German Fife

Star find at yesterday's auction

I think this is a WWI military fife in leather lined/leather outer carry case.

By the scratched name to end this was used in WWII by a Hans Muller of 7th Panzer division.

No other identification other than a number 69 impressed inside the brass end connection of the case

 

Is the 7 in 7th Panzer crossed? A German would do this, an opportunistic Briton possibly not. In fact, how is 7th written, it should not be th. although a spot of brain fade means the usual German abbreviation escapes me,.

 

7th looks crossed but in front has either an ampersand or 6 neither of which makes sense!

The wwii connection is, to me, a distraction as the instrument and case appear to date wwi.

I suspect the panzer connection is real but doesnt inflate value, possibly deflates value by introducing the possibility of later alteration.

 

Would a Panzer Division be feminine

 

Will post photos tomorrow of full scratched inscription

 

Here are photos promised. It is quite scratched (and crudely scratched). There is one clear downstroke before the 7 so perhaps 17 Panzer Division (it cant be 67 Panzer Division)