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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

    CollectinSteve
    CollectinSteve
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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 Empty Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

    Post by CollectinSteve Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:49 am

    It's going to be awhile before I can really pull this stuff together, but I thought a quick post might do for now Very Happy Below are three samples taken from the backs of TAZ83 jackets. All three pics were taken in the same lighting conditions and distance from the camera. Therefore, they are scaled correctly to each other. They represent two of the major patterns and one variation. First up, the two major patterns:

    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 TAZ82SmallandLargeCompare

    On the left is what I call Small Leiber and on the right Large Leiber. You can see the two are absolutely not the same patterns just by looking at them side by side. The major differences are Small Leiber has shapes which are distinctly branch like while Large Leiber is more towards blobs. Small Leiber's flecks are small, numerous, and clustered together near the Red and Green colors. Large Leiber has very few flecks, they are larger, mostly single or paired, and are centered in the brown areas for the most part. Small Leiber's black has holes in quite a number of the shapes while Large is completely sold. The streaks of Small's Red and Green colors are always opposite each other while Large's all go in the same direction. Finally, the other major difference is that Small's Black shapes tend to have "drips" going in both up/down orientation, while Large Leiber's tend to have a distinct preference to "drip" in one direction only (in this orientation, "down").

    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 TAZ82LargeDotCompare

    These pics represent Large Leiber Variation 1 (Green) on the left and Large Leiber Variation 2 (Red) on the right. While these patterns are more similar than the two noted above, they are definitely different. What I did was plot 4 different colored points over major shapes of Variant 2 (Red) on the right the copied and pasted the dots over Variation 1 (Green) so you can see exactly how things line up. The blue dots represent similar points to compare for the Red and Green colors, pink dots represent similar points for Black. Yellow dots show points which are different for Red and Green, peach dots show differences for Black.

    First off, you notice that the Reds and Greens are reversed for the two Variants. Second, while there is a decent correlation with the particular shapes I chose to highlight, you can see that it quickly breaks down and comparisons fail because the shapes are not similar at all. Even the shapes I chose are only similar and not exact copies of each other. Note also that the Black is independently printed from the other colors so that it's alignment with them is completely different.

    When I have some more free time I'll document the other half dozen distinctly different patterns the Swiss used for the nearly 35 years this pattern was in service. While there are major differences between the patterns, they do primarily break down into Small Leiber and Large Leiber variations. Some, however, are "radically" different compared to others.

    Steve


    Last edited by CollectinSteve on Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:11 pm; edited 1 time in total
    CollectinSteve
    CollectinSteve
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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 Empty Re: Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

    Post by CollectinSteve Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:11 pm

    Still no time in sight to do more research. However, the operating theory I am working under is that there are two primary "families" of patterns: Small Leiber and Large Leiber. Within each there are variations, sometimes extremely significant. Some of the differences are simple, like swapping colors or reversing the direction of the black shapes. Other times it is fundamental, such as completely different shapes or different method of construction (for example, black being printed independently or tied to the other colors).

    There's one variation of Small Leiber that probably should be its own "family" because its construction techniques are very different and the results produce (effectively) one extra color through the method of overlapping of other colors. Thats what I want to nail down before I detail my findings.

    I'm curious though... what sorts of things do you guys have in your collection? Take a careful look because some items are made with multiple types of cloth and I've got 3 jackets which are Model 2 but have 1/2 of the arms cut off and Model 3 arms sewn on in place. No idea why Smile

    Oh, and I guess since I'm here I should explain the different Models!

    Model 1 (195? - 1961) - Known as TAZ57. Made from light canvas material, internal rubberized shoulder cape, elbow/knee reinforcements using same materials sandwiched inbetween light canvas material reinforcements.

    Model 2 (1962 - early 1970s?) - same as Model 1, likely with same official designation, except material is thick cotton and elbow/knee reinforcements use specially backed cloth (with slightly different texture than for the rest of the uniform).

    Model 3 (early 1970s? - mid 1980s) - same as Model 1, likely with same official designation, except internal shoulder cape is same cloth as the rest of the uniform, elbow/knee reinforcements are camouflaged nylon.

    Model 4 (1984 - 1993) - Known as TAZ83. Lightweight uniform of thin cotton/poly mix. Shares almost no similarities to the previous three Models.

    Cheers,

    Steve
    vonstuck
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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 Empty Re: Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

    Post by vonstuck Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:02 pm

    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 100_5620

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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 100_5625
    Bury_Dave
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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 Empty Re: Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

    Post by Bury_Dave Thu Mar 22, 2012 7:17 am

    Has anyone ever tried to overdye the Alpenflage to make it a more practical and subdued camo patter ? I have a few sets and might have a go myself with an olive green dye .....

    Damnit Steve but you have an extremely good eye. But now you mention it, yep, there are variations Smile

    Dave

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    Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1 Empty Re: Swiss Leibermuster Camouflage Variations #1

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