Jump to content

"It's a Gemsco" USN & USCG Patch Manufacturers


Salvage Sailor
 Share

Recommended Posts

Salvage Sailor

Aloha Everyone,

 

This is a USN reference topic for patches manufactured by Gemsco, Inc. New York, NY for ships and stations of the United States Navy (and Coast Guard too!)

 

Please post any examples you may have in the original packaging (carded) along with a loose patch if you have one.

 

Dating a patch by the card color

 

There were three (3) different cards used by Gemsco for USN patches (and a fourth lighter blue color for civilian patches). The oldest cards are off-white and have a Gold Border frame. These were used until 1961/1962.

 

The second generation cards are white with a Red Border frame circa 1963-1966 with the later cards having a 10001 NYC zip code.

 

The third generation cards are Dark Blue with a Gold Border frame which were used from 1966 to about 1980 when they ceased USN production orders (as did Hilborn-Hamburger, the slack being taken up by the Leonard Company's Swiss-Tex brand).

 

First up, these examples are in the pre-1962 Gold border Gemsco packaging.

 

USS SPRINGFIELD CLG-7 in service 1944 to 1974. She was redesignated from CL-66 to CLG-7 (1957 to 1975). In 1975 she became CG-7

 

This example: Gemsco manufactured between 1957 and 1962

CLG 7 USS SPRINGFIELD Gemsco 001.jpg

CLG 7 USS SPRINGFIELD Gemsco 002.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS FORRESTAL CVA-59 She was redesignated CV-59 in 1975

This example was made between 1955 and 1962

CVA 59 USS FORRESTAL Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS RANGER (CVA-61), also redesignated CV-61 in 1975

This example made between 1957 and 1962

CVA 61 USS RANGER Gemsco 001.jpg

 

CVA 61 USS RANGER Gemsco 002.jpg

 

......and a bonus

 

Written instructions from the Executive Officer to the crewmen purchasing these at the ships store on how to/not to wear them

 

CVA 61 USS RANGER Gemsco 003.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

......and a bonus

 

Written instructions from the Executive Officer to the crewmen purchasing these at the ships store on how to/not to wear them

. Interesting. I wonder what the difference is (was) between a "Dungaree Jacket" and a "Blue Working Jacket"? I always read that the insignia of the ship your on goes on the left breadt, and any other acceptable patch o the tight breast.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS SIERRA AD-18 in service 1944 to 1993. The off-white with gold border card is pre-1962 and the sealed blue with gold border card is post 1966

AD 18 USS SIERRA Gemsco 000.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

This is the second and third card used by Gemsco. The white with red border card is 1963-1966 and the blue with gold border card is 1967 (when ARL changed the name to NARL)

 

Also of note is the plastic packaging. This is the earlier white card without the zip code. The off-white and white cards were tucked into unsealed plastic bags with the flap pulled over. Rarely was there tape on the bag. When the white card with the 10001 zip code came out, it was in a completely sealed bag, as were the following blue 1966 cards such as the NARL below. Also notice that the NARL patch in wider than the card. The blue cards are 1/2 narrower than either of the older cards.

 

ARL NARL Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Commissary Store US NAVAL SUB BASE, New London, CT

 

This is an example of the later White with Red border 1963-1966 card

Notice that it has zip code 10001 and that the bag is completely sealed

to meet the new Post Office shipping regulations of the time.

 

(yes folks, we lived in a world without area or zip codes before the sixties)

Commisary Store US Naval Sub Base New London CT Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Our member and author dpcsdan's second ship

 

USS COURTNEY (DE-1021) Dealey class destroyer escort in service 1956 to 1973

This example made pre-1962

 

DE 1021 USS COURTNEY Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS JAMES C. OWENS (DD-776) Allen M. Sumner class in service 1945 to 1973

This example made pre-1962

 

DD 776 USS JAMES C OWENS Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS HAROLD J. ELLISON (DD-864) Gearing class in service 1945 to 1983

This example made pre-1962

 

DD 864 USS HAROLD J ELLISON Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS DAVIS (DD-937) Forrest Sherman class destroyer in service 1957 to 1982

Easy to date this one, made between 1957 and 1962 (probably 1957 when she was commissioned)

 

DD 937 USS DAVIS Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

....and the easiest one to date on the older card. USS VALLEY FORGE was initially to be an 'long hull' Essex (Ticonderoga) class aircraft carrier, CV-45. Built too late for WWII, she was commissioned in 1946 and then converted first to CVA-45 (Korean War - Attack), then CVS-45 (Cold War - Antisubmarine) and was finally converted to be one of the first dedicated helicopter carriers, LPH-8 on July 1st, 1961

 

USS VALLEY FORGE (LPH-8) Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)

Patch made in 1961

LPH 8 USS VALLEY FORGE Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS SIERRA (AD-18) Dixie class destroyer tender in service 1944 to 1993

Example made pre-1962

AD 18 USS SIERRA Gemsco 001.jpg

 

AD 18 USS SIERRA Gemsco 002.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

DON'T TANGLE WITH THE U.S.S.WRANGELL AE-12 Mount Hood class ammunition ship in service 1944 to 1970

This example made pre-1962

AE 12 USS WRANGELL Gemsco 001.jpg

 

New with a used one removed from 'been there, done that' deck jacket

AE 12 USS WRANGELL Gemsco 002.jpg

 

AE 12 USS WRANGELL Gemsco 003.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Gator Freighter USS FREMONT APA-44 Bayfield class attack transport in service 1943 to 1969

Command ship of Amphibious Squadron 4, Task Force 61, US SIXTH FLEET in 1962

APA 44 USS FREMONT 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Many of us who were with the Cruiser-Destroyer force went to Dam Neck for training

 

Naval Guided Missiles School, Dam Neck, VA

 

Dam Neck Naval Guided Missiles School Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Dam Neck Naval Guided Missiles School Gemsco 002.jpg

 

Knowledge for Defense, .....actually they were teaching us how to shoot down Commie Migs and Bears

 

Dam Neck Naval Guided Missiles School Gemsco 003.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

While we also went to Standard Missile school at the Fleet Anit-Air Warfare Training Center

Dam Neck, VA. Patch circa 1962

Fleet Anti-Air Warfare Training Center Dam Neck VA Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Arctic Research Laboratory (established 1946) Office of Naval Research, Point Barrow, Alaska Territory

ARL History http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/arctic1-2-97.pdf

Gemsco Red border ARL, no zipcode made 1963-1966

 

ARL Gemsco 002.jpg

 

Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (1967) Office of Naval Research, Point Barrow, Alaska

NARL History http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic22-3-177.pdf

Patch made when name was changed from ARL to NARL in 1967

 

post-2322-0-20997400-1450508414.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS OBSERVATION ISLAND (EAG-154), an "experimental miscellaneous auxiliary", i.e. secret testing platform for the then new fleet ballistic missile submarines being developed for the MAD Triad of the Cold War.

 

She was EAG-154 from 1958 to 1968. This patch made between 1963-1966

EAG 154 USS OBSERVATION ISLAND Gemsco 001.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Boomer USS LAFAYETTE (SSBN-616), christened by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1962

Lead boat of the Lafayette class of ballistic missile nuclear submarines

Patch made between 1963 and 1965

 

SSBN 616 USS LAFAYETTE Gemsco 001.jpg

 

SSBN 616 USS LAFAYETTE Gemsco 002.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS STURGEON (SSN-637) lead boat of the Sturgeon class of nuclear attack submarines

Patch probably made for her plankowner crew in 1966. She was commissioned in 1967

 

SSN 637 USS STURGEON Gemsco 001.jpg

 

SSN 637 USS STURGEON Gemsco 002.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

USS FRANCIS SCOTT KEY SSBN-657, Benjamin Franklin class ballistic missile nuclear submarine

Commisioned in 1966

SSBN 657 FRANCIS SCOTT KEY Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

Destroyer Escort Squadron 10 - Served primarily in the Med and Atlantic (2nd and 6th Fleets)

CORTRON 10 was based in Newport R.I. and the flagship was USS COURTNEY DE-1021 posted on page 1

CORTRON 10 Gemsco 001.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor

DESRON 21- Destroyer Squadron 21 Solomons Onward

Made around 1966 (note the zip code)

 

DESRON 21 Solomons Onward Gemsco 001.jpg

 

DESRON 21 Solomons Onward Gemsco 002.jpg

 

DESRON 21- Destroyer Squadron 21 Solomons Onward

Reverse

DESRON 21 Solomons Onward Gemsco 003.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...