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WW2 Balloon Pilot Wings Firmin London


FieryPhantom
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I just picked up these balloon pilot wings marked by Firmin London, and wanted to make sure they are not fake. So I am asking the experts for help again. Please let me know if they are real or fake, if fake I will get my money back. P.S. Thanks for the help on the Dallas wings

 

Thanks,

Phillip

 

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Philip - I owned a pair of these very rare wings many years ago. These wings look very righteous to me based on the pics. Good Luck - Bobgee

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Thank you so much Bobgee for the reply I was worried the wings were too good to be true. I have just started collecting wings and I am trying to get a nice collection. Right now I have 1 command pilot wing pin back meyer marked, 1 navy pilot pin back, Ballon Pilot wings, and regular pilot wings LGB marked pin back. Once again I would like to thank the wing experts as this is a new field for me and I am a little lost. Is there a good reference book that anyone would recommend?

 

Thanks again,

Phillip

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Hi Phillip,

 

So far i like them but if you can give me a better closeup of the Firmin Maker Mark I can tell you better. There are a few books out there, (mainly by Schiffer Publishing Co.) like Silver Wings Pinks and Greens, More SWP&G, US Navy Wings of Gold, there are others but these would be a good start. If you are interested in British Commonwealth wings then you need Carrols Eagles Recalled.

 

I have not mentioned any of the earlier books by Huff or Chalif as they are nowhere near as useful as the ones mentioned.

 

 

Cheers

Gary

Thank you so much Bobgee for the reply I was worried the wings were too good to be true. I have just started collecting wings and I am trying to get a nice collection. Right now I have 1 command pilot wing pin back meyer marked, 1 navy pilot pin back, Ballon Pilot wings, and regular pilot wings LGB marked pin back. Once again I would like to thank the wing experts as this is a new field for me and I am a little lost. Is there a good reference book that anyone would recommend?

 

Thanks again,

Phillip

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Hi Phillip,

 

Can you get about 2 to 3 times closer?

 

Gary

Here is the better pic hope this helps, let me know if you need any more.

Thanks alot,

Phillip

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Does anyone have any other Firman USAAF wings they can post? I'd be interested to see what the hallmark on other Firman wings looks like. The sloppiness kind of bothers me - double strike, uneven letters. Pictures of a wing I've seen in one of my reference books shows a much "cleaner" Firmin hallmark. Just seems strange a quality maker like Firmin would have a hallmark like that. Perhaps their Balloon wing is known for that exact type hallmark and it's the way it should be. I don't know. With the amount of money no doubt at stake here, it should be checked out a bit more.

Kurt

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I do.... I'll check them when I get home. I won't be able to post a picture until next week though. From my understand Firmin was not the very best of the English wing makers and that may explain the double strike on the makers name.

 

Does anyone have any other Firman USAAF wings they can post? I'd be interested to see what the hallmark on other Firman wings looks like. The sloppiness kind of bothers me - double strike, uneven letters. Pictures of a wing I've seen in one of my reference books shows a much "cleaner" Firmin hallmark. Just seems strange a quality maker like Firmin would have a hallmark like that. Perhaps their Balloon wing is known for that exact type hallmark and it's the way it should be. I don't know. With the amount of money no doubt at stake here, it should be checked out a bit more.

Kurt

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4 This hallmark is very similar to the Baloon Pilot. I don't have a problem with sloppy hallmarks from Firmin. I have probably 30 pieces by them and the pilots wing has the best hallmark of all of them. I have one set of captains bars that are very poorly marked except for the silver assay marks which are perfect. So that is not too big an issue with me. So long as the hallmark is raised. So far the only fake Firmin insignia I have seen is using a stamp for the hallmark.

 

The baloon pilot wing that is being discussed looks good to me. It has a couple of small details that I see on all the genuine Firmin wings and so far not a single red flag. Right at this moment I would give it a thumbs up.

 

 

Gary

 

 

3

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Thanks guys you had me worried again for a second. Thanks a lot for all the information Gary Cain,KurtA and 101combatvet. I am relieved to have the all clear, there are so many repros out there today. I am a very leery of wings cause I don't know much about the makers and details of the wings. Thanks for recommending the reference books I will definitely try and get them. I am really happy there is a great forum like this to help collectors. I will be listing some more wings in the future, Thanks again for the help

 

Best Regards,

Phillip

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Hi Phillip,

 

No problem, that's what this forum is all about thumbsup.gifthumbsup.gif

 

BTW Bobgee was correct these are very rare indeed! If you ever decide to unload them keep me in mind!

 

 

Cheers

Gary

Thanks guys you had me worried again for a second. Thanks a lot for all the information Gary Cain,KurtA and 101combatvet. I am relieved to have the all clear, there are so many repros out there today. I am a very leery of wings cause I don't know much about the makers and details of the wings. Thanks for recommending the reference books I will definitely try and get them. I am really happy there is a great forum like this to help collectors. I will be listing some more wings in the future, Thanks again for the help

 

Best Regards,

Phillip

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Hi Gary I don't see myself parting with these wings, but if I ever decide to you will be the first know thumbsup.gif .Thanks for all the info.

 

Best Regards,

Phillip

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