Painted small badges would have made their debut around 1942, but not introduced across the board from then, it would depend on stock still around, as well as demand for each item...and areas etc. In Austria for example messing enameled badges were still being made in 1943, for example the multitude of lesser known clubs as well as shooting badges.
So theoretically both Versions, i.e painted and enamel messing being available at the same time, yes sure, even produced at the same time, just in different areas, BUT NO WAY before the outbreak of war. Possibly as early as mid war, 1942-but also in areas like Austria and in parts of Germany much later, 1943-1944.
Unfortunately there are only announcements and mentioning of the lesser quality metals, Cupal, and others in the UM that pertain to the LDO, i.e awards and not small badges that fell under the RZM. There is mention of the meetings that took place to talk about saving War essential metals, even with a representative from the RZM being present, that date to 1940, but this is too early for messing and enamel to stop. (but does coincide with the change over from messing coins in 1,2,5 and 10 pfennig denominations in mid 1940) The transition was also not immediate with small badges, you will first see a transition from messing enameled to other materials like Eisen and Messing-plated eisen being used, then you see at the beginning of the zinc period in some areas, makers using old stock, ie: eisen and messing, but painting them, then after, towards the end, you find zinc in all kinds of quality, i.e Monkey metals, good quality, or feinzink etc... unless of course no amount of certain items were needed during the transition, and only a big order went in in 1943 or so for badges that were not made since 1939 or so...
There has been a huge increase in fake zinc painted badges since about 10 years now, (possibly to do with the Internet) but thats not important, what is, is that i have a method that will be able to tell you with 99,999% certainty if a painted, or as was the case with many but not all badges, painted and then lackiert (varnished) badges - are original or not, its very simple, yet very effective.
If these DJ badges were allowed to be worn as a kind of Traditionsabzeichen later on, then it might explain why some were made in the mid 1940s. To say that these painted zinc badges were available before the war, is something that i totally disagree with. Maybe there is such an announcement in the RJF or similar? from 1942-1943?
Garry, it is being offered by a good buy, but he also has the three painted HJ Gold badges up for sale too, which i dont accept as genuine.