jonesy1275 Posted March 5, 2019 Share #1 Posted March 5, 2019 These Brit made sterling silver Glider Pilots wings manufactured by Ludlow flashed up on Ebay yesterday. I've always wanted a Brit made set of Glider Pilots wings but the listing was taken down within a few hours. They appear to be different to other styles of Ludlow wings I've seen so I just wanted to learn if they were good or not. Regards, Neil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesy1275 Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted March 5, 2019 More pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesy1275 Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted March 5, 2019 Looks like they are good. https://pararesearchteam.com/PersonalItems/PersonalItems-068.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan H. Posted March 5, 2019 Share #4 Posted March 5, 2019 Personally, I don't think I've ever seen a Ludlow wing with the soldered on maker's mark that I have thought was original. I can't wait to see what the others say. As an aside, I don't see a similar wing on Bob Schwartz's excellent WW2Wings website. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesy1275 Posted March 5, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted March 5, 2019 Allan, Bob's website was my first point of call and you're right, I never found a Ludlow wing like what was on Ebay. Then I found that website with an identical wing being featured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 5, 2019 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2019 I saw that wing too. never seen 1 like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted March 5, 2019 Share #7 Posted March 5, 2019 From what I have learned in collecting Parachute wings, the applied metal hallmark is a Big Red Flag and often used by fakers. So I would be suspicious of these wings without further evidence to the contrary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kropotkin Posted March 5, 2019 Share #8 Posted March 5, 2019 I wouldn’t touch it, personally. Suspect maker mark, suspect hinge. I also don’t like how the shield seems to have been applied. Real Ludlows were soldered crudely onto a standard pilot wing. That looks riveted. Also the ‘topography’ of the reverse doesn’t look standard Ludlow. Also just noticed the faint ‘sterling silver’ stamp. Ludlows tends to be of brass and sliver washed. Added to which if it were British sterling silver it would be assay marked rather than say ‘sterling’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted March 5, 2019 Share #9 Posted March 5, 2019 It looks to be a casting with soft rounded edges and rough bumpy reverse rather then a sharp die struck. Would that be normal for Ludlow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted March 5, 2019 Share #10 Posted March 5, 2019 I thought it was interesting that it then appeared as part of a "grouping". https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-IDd-436th-TROOP-CARRIER-81st-SQ-GLIDER-PILOT-UNIFORM-JACKET-W-LUDLOW-WING/202614878621?hash=item2f2cc9b19d:g:R7QAAOSwBsxcfH6~#vi__app-cvip-panel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted March 6, 2019 Share #11 Posted March 6, 2019 This is a very "busy" wing, with all sorts of stuff going on. Unique Victorian era-like T-pin, non-correct (for the British) STERLING SILVER hallmark (on what looks to be a pot metal wing), a cast plaque with firm's name added to the back (as if you weren't exactly sure who made them), and some sort of "riveted" "G" that looks like it was put on by a blacksmith's apprentice. The finish on the wing has that "patina-in-a-can" feel and has all the signs of being cast (including pits, inclusions, and various other bumps and injection flaws). I am almost surprised that someone didn't use a nail (or a dremel bit) and engrave it with a date and location.... something like "6/6/44 Normandy" and "Hedgerow Hopper". But never say never... Ironically, I suspect that this is one of those things that is SO messed up that someone could think of all sorts of reasons why it could be good. I kind of like to think of it as when you are in a bar and hit on the drunk "hot-mess" girl with the Hell's Angeles tattoo. You know better, but... LOL! P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted March 12, 2019 Share #12 Posted March 12, 2019 I see that Glider Pilot grouping mentioned above, sold for $5,000! https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-IDd-436th-TROOP-CARRIER-81st-SQ-GLIDER-PILOT-UNIFORM-JACKET-W-LUDLOW-WING-/202614878621?_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true Did any more information about that strangely constructed Glider Pilot wing surface? I agree with all of you whom have serious doubts of its authenticity. It's certainly a far-cry different than other known authentic Ludlow-made Glider pilot badges... Or any other Ludlow-made aerial rating, especially with that "afterthought" hallmark tab attached? I wonder if the curators at the "Silent Wings Museum" in Lubbock can shed some light? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted March 12, 2019 Share #13 Posted March 12, 2019 Looks like elements from these three authentic Glider Pilot wings may have found their way into the badge that started this thread? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edelweisse Posted March 13, 2019 Share #14 Posted March 13, 2019 Very nice Glider pilot wings....I’d like to find one for the tunic I purchased over the summer which is ID’d and researched.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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