10-11-2008, 08:51 PM
I was just looking at those pics' you put up there Jim, would those be pics' 19 to 21 for I don't think they are washers. They are bell caps which have been put on upside down, and there is reason why they are that way. These plates come from the famous Velsen finds and these particular plates were upgraded from tinned to having sheet silver applied to them. From my experience with bell caps when you remove and try to refit them, the removal now and then makes the integral shanks on the plates a bit shorter. Then trying to get them back on with the same thickness leather can't be done so one has to simply reverse them, as may have been the case with our craftsman at Velsen when he upgraded this belt.
Brian Stobbs
