WWI "mustache wings" photos

[LtDan]

Hello…… I promised to post more images of the moustache style wing that was shown in post #20 of the following thread: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/305954-opinion-on-ww1-wings/

 

 

I received these wings this week and tried taking a few more photos……some in the sunlight. If more photos are needed, please let me know. There are some very fine “file marks” along the tops of the wings and on some of the “feathers”……I don’t know if some of the markings were worn away or just never there.

The only backmark is “Sterling”, and the pin opens only to about a 45 degree angle. One wing tip is slightly bent towards the rear…..but not very noticeable.

 

Any comments/opinions are appreciated.

 

Thanks,

Dan

 

[LtDan]

Here are a few more photos. The wings are about 3 1/4 inches and the shield is about 1/2 inch tall.

[pfrost]

I see a few things that now would give me heartburn. The first would be that the stars don't look the way I would expect. If you examine Bob's site, you will see lots of hand carved/hand made wings (http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/wwi/us/presleyunknown5.shtml) and the stars are always very sharp and crisp. These look just the opposite.

 

You have it in hand, do you think the workmanship is up to par with the other wings posted on Bob's site? Though there are variations in how things are made and the specific details, you can see that these wings all share a very similar "feel".

 

If it wasn't a casting then my next question would be was it a poor quality badge?

 

The important thing is how YOU feel about the wings, though?

[LtDan]

I see a few things that now would give me heartburn. The first would be that the stars don't look the way I would expect. If you examine Bob's site, you will see lots of hand carved/hand made wings (http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/wwi/us/presleyunknown5.shtml) and the stars are always very sharp and crisp. These look just the opposite.

 

You have it in hand, do you think the workmanship is up to par with the other wings posted on Bob's site? Though there are variations in how things are made and the specific details, you can see that these wings all share a very similar "feel".

 

If it wasn't a casting then my next question would be was it a poor quality badge?

 

The important thing is how YOU feel about the wings, though?

 

Thanks for your observations. I agree the stars are not sharp and crisp......but they look about as I expected after seeing the auction photos and the ones posted in the original thread......http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/305954-opinion-on-ww1-wings/

However....... looking at this wing, without magnification, any lack of sharpness in the stars is not very noticeable. This badge is long and narrow.......which differs from the example in your link, and seems to have a smaller shield & less room for the stars. That wing's stars do appear sharper, but some appear to have a sixth point, as do some of the stars on my wing. The "file" marks on those wings are similar to those on mine. The "US" on my wing is more uniform in appearance.

This is only the second WWI wing I have purchased, and I know they don't approach the quality of my Dallas wings, or most other wings. I'm still a novice in the collecting of WWI wings.......and learning from this forum and reference books.

There seems to be agreement that these wings are period and I don't think I paid too much for them.......so I'm okay with them unless someone can show they are not period wings. Guess they are just interesting to me and will provide a real contrast to the nicer wings I hope to add to my collection.

Thanks again.