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FAKE!, Fantasy & Reproduction Wing Examples


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IMPERIAL QUEST

Wing in post #21

 

Patrick, does this look like it could be from the same person or outfit that created the wing with the brown OD backing you and I discussed? I see some similarities in the wing cuts and especially in that zig zag pattern in the shield... think.gif

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Wing in post #21

 

Patrick, does this look like it could be from the same person or outfit that created the wing with the brown OD backing you and I discussed? I see some similarities in the wing cuts and especially in that zig zag pattern in the shield... think.gif

 

Steve, yes, I think these are exactly the same "type" of fake that we were talking about.

 

There are a family of fake WWI wings that show up. They almost always have a series of similarities that once you look at a few, you will get the idea of what I am talking about.

 

They typically use a sheet of metal that has been hand cut with a hack saw, frequently rather crudely. The tips of the feathers are usually very sharp and have been cut so that the edge of the wing looks like the blades of a saw. The details of the feathers are, more often than not, hand chased into the metal with a chisel and usually use a variety of "V" shapes and slashes to form the feathering. The shield (or "O" or balloon) in the center is also hand worked and has rather crude and poor detail. For example, in the above wing, the stars are not centered or spaced evenly.

 

Sometimes the wings are put on a brass backing, sometimes not. When on a backing, it is usually wrapped with a felt material, often times artificially aged. The pin, hinge and catch are usually hand made and look nothing like the hardware found on real WWI wings.

 

The feeling seems to be that these rather crude, handmade pieces are "jeweler made" as if a real jeweler wouldnt have access to sterling silver, jewelers saws, awls, files, rasps, chisels and skill. Instead, they look like they were made by some guy with a vise, a hack saw, a chisels, and a butane torch.

 

here are a couple more of this general pattern: A ballon wing that was recently discussed (please forgive me if I err in reposting the images here).

post-1519-1219855525.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Here is yet another of that same family of fakes. At least this one is being sold on ebay as a fake. Actually, the workmanship on this one is a bit better than the normal run of the mill wings. But still, a fake.

post-1519-1220738367.jpg

post-1519-1220738394.jpg

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Everybody can make a mistake and this is one of my worst and most expensive errors. I had saved up a good chunk of change and wanted to buy myself a nice WWI wing. Went to the Great Western and had it narrowed down to a nice IDed bullion junior aviator with a photo of the guy wearing the wing or this one. The thing was, the dealer with the good wing was kind of rude, while the guy with the balloon wing was a real nice fellow....

 

My point is that you can see in the last 3-4 fake wings on this thread that they all look like they came from the same person.

 

Patrick

post-1519-1220738789.jpg

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Not mine, but here are some more from this maker:

 

post-594-1220741456.jpg

post-594-1220741470.jpg

post-594-1220741494.jpg

post-594-1220741514.jpg

Photos came from the www.

 

These wings were originally designed and made by a Phoenix, AZ tool and die maker names sounds like PayCheck, also some of them are hallmarked LeBreve. He is the one who started the LeBreve hallmark. Many people believe LeBreve is real -I found out recently it never existed.

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The center shield is from a Meyer and Wenthe WWI wing which is one of the more reproduced wings around. You can tell by the "US" in the shield. That mis-shape US is from their wing. I have enclosed a picture of the Meyer & Wenthe wing, it's one of my reproductions. How can you tell a real M&W, look at the back and it the hallmark is in a circle of the words Meyer & Wenthe and also says Chicago its real, if only sterling is it a reproduction.

 

The cloth is incorrect for the era.

 

I've had this Meyer & Wenthe hallmarked piece for a while and have had different opinions as to its authenticity. It has a ball-type, tuck-in catch and the pin opens a full 180 degrees. If bad I thought it might be one of Mr. ***************'s productions but his remarks suggest otherwise. Comments?

Thanks....Bobgee

 

MW_WWI_Wing_obv.JPGMW_WWI_Wing_Rev.JPG

MW_WWI_Wing_Rev_CU_HM.JPG

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From my view, this is a fake wing.

 

What brings you to this conclusion? I never have seen another Meyer & Wenthe HM'd wing. That's why I picked it up. Comments? Thanks..

Bobgee

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What brings you to this conclusion? I never have seen another Meyer & Wenthe HM'd wing. That's why I picked it up. Comments? Thanks..

Bobgee

Bob,

 

Here are my thoughts and a few questions about this wing:

 

I can see right away that it is not a Joe *************** piece.

 

It may be the light, or the way you took the photo, but there appears to be a slight pillowing to the back around the edges (which would lead me to think that it is a casting). A slightly oblique photo of the back might be more revealing.

 

On the other hand, the front appears to have very crisp details.

 

The US appears to be separately applied (a good sign)

 

Campbell states that the Meyer and Wenthe wing has a recurve to it like an archer's bow. Yours appears flat (could just be the picture)? Of course, never having studied a real one, I am not exactly sure what Campbell was getting at.

 

I have never handled a known good Meyer and Wenthe, so the questions that come to my mind are:

 

What type of hardware is expected on a real Meyer and Wenthe?

 

Are the US on a real one gold or yellow alloy?

 

Is the hallmark incised or raised?

 

I can say, I would probably have picked it up too. I am just too ignorant of this particular pattern to even begin to make a call.

 

Chris

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These are a tough wing to call. I have looked at this particular wing with the Meyer and Wenthe hallmark (or its twin) a number of times over the years. The fact that these wings were being sold each time by guys who were well known peddlers of fakes, didnt help. Each time, it was the hardware and the back that turned me away from these wings.

 

On the other hand, examples of this pattern wing can be seen in Campbell's and (IIRC) Morris' book, and do sometimes show up in other collections with better provenance.

 

A few years ago, I came across this wing. Since the price was right and I was able to carefully examine it, I went ahead and got them. I think mine are good...but I am not willing to argue too forcefully in their defense. Basically, I like them and they are for me and my collection. A few of the really smart collectors I interact with have mixed opinions about these.

 

However, it is worth spending a few moments talking about this wing.

 

This one was on a large canvas wallet that had 4-5 WWI vintage RAF and USAAC manuals, a WWI vintage diary, a French/German/English dictionary and a WWI pilot snap shot. Clearly, the books and paperwork and the canvas wallet had all lived together for many years and the wallet had taken on the shape of the books. Also, while their was no clear ID, the writting and notes in the books and the back of the snapshot all were in the same hand.

 

Pinned on the inside cover of the wallet was this wing. The brass part of the catch and pin had begun to get that green verdigris deposit (as you can see on the back of the wing) and had welded the wing to the wallet. I had to actually use a pair of pliers to open the catch. Clearly the wing had been on the wallet for many many years. To be honest, that was the final selling point, was that I was 100% convinced that this wing had been on that wallet for well over 50-60 years. That, and the rest of the items in the wallet were worth more together than what I paid for the whole thing....basically the wing was free!

 

The wing itself is "pickled" like you frequently see with WWI insignia to give it that kind of deep brown patina. It is actually sterling silver, but has been chemically treated to give it that brownish finish. I have never seen a wing treated like that, to be honest. The wing is clearly die struck and has a lots of detail. Lots of gunk and grime has accumulated around the area of the shield. The US looks to be copper or brass, and may have once been gold plated, but that has been worn off. Most people seem to focus on the crudeness of the US, but careful examination of the ones shown in Campbell's book indicate they have the same style.

 

On the back, you can see the line of verdegris from the pin and catch. The wing itself has a small hallmark in the center of an H over an R with the back leg of the H froming the front part of the R. The recess of both the hallmark and the sterling mark are also pickled, so I believe that the pickling was done after the strike.

 

The wing has some slight vaulting to it, but isnt as "curved-like an archers bow" as described in Campbell's book.

 

This is one of those wings you kind of have to decide for yourself. Someone is always going to have another opinion.

 

Patrick

post-1519-1222358220.jpg

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Joe,

 

Many thanks for the information on this! I had been told the maker lived in Utah but was never able to track him down. Now with this info I will hopefully be able to track him down and get examples of all of his work for a fakes data base.

 

 

Cheers!

 

Gary

These wings were originally designed and made by a Phoenix, AZ tool and die maker names sounds like PayCheck, also some of them are hallmarked LeBreve. He is the one who started the LeBreve hallmark. Many people believe LeBreve is real -I found out recently it never existed.
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  • 4 weeks later...
I've had this Meyer & Wenthe hallmarked piece for a while and have had different opinions as to its authenticity. It has a ball-type, tuck-in catch and the pin opens a full 180 degrees. If bad I thought it might be one of Mr. ***************'s productions but his remarks suggest otherwise. Comments?

Thanks....Bobgee

 

post-503-1221935391.jpgpost-503-1221935402.jpg

post-503-1221935411.jpg

 

 

This is a real wing.

 

Joe

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These are a tough wing to call. I have looked at this particular wing with the Meyer and Wenthe hallmark (or its twin) a number of times over the years. The fact that these wings were being sold each time by guys who were well known peddlers of fakes, didnt help. Each time, it was the hardware and the back that turned me away from these wings.

 

On the other hand, examples of this pattern wing can be seen in Campbell's and (IIRC) Morris' book, and do sometimes show up in other collections with better provenance.

 

A few years ago, I came across this wing. Since the price was right and I was able to carefully examine it, I went ahead and got them. I think mine are good...but I am not willing to argue too forcefully in their defense. Basically, I like them and they are for me and my collection. A few of the really smart collectors I interact with have mixed opinions about these.

 

However, it is worth spending a few moments talking about this wing.

 

This one was on a large canvas wallet that had 4-5 WWI vintage RAF and USAAC manuals, a WWI vintage diary, a French/German/English dictionary and a WWI pilot snap shot. Clearly, the books and paperwork and the canvas wallet had all lived together for many years and the wallet had taken on the shape of the books. Also, while their was no clear ID, the writting and notes in the books and the back of the snapshot all were in the same hand.

 

Pinned on the inside cover of the wallet was this wing. The brass part of the catch and pin had begun to get that green verdigris deposit (as you can see on the back of the wing) and had welded the wing to the wallet. I had to actually use a pair of pliers to open the catch. Clearly the wing had been on the wallet for many many years. To be honest, that was the final selling point, was that I was 100% convinced that this wing had been on that wallet for well over 50-60 years. That, and the rest of the items in the wallet were worth more together than what I paid for the whole thing....basically the wing was free!

 

The wing itself is "pickled" like you frequently see with WWI insignia to give it that kind of deep brown patina. It is actually sterling silver, but has been chemically treated to give it that brownish finish. I have never seen a wing treated like that, to be honest. The wing is clearly die struck and has a lots of detail. Lots of gunk and grime has accumulated around the area of the shield. The US looks to be copper or brass, and may have once been gold plated, but that has been worn off. Most people seem to focus on the crudeness of the US, but careful examination of the ones shown in Campbell's book indicate they have the same style.

 

On the back, you can see the line of verdegris from the pin and catch. The wing itself has a small hallmark in the center of an H over an R with the back leg of the H froming the front part of the R. The recess of both the hallmark and the sterling mark are also pickled, so I believe that the pickling was done after the strike.

 

The wing has some slight vaulting to it, but isnt as "curved-like an archers bow" as described in Campbell's book.

 

This is one of those wings you kind of have to decide for yourself. Someone is always going to have another opinion.

 

Patrick

 

This is not a real M&W. As I have stated before it is one of the most reproducted wings around other than the WWI Meyer. I can make any of the coloring, brown, gray, black or even green. So forget if a wing is darkened. It's all in the toolbox of someone who wants to be a crook.

 

Joe

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  • 1 month later...

An interesting example of how puzzling the hobby of wing badge collecting is becoming:

 

While hardly a surprise for any regular member of this forum, copies are now being made of ... a fake WW1 Bombing Military Aviator wing badge that was originally designed and made for the purpose of deceiving the unsuspecting buyer. The seller now offering this 'reproduction of a fake badge' think.gif on eBay, item number 370111875931, describes it as being a 'museum quality reproduction' very similar to one in the Terry Morris book on page 13, when in fact it is a 'museum quality reproduction' of a fake badge. :blink:

 

Confusing ain't it!! :lol:

post-4542-1226984583.jpg

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Currently being offered on ebay. It's construction is, shall we say; "unique":

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-World-War-I-Senior-...emZ160253521147

 

post-594-1214158352.jpg

 

Bonus for the first person who recognizes what this was originally made from.

 

Here is another POS based on this fake being peddled on ebay. A quick search of ebay this AM showed up a number of fake-olas.

 

These are the best pictures they have.

post-1519-1227653383.jpg

post-1519-1227653394.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Here is an interesting WW1 wing badge currently being offer on the Internet for only $1750.00.

 

At first glance it looks like a Dan Dunham design and is truly inspiring; however, a closer look will reveal many imperfections. Yes, it's sad to say so but this is a cast reproduction which was first offered eight years ago at a large West Coast auction house before being pulled at the last minute.

 

Caveat Emptor! crying.gif

post-4542-1229456750.jpg

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IMPERIAL QUEST
An interesting example of how puzzling the hobby of wing badge collecting is becoming:

 

While hardly a surprise for any regular member of this forum, copies are now being made of ... a fake WW1 Bombing Military Aviator wing badge that was originally designed and made for the purpose of deceiving the unsuspecting buyer. The seller now offering this 'reproduction of a fake badge' think.gif on eBay, item number 370111875931, describes it as being a 'museum quality reproduction' very similar to one in the Terry Morris book on page 13, when in fact it is a 'museum quality reproduction' of a fake badge. :blink:

 

Confusing ain't it!! :lol:

 

Hi Cliff,

 

I don't have the book in front of me, but I saw two examples of the bomber wing in J.D.C's book. I read only briefly about the bomber wing, so please correct me if I am wrong. What I gathered is that it was definitely unofficial, but that therewere a few examples made by jewelers at the request of aviation personnel of the period...seems like it had something to do with Ellington Field. Am I "off target" :rolleyes: ?

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Hi Cliff,

 

I don't have the book in front of me, but I saw two examples of the bomber wing in J.D.C's book. I read only briefly about the bomber wing, so please correct me if I am wrong. What I gathered is that it was definitely unofficial, but that therewere a few examples made by jewelers at the request of aviation personnel of the period...seems like it had something to do with Ellington Field. Am I "off target" :rolleyes: ?

 

Hi Steve,

 

You are closer to being "on target" in that all Bombing Military Aviators received their training at Ellington Field, TX. thumbsup.gif

 

In his book, Duncan Campbell is quoted as saying about the BMA badge, "although such badges were unauthorized," however, keep in mind that the first draft for that book was written in 1972, five years before it was finally published. Since then more information has surfaced about those badges and if Duncan rewrote the book today he might rephrase that statement by saying, "no official Bulletin or Order has been found to confirm that such badges were authorized."

 

By the way, there were at least five makers of the badge; Dan S. Dunham, J. C. Caldwell & Company, one unknown company which used a backmark that had a letter "S" inside a shield (see #44 in Duncan's book), another unknown company with no backmark (see #43 in the book), and one other unknown company with no backmark which is a confirmed biographical badge in a private collection. Phew!!!!!!!

 

Cheers,

 

Cliff ;)

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IMPERIAL QUEST
Hi Steve,

 

You are closer to being "on target" in that all Bombing Military Aviators received their training at Ellington Field, TX. thumbsup.gif

 

In his book, Duncan Campbell is quoted as saying about the BMA badge, "although such badges were unauthorized," however, keep in mind that the first draft for that book was written in 1972, five years before it was finally published. Since then more information has surfaced about those badges and if Duncan rewrote the book today he might rephrase that statement by saying, "no official Bulletin or Order has been found to confirm that such badges were authorized."

 

By the way, there were at least five makers of the badge; Dan S. Dunham, J. C. Caldwell & Company, one unknown company which used a backmark that had a letter "S" inside a shield (see #44 in Duncan's book), another unknown company with no backmark (see #43 in the book), and one other unknown company with no backmark which is a confirmed biographical badge in a private collection. Phew!!!!!!!

 

Cheers,

 

Cliff ;)

 

Cliff,

 

Thanks for the information. It is a real treat to have someone who was involved to some degree with the creation of this book as your insights are invaluable. I had no idea that the book was written 5 years before publication! Thanks for the inside scoop.

 

Steve

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I had no idea that the book was written 5 years before publication!

 

Hi Steve,

 

Oh yes, the first draft for Duncan's book was finished in 1972; however, he continued to make revisions until he was finally happy with it in 1977.

 

Cheers,

Cliff

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guys,

 

I love this thread! I was wondering if we might also start posting some more common fakes. I love the WWI stuff , but I was hoping to also help beginning to intermediate wing collectors ID the crap out there.

 

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

 

Paul

 

Paul,

 

Here is something about some fake US Airborne wings posted at the bottom of the website below:

 

Reproductions & Fakes - U.S. Airborne & Elite Unit Insignia by Les Hughes

http://www.insigne.org/Fakes-I-Abn.htm

http://www.insigne.org/images/Gaunt-fake.jpg

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Here is a fun one that is currently on ebay.

 

So many things wrong! The guy just cant help himself.

 

Not content with making a fake cast wing, he adds a hallmark that is rarely seen with USN wing (Norsid NYC). He then further adds another hallmark for 14(?)K rolled gold on BZ (bronze?). Then, he adds a date, just so you aren't confused as to vintage of the thing. He has a whole series of these that he likes to peddle that I have on my website as examples of "fakes" ( http://pfrost.bol.ucla.edu/Fakes_Blog/Fakes_Blog.html )

post-1519-1230921958.jpg

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