Germany, Luftwaffe. A Flak/Artillery EM/NCO’s Summer Visor Cap, by Peküro

(Luftwaffe weiße Sommermütze für Mannschaften der Flak/Artillerie). A well-preserved Luftwaffe Flak/Artillery EM/NCO’s summer visor cap. Of multi-piece construction, the lower half consists of a sturdy reinforced side wall lined on the exterior with a ribbed black mohair cap band, trimmed along both the top and bottom edges with red wool piping. A small length of traditional Luftwaffe dark blue-grey wool is visible along the lower edge. The crown is topped by a loose white cotton/rayon blended cloth liner, with a protruding and vertically-oriented stabilizer to maintain the structural integrity of the peak of an accompanying cover. Pinned onto the centre of the cap band is an aluminum combined wreath and cockade, with a vaulted bend to sit flush with the cap, measuring 130 mm (w) x 42 mm (h). Blackened magnetic metal studs flank the lower edge of the cap band to accommodate a multi-piece black leatherette chinstrap, adjusted with dual functional magnetic metal buckles. The exterior features of the base complete with a protruding vulcanfibre visor which is finished in matte black. A wide light brown leather sweatband surrounds the interior of the side walls, and is perforated across the forehead with an array of ventilation holes. The sweatband folds down to reveal a black ink size mark of “56”. The crown retains a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard which covers a silvered inscription of “STIRNDRUCKFREI / DEUTSCHES REICHSPATENT”, generally associated with the firm of Peter Küpper, Wuppertal-Ronsdorf (“PEKÜRO”). The base measures approximately 19 cm (w) x 25 cm (l) x 12 cm (h). It is accompanied by a matching cover, constructed of a white cotton/rayon blended cloth white a gentle whipcord weave. The outer edge is trimmed with a length of integral white piping in classic Luftwaffe summer cap design. Pinned onto the peak is an aluminum insignia in the form of a Luftwaffe eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, retaining both attachment prongs, maker marked on the reverse with the logo of Christian Theodor Dicke, Lüdenscheid, and measuring 66 mm (w) x 46 mm (h). A snap button situated on the interior fastens to the base’s stabilizer. The cover measures approximately 24 cm in diameter when fixed in position. Both the base and the cover demonstrate minor soiling and fatigue consistent with field use, but this matching set remains in a near extremely fine condition.