triplecanopy Posted June 16, 2017 Share #1 Posted June 16, 2017 Fellow collectors, I am on a quest to determine when GEMSCO used the hallmark GEMSCO AGO G2 on their insignia. We have all seen these markings on numerous badges. Curiously I have never seen just G2 used by itself which should be correct for GEMSCO in the 1960-1965 timeframe. Also GEMSCO used G22 after 1965 and examples of that marking are numerous. G2 always seems to be proceeded by GEMSCO AGO. Some have placed this marking on badges that date to the early 1950’s. The name GEMSCO goes back to the 19th Century originally located in New York. GEMSCO was an abbreviation for General Embroidery & Military Supply Company . Their hallmark was a wreath surrounding the name, GEMSCO. As far as I can tell that is the earliest hallmark for this company. That symbol continued to be used on papers and cards up until the time they went out of business. Other hallmarks used were GEMSCO N.Y. and GEMSCO STERLING. These are seen on WWII period insignia. Sometime after WWII GEMSCO began using GEMSCO AGO G2 as their hallmark on some insignia. Oddly GEMSCO AGO G2 and STERLING are rarely seen together on the same badge. I have only seen one example and that is on a Navy Parachute Rigger badge. I have two questions: What does AGO mean? Some have suggested Army General Order. Another one is Adjutant General’s Office. And lastly perhaps a combination of business mergers like Amico, GEMSCO and Orber? The last is just a guess. So what does AGO really stand for? When was the hallmark GEMSCO AGO G2 used? It looks to me that it was well before 1960 and could have been used as far back as the early 1950’s. GEMSCO was a prolific manufacturer of insignia. So some of you collectors out there may be able to shed some light on this issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted June 16, 2017 Navy Parachute Rigger badges with GEMSCO AGO G2. Note the upper right set also has STERLING stamped on the badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted June 16, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted June 16, 2017 I know that one of these badges is not "Wings", but staying on topic, the marksmanship badge is shown here to illustrate the GEMSCO AGO G-2 markings along with GEMSCO N.Y. The G22 Sterling on the parachute badge is a later hallmark used by GEMSCO. BTW, I asked this question about GEMSCO AGO G2 in the Hallmark Forum and got no response, so I am trying a more active Forum for your reply. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomcatter Posted June 16, 2017 Share #4 Posted June 16, 2017 I always wondered about what "AGO" stands for. I hope someone will solve this little mystery! This is a shirt-size Command Pilot Wing with long pins (late 1950's - early 1960's?) and "GEMSCO-AMICO" double hallmark. They have also a "Sterling" marking, even if not very visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted June 17, 2017 Share #5 Posted June 17, 2017 I'm looking forward to seeing what AGO G-2 hallmark info might be unearthed with this thread? I think the lack of responses so far is not indicative of a lack of interest in the topic, but rather an indication of how little is known about this early postwar marking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted June 17, 2017 Share #6 Posted June 17, 2017 Post war - 1950's transition Flight Surgeon wing? With this "AGO G2" mark, I have more questions than answers... One of the main responsibilities of the "Adjutant General's Office" (A.G.O.) is/was record keeping and accountability. It stands reason the "A.G.O. G-2" mark may be related to that office? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted June 20, 2017 Here is another example, USAF Senior Pilot's wings, hallmarked GEMSCO AGO G2 and also marked sterling. I see there is a lot of interest in this subject, but not many answers to the questions. Without any facts, I am somewhat reluctant to offer an opinion. However it appears to me that the hallmark GEMSCO AGO G2 was used from the early 1950's to the early 1960's. I base this on observations of numerous badges to include wings, DI's (some long obsolete) and other insignia that I have actually seen. Many have the older broach style pin backs that were pretty much phased out in the 1950's. That to me brackets the time of use of this hallmark from right after WWII to around 1960, maybe a bit later. That is my guess based on what I have actually seen on numerous insignia. Just a guess. Any other opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldnol Posted December 10, 2020 Share #8 Posted December 10, 2020 i have this 2'' inch wing W.W.2 amico sterling and restamp gemsco ago G 2 after applyed star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ram957 Posted December 10, 2020 Share #9 Posted December 10, 2020 VERY INTERESTING Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonomachi Posted December 10, 2020 Share #10 Posted December 10, 2020 I think I missed this thread when it first came out and I didn't know GEMSCO stood for General Embroidery & Military Supply Company as it has always been listed as General Manufacturing Company, Milford, CT on those Lists of Manufactures of U.S. Emblems that shows the various hallmarks and alpha-numeric codes used by different manufactures of military insignia. It would appear that another insignia company (Ira Greene Company, New York, NY & provenance, RI) used this same designation of A.G.O. on their packaging (see photo). I have never come across a WW2 era Ira Greene Company paratrooper wing and their oldest stuff is usually hallmarked 3G so it would appear that they went into business after the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rathbonemuseum.com Posted December 11, 2020 Share #11 Posted December 11, 2020 I am wondering if this has to do with the contracting systems of the time and the official designation of the contractor as they appear to the US Government. I don't have the definitive answer yet but one scenario im investigating is that A.G.O. stands for the Adjutant General's Office. The G-2 or G-3 is that contractors code? Gemsco = G-2, Ira Green = G-3. The definition of responsibility for the Adjutant General's office post 1947 and into the 50s and 60s is: "The Adjutant General's office provided administrative and support services to the War Department and, after 1947, to the Department of the Army. Specific functions included overseeing the Army's personnel statistical and accounting system, records management program, publications, postal services, historical activities, and special and heraldic services." It's either that or AGO stands for a different Government contracting or procurement reference I imagine. Tod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wk4045 Posted April 29, 2023 Share #12 Posted April 29, 2023 I have this crew wing with GEMSCO AGO G-2 marking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted April 29, 2023 Share #13 Posted April 29, 2023 AGO definition.... Anyone Got One? Get it--see what I did there? Sigh, take away my membership and put a fork in me, Im done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyh Posted June 17 Share #14 Posted June 17 My Gemsco ago g2 Navy Rigger wings. Billyh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchhunter Posted October 30 Share #15 Posted October 30 I have these USN wings marked GEMSCO A.G.O G2 I guess 1950s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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