When I taught English in Czechoslovakia (East Germany - GDR's neighbour) teaching English 20 years ago, all exportable products were labelled in English as well as Czech/Russian/German, to show they were 'export quality', and not the lower quality domestic market stuff.

James
Ottawa, ON

> Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 07:00:23 -0800
> From: albell@SHAW.CA
> Subject: Re: necessary vanagon accessory - trenching shovel
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> 
> Nope, it's GDR.
> 
> I'm thinking it was made (and stamped in English) for expert sales. Maybe even specifically made for army surplus stores to sell.
> 
> Alistair
> 
> 
> 
> 
> > On Nov 29, 2013, at 5:31 AM, Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@frontier.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Hi
> > Not sure since I can only go by the pictures but the one shovel I believe is GBR aka Great Britain. But without further inspection.
> > I have Autoparts of the era with GBR on the box and part. I would double check the stamping.
> > Of course I could be wrong and have been in the past.
> > 
> > Jonce
> > NOT a Shovel expert!!
> > 
> >> (You all must have one I'm sure. Maybe you have the modern US army type - you know, with the triangular handle.)
> >> 
> >> to celebrate the return of the prodigal shovel, I took some picks comparing it with it's E. German relation.
> >> 
> >> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/11/28/trenching-tools-east-meets-west/
> >> 
> >> alistair
> >