Kolodkas

[RedMaestro2]

What are "kolodkas" and what is the difference between "small" and "large" types?

[EricFG]

Kolodka is a/the suspension for the medal. I'm not sure what "small" or "large" refer to. Miniatures, maybe?

[Esteban_cool]

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.

[RedMaestro2]

Thanks for the answers. :thumbsup Could you provide scans or measurements of "small" vs. "large"? I've never seen different size Bulgarian suspensions.

[deValcourt]

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

[RedMaestro2]

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?

[deValcourt]

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

[CtahhR]

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.

[deValcourt]

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

[CtahhR]

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.