this eagle once had a factory burnished black covering over it’s entirety, the final manufacturing process on this example. Apparently a half-hearted attempt to clean it one time resulted in what you see with the natural aluminum showing through in the various sections. Perhaps done initially to reveal the maker’s initials and chemical compound shown on the reverse lower wing area; HE GAL Mg Si.
There you have it. When it comes to a railroad eagle to display with your collection, it just doesn’t get any better than the one in this listing. I should hang this one on the wall of my office! SOLD