When would these USAF SSGT stripes been made?

[Flashlarue]

When would these USAF SSGT stripes been made? They are cut edge and have some sort of plastic type backing. The top blue edging comes all the way down to the top of the silver star. The blue field behind the star and between the stripes is all one with no circle around the star.

 

[patches]

They have all the apperances of a 50s-60s made one, but it's your description of them having plastic coatings ( they are a pair, or is it a single example?) plastic coatings are something that was not seen as far as I know till the 80s and later, perhaps the rears are coated with an application of thick starch?

[WS60]

Please help me with the same question: When would these USAF (master?) SGT stripes been made?

 

[patches]

Please help me with the same question: When would these USAF (master?) SGT stripes been made?

 

Same deal, late 40s into early-ish 60s, this would be depending on the backing thread to be from the afore metioned period, rayon-cotton 50s 60s, if not and they're polyester, them mid to late 60s.

[flyboy53]

These stripes are probably mid-1980s or later.

 

If I'm looking at them correctly, they have a merrowed edge.

[patches]

These stripes are probably mid-1980s or later.

 

If I'm looking at them correctly, they have a merrowed edge.

Which ones, the OP or the second posting of the used ones?

[Flashlarue]

The first stripes I posted are cut edge so I am assuming he meant the stripes posted by WS60.

[patches]

The first stripes I posted are cut edge so I am assuming he meant the stripes posted by WS60.

Check.

 

Nah those by WS60 are flat edges, note you can see the bobbin thead on the border.

 

These with the merrowed edges look completely different, the merrowed borders being oversewn over the borders.

 

[flyboy53]

Then the staff sergeant stripes are from the 1970s.

 

Some forms of the plastic type backing were meant to melt and adhere the stripes to a uniform. You could iron the stripes on and wear them through one or two launderings. Eventually the stripes would have to be sewn in place anyway.

 

Other types of plastic backing were meant only to preserve the insignia's shape after frequent washing. This is because if you weren't careful sewing them on, the stripes would always pucker on top at the "v," leaving a noticeable wrinkle on the sleeve. This backing would eventually fall apart after a while and you'd have to replace them.

 

I suspect the master sergeant stripes are just as old, possibly from the 1960s; given the wear and bad shape. These were probably worn on a field jacket or fatigues.

 

That's from my own memory.

 

I'm one of those Air Force types that was so OCD about his dress uniform that I would literally study the stripes in the BX packages or clothing sales, and pick the ones with the least machine flaws. Then I would sew them on by hand -- even though my wife was a seamstress/tailor at the off-base uniform shop, working on officer uniforms.

[patches]

Thanks Flyboy.