USAAF with pin converted? Help please

[ouraysimba]

My father was a wing collector and I'm in the process of selling them. He kept very scarce notes on them, although he sometimes left the price tag on them. He did denote that some of his wings were "pin convert". As well as clutch back wings and pin back wings, he had some wings that were converted to pin back wings. You can see a small circle on either the outside or inside of the area where the pin is soldered or attached. It looks like the wing once had a clutch back post and then was removed and replaced with a pin. The question I have is this. It is my understanding that clutch back wings were produced after the pin back types as they didn't move as much as the pins on the uniform. Doesn't seem logical that somebody would replace the clutch back for a pin type then. Could it be that there was an earlier more basic hook type catch that was replaced with the ball and rabbit ear type catch that are common to the era? Are they more rare and thereby worth more? If anybody could shed any light on this, it would very helpful. Thank you

[Patchcollector]

The way I understand it,and the more advanced Wing peeps will correct me if I'm wrong,there are some early Wings that were clutchback as well,so as a general rule,yes clutchbacks came after the pinbacks,but not always.

 

As for an earlier pinback design,I've seen them with just a simple bent metal "hook" catch,and yes,they are more scarce to find,and are generally worth more.

[pfrost]

During WWII clutch back and pin back were made at the same time. Before the war (20's-30's) pin back is more common, but there were probably early-type clutch back wings (and screw back wings).

 

For some reason, clutch back wings tend to be worth less than the very same wing in a pin back. Go figure.

 

Still, you do see period conversions from pins to clutches and clutches to pins and pins replaced with pins. All sorts of stuff went on.

Some people don't like to see the conversions, some don't care. I don't care, myself as long as it was vintage.

 

the thing is that some wings have had the conversions made to deceive well after the fact. A common practice is to take cheap 60's vintage jump wings, remove the clutch back and add a pin back to try to sell them as more valuable WWII jump wings.

[ouraysimba]

Thanks so much for the feedback. That is very helpful. Yes, I do have some wings that have the simple hook back. Mine are either very early AAC or British made Firmin wings.