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Plastic Jump Wings ?


triplecanopy
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triplecanopy

Anyone ever come across plastic jump wings? I do not have possession of these, but another collector sent me photos of the front and back.

Why anyone would make them out of plastic is beyond me. They are not official for sure and even with a metal shortage during WWII, wings and other badges were made of sterling silver. I am thinking that these are novelty or toy wings for a kid wanting to be a paratrooper. There were Jr. Paratrooper wings made for sure. These look like the real deal and are even hallmarked on the back with MG&S. (See below) So maybe that is a clue. Anyone know anything about these?

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triplecanopy

Reverse side of above plastic wings. Hallmark is MG&S, a maker I have never heard of before. Clutch back style with what looks like slightly rusty studs.

It is an interesting question. So your input is appreciated.

post-48217-0-74374800-1566851209_thumb.jpg

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I feel like Ive seen something like these before but no hallmark. Id think post ww2, Ive had different plastic insignia from WW2 but never hallmarked. Definitely an interested wing, maybe someone can find more about the maker to help point to a time frame

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FWIW, the Sept 1943 edition of the USN magazine "ALL HANDS" had a small item at the end of the issue noting that plastic officers cap insignia have been authorized. It noted that they were indistinguishable from metal ones and that a shortage of silver was driving the change. At one time I ran across a CG CPO cap insignia in plastic but I did not bid on it..

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triplecanopy

Movie prop, yeah that is a good thought. With all the WWII movies like 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'Band of Brothers', why use authentic silver parachute badges when a plastic wing could be made with injection molding? On a movie set, who could tell the difference?

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I dont think its a movie prop, why would they use something that would break that easy. I think this could have been an economy thing. But why would a movie prop put a makers mark what would be the point of that ?

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I have one in my collection and I have seen them for sale before on eBay a couple of times. There was one found on a WW2 era 501st P.I.R. oval and the theory was that this was a British made piece as the British had been substituting plastic for their metal cap badges during WW2. I have an identical one with light blue translucent plastic clutches that are not hallmark. There was another that was unmarked and thought to have been made in occupied Germany like their war time Nazi tinnies. So M.G.& S. might be a British firm but all of this is speculation as no one knows for sure.

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I dont think its a movie prop, why would they use something that would break that easy. I think this could have been an economy thing. But why would a movie prop put a makers mark what would be the point of that ?

What than would keep it from breaking by pinning it onto a uniform?....Maker marks perhaps from making molds from original dies?....Perhaps MG&S stands for Metro Goldwynn & Studio?...Bodes
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There were plastic US cap badges and also plaster of paris cap badges for enlisted caps during the was.Both made of substitute materials and paintd gold.I have a plastic one some place and a one piece molded enlisted cap badge but dont recall the material.There is an old topic on the cap badges as well.

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triplecanopy

But are not the badges you give as examples made originally of brass? Brass, copper and nickel were wartime metals in short supply. Silver was even used as a substitute for nickel in wartime made 5 cent coins. So why was plastic or aluminum used as a substitute for silver? Are there plastic examples of flight wings?

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But are not the badges you give as examples made originally of brass? Brass, copper and nickel were wartime metals in short supply. Silver was even used as a substitute for nickel in wartime made 5 cent coins. So why was plastic or aluminum used as a substitute for silver? Are there plastic examples of flight wings?

And according to wikepedia, Canada, England, and Russia all had greater resources of aluminum than the United States....Bodes

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