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VARIATIONS ,FAKES AND THE REAL DEAL
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VARIATIONS ,FAKES AND THE REAL DEAL
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On this page I will talk about tauchretter production variations and fake tauchretter parts .

 



Another purpose of this site is to show the collector the various tauchretter variations produced during the war years.While at first glance the tauchretter may look the same, there are many small variations from one life vest to another. There are several reasons for all of the modifications:

a) manufacturer of the part

b) availability of the raw materials

c) war time production demands

       The Dräger Tauchretter was developed by the Dräger firm but many were produced by the AUER firm under contract.This can be determined by the war time maker code " bwz" found printed on the front of the vest. Sometimes the company logo, an "A" can also be found stamped somewhere on the vest. AUER also made the oxygen bottle valve,canvas life vest and CO2 scrubber can.These parts were also made by the Dräger firm and they will will display the company name and/or logo on them.

       You can find a tauchretter vest made by AUER with all AUER parts and others could have Dräger parts in an AUER made life vest.

Many raw materials were scarce in Germany during the war and this had a profound effect on it's production. Early war parts that were made from natural rubber were now produced in a synthetic rubber material . As brass and aluminium became scarce other materials were used in their place.

As the war dragged on, U-boat production and losses increased which meant more and more tauchretters needed to be made. It appears as the tide turned against Germany, with materials in short supply and a growing demand the tauchretters canvas bag was simplified in it's construction. Early war examples were made from at least 9 different canvas panels sewn together.The late war Dräger "byd" example was made from 2 large canvas panels that appear to be glued together. Interestingly this author has never seen a tauchretter, no matter when it was produced, that was poorly made. Construction materials and methods may have changed during the war years due to availability of raw materials but poor,sloppy workmanship was never tolerated and a good sign of a reproduction. A U-Boat crewman's life depended on this device and all the fakes and reproductions cannot hold a candle to the high quality product that was  made by Dräger and AUER .



 

 
 

Here is a list of known variations. If the reader has photographic evidence of others please email this author.
a) Color : brown or yellow canvas .
b) "D"-ring either a rounded "skull" shape or an elongated "D" shape.
c) Crotch strap color : black or a natural cotton fiber .
d)Rubber moth piece color : brown or black.
e) CO2 can made by either : AUER or Dräger .
f) Oxygen bottle can be made from either : Auer or Dräger. Auer made bottles have white printing running the width of the bottle and Dräger made has the white lettering running the bottle's length.
g) Sealing clamp on the bottom of the vest can be of a silver color ( nickel plated ? ) or brass plated .
h) Pressure release valve can be located in 2 different places : closer to the inner edge of the collor of the vest or closer to the outer edge of the vest .
i) Slight variations in the convoluted breathing hose in Color : tan/brown or black
Shape : convoluted edges more rounded or
convoluted edges more sharper and triangular in shape .
j) construction : most are made from approx. 9 canvas panels sewn together or 2 large panels with seams glued together .
k) Different colors to the pressure release valve due to various metals used such as brass , aluminium, steel and maybe zinc alloys . Some valves look all silver while others have a brass base with a silver center .
l) Printing on the face of the vest :
a- No printing at all
b- "Tauchretter " in white ink.
c- "tauchretter bwz werk nr " in white ink .
d- "tauch Geräte " in white ink .
e- "klein tauchretter" in white ink .
 

tauchretter bag printing variations
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On the right is a bag with no printing ,middle has no maker code and work number printed ,

Dräger Tauchretter bag color variations
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There are 2 color versions : yellow on the left and the more common brown color on the right

Oxygen bottle . Real item on top and a fake below
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Top is a real AUER item. Bottom is a fake with all post war information ground off !

Fake tauchretter bottle
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This bottle is too big for pre 1945 tauchretters and should be stamped SAUERSTOFF not KOHLENSAUER !

real O2 bottle knob on left , fake on right
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This home made fake is smooth w/3 grooves in it . Real item has a star shape grip to it

Real oxygen bottle valve and knob handle
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Original brass valves are cast as one piece , notice the rounded flair to the bottom of the flange.

Fake oxygen bottle valve
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Non original valve machined and threaded to look like a real tauchretter part , but never 2 pieces !

Real WWII issue CO2 scrubber can on the right
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Post WWII CO2 can on left with red paper label and made from brass , real ww2 cans are steel

tauchretter safety seal found on srubber can
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POST WAR safety seal from Dräger found on Co2 scrubber can made from stamped aluminium

Tauchretter can safety seal , unknown
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This black bakelite round seal seal with stamped swastika and large M

Real tag but FAKE tauchretter safety seal !
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Thi is a real plastic safety seal but found on post war EAST GERMAN PANZER RETTERS , not pre 1945 !

oxygen bottle label. Auer and Dräger , both real
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Dräger on top with stenciled printing along length of bottle and Auer printed along the width

real nose clamp on the left and fake on the right
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real nose clamp is black rubber, post war models are orange rubber, beware of painted rubber!!

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