The Soviet Military Awards Page Forum  
  • Serial Numbers Database 2.0
Enter Here

vBClassified Featured Listings
Echoes of War
Echoes of War
Seeking following Soviet campaign medals for ..,

Go Back   The Soviet Military Awards Page Forum > Soviet Awards Forums > Soviet Sphere > People's Republic Of Bulgaria

People's Republic Of Bulgaria Народна Република България 15th September 1946 - 15th November 1990

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-04-2012, 07:41 PM   #1
RedMaestro2
Senior Member
 
RedMaestro2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 501
Kolodkas

What are "kolodkas" and what is the difference between "small" and "large" types?
RedMaestro2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 04-04-2012, 09:22 PM   #2
EricFG
Senior Member
 
EricFG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Naples, Florida, USA
Age: 59
Posts: 1,496
Re: Kolodkas

Kolodka is a/the suspension for the medal. I'm not sure what "small" or "large" refer to. Miniatures, maybe?
__________________
"patina imparts character" - PJS
A wise man said: 'you should not pay a premium for what you want beyond your comfort level, and always ensure there is a mutually agreeable return policy.'
EricFG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2012, 10:36 PM   #3
Esteban_cool
Senior Member
 
Esteban_cool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Santiago, Chile
Age: 36
Posts: 1,103
Re: Kolodkas

The PRB had different types of kolodkas. The first ones were brass, second type aluminium and the small type was also aluminium, with a different attachment pin. It was pentagonal, just like the rest, but smaller. They varied according to the emission periods during the history of the PRB.
__________________
There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

The Who, Won't get fooled again
Esteban_cool is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 07:52 PM   #4
RedMaestro2
Senior Member
 
RedMaestro2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 501
Re: Kolodkas

Thanks for the answers. :thumbsup Could you provide scans or measurements of "small" vs. "large"? I've never seen different size Bulgarian suspensions.
RedMaestro2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 09:02 PM   #5
deValcourt
Senior Member
 
deValcourt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cajun Country
Age: 56
Posts: 1,565
Re: Kolodkas

I don't have my caliper on hand here but the larger suspensions were about the same size as the Soviet ones and the smaller ones were about a 3/4 the size of the larger ones and frankly are unappealing in my opinion since they are out of proportion to the medals.

Below are two for comparison - an older, serial numbered ORB and an ORBL (I only have two of these and both have the smaller suspension).

Phillip
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Bulgarian suspensions 1.jpg (41.3 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg Bulgarian suspensions 2.jpg (43.3 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg Bulgarian suspensions 3.jpg (35.7 KB, 7 views)
__________________
Phillip
deValcourt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-05-2012, 09:51 PM   #6
RedMaestro2
Senior Member
 
RedMaestro2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 501
Re: Kolodkas

Quote:
Originally Posted by deValcourt View Post
I don't have my caliper on hand here but the larger suspensions were about the same size as the Soviet ones and the smaller ones were about a 3/4 the size of the larger ones and frankly are unappealing in my opinion since they are out of proportion to the medals.

Below are two for comparison - an older, serial numbered ORB and an ORBL (I only have two of these and both have the smaller suspension).

Phillip
Thanks for the comparison, Phillip! :thumbsup Perhaps I just don't have enough Bulgarian awards to have come across the two types. Are the pin mechanisms also different on each size?
RedMaestro2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 11:27 PM   #7
deValcourt
Senior Member
 
deValcourt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cajun Country
Age: 56
Posts: 1,565
Re: Kolodkas

Quote:
Originally Posted by RedMaestro2 View Post
Thanks for the comparison, Phillip! :thumbsup Perhaps I just don't have enough Bulgarian awards to have come across the two types. Are the pin mechanisms also different on each size?
Just as you see. Not all of the larger ones are like the one pictured, but all of the smaller ones I have seen are as above - they are newer than the Soviet sized ones. In fact, I would not be surprised if the larger suspension were Soviet in origin.

Phillip
__________________
Phillip
deValcourt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-06-2012, 11:39 PM   #8
CtahhR
Forum Administrator
 
CtahhR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Deep In The Archives.
Age: 17
Posts: 12,074
Re: Kolodkas

There are variations in brass let alone ally large single suspensions, all of which were made in Bulgaria. The smaller Kolodkas have very little variation and were introduced in the late 70's and were by no means the success they were intended to be. The Order "9th September 1944" 1st Class did NOT look good on the smaller suspension being that it was originally a neck order.
I have not yet seen the smaller sized kolodkas in the multi award type but that by no means they do not exist, although I have seen many large multi award kolodkas with ribbons from small kolodka awards being mismatched onto them.

The smaller kolodkas can be seen most frequently on Orders Of Labour and later (post 1976) instituted non-commemorative Medals. They are as popular with the collectors as with the Bulgarian "veterans" and finding an award with the smaller suspension usually means you are looking at something of very little value (if they were also issued with a larger kolodka).

Some awards were backlogged to the extent that they never came to light with the smaller suspension so don't think that since the collection is missing a small suspension variant that you are missing out as you are not.
__________________
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
CtahhR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2012, 12:49 AM   #9
deValcourt
Senior Member
 
deValcourt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cajun Country
Age: 56
Posts: 1,565
Re: Kolodkas

Agreed. The two I have are unnumbered and were in the price range of about $10 each - with shipping. In fact, I am still interested in finding a Labor Order with the larger suspension, serial number or not since I have the award box for the larger variation.

Phillip
__________________
Phillip
deValcourt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2012, 12:54 AM   #10
CtahhR
Forum Administrator
 
CtahhR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Deep In The Archives.
Age: 17
Posts: 12,074
Re: Kolodkas

Good luck finding one numbered!

Would that be the Order Of Labour or National Order Of Labour? Both had two different suspensions. The former the large and small 5 sided bit of metal and the latter had the tri-fold and 5 sided.


How did we get this far without mentioning the rectangular suspensions for medals similar to HSUs? Although I have never seen a multi-award bar for those. If anyone has one, or just the picture I would be very happy to see!

It certainly wouldn't be unrealistic for a Bulgarian to get 2 or 3 Medals on the rectangular suspension. Were they just expected to get a new ribbon for the multi award 5 sided bar? Much as many vets do with the Lenin centenary.
__________________
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
CtahhR is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



12 Inches of Distinguished Flying Cross Replacement Ribbon picture

12 Inches of Distinguished Flying Cross Replacement Ribbon

$6.00



Army Service Medal and Ribbon picture

Army Service Medal and Ribbon

$22.95



Ribbon for the Iraq King Faisel II Enthronement medal - 1953 picture

Ribbon for the Iraq King Faisel II Enthronement medal - 1953

$7.00



Military Full Size New USAF Air Force Small Arms Marksman Expert Ribbon 3H2 picture

Military Full Size New USAF Air Force Small Arms Marksman Expert Ribbon 3H2

$2.00



12 Inches of Legion of Merit Replacement Ribbon picture

12 Inches of Legion of Merit Replacement Ribbon

$6.00



12 Inches of Army Distinguished Service Medal Replacement Ribbon picture

12 Inches of Army Distinguished Service Medal Replacement Ribbon

$6.00



US Military Full Size New Army Service Ribbon   THE Ribbon only NEW picture

US Military Full Size New Army Service Ribbon THE Ribbon only NEW

$1.00



12 Inches of Navy Distinguished Service Medal Replacement Ribbon picture

12 Inches of Navy Distinguished Service Medal Replacement Ribbon

$6.00



U.S. MIL/RIBBON DV0148 - WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL RIBBON (WW2) [IRA GREEN] picture

U.S. MIL/RIBBON DV0148 - WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL RIBBON (WW2) [IRA GREEN]

$5.95



Ribbon Mounting Bar Triple Brass For Three Ribbons or Medals picture

Ribbon Mounting Bar Triple Brass For Three Ribbons or Medals

$2.25




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2011 Arthur G. Bates III