Germany, DAF. A Member’s Visor Cap

(Deutsche Arbeitsfront Schirmmütze für Mitglied). An extremely well-preserved German Labour Front (DAF) rank-upgraded member’s visor cap, constructed of a dark navy blue wool blend. It features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a black rayon cap band which bears an oak leaf branch design across the entirety of the circumference. The crown is flanked on each side by dual ventilation holes, each reinforced with a black-painted magnetic metal grommet. Pinned onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of a ribbed and gilded bronze frame set around a machine-embroidered golden-yellow DAF logo on a black background. Measuring 40 mm (w) x 54 mm (h), the reverse of the insignia is marked with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) logo and code “374”. The cap band is flanked on each side by a magnetic metal button, lined in a black rayon material, securing in place a chinstrap constructed of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire. Adjusted with dual sliding knots of identical construction, the chinstrap rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor, itself finished in a matte black on both the obverse and reverse. The interior of the cap band is lined with a light brown leather sweatband, perforated throughout the forehead with an array of ventilation holes, measuring 38 mm in width. A partially-legible embossed mark of “DEUTSCHE LEDER” (“GERMAN LEATHER”) remains visible on the right side of the sweatband. The sweatband also folds down to reveal a fully-intact RZM label bearing a maker’s code of “27” with a secondary code “824644”. Also encompassing the interior is a multi-piece blue rayon liner, with the crown retaining an intact gilt DAF logo and inscription of “NACH VORSCHRIFT DER RZM” (“ACCORDING TO RZM REGULATIONS”) embossed directly onto the material. The former was covered by a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard which has since been lost to time. In addition to the missing moisture guard, there is a small patch of mothing visible to the exterior wool directly underneath the left ventilation hole. With no other significant issues evident, the cap is in a near extremely fine condition.