Beverlycraft or Beverly Craft of Beverly Hills, CA: examples and patterns

[Bull Moose]

Here are the Beverlycraft variations I have in my collection. Including a clutch-back Observer and Bombardier.

[Tesla]

I just found a Navy sweetheart wing with the attached Lieutenant rank insignia.  The marking on the back is a palm tree with the word Sterling on the wing and the rank is marked only with a partial Sterling.  I included the Navy sweetheart without the insignia for comparison.

[Tesla]

Hello All, 

     I have been able to find some more Beverlycraft items within the past week.  I found the two cap sized wings (Navigator and Air Crew) at a street market table this morning at an unbelievable inexpensive price and could not pass on them!  The sweetheart with the Captain's insignia is marked sterling on the wing and sterling with the palm tree on the insignia.  The prop pendant is the size of a Roosevelt dime.  I couldn't  believe that I was able to find two ID bracelets by Beverlycraft in the same week when I didn't  know they even made them.  I'm currently researching the named bracelet.

[Tesla]

Hello All,

     I was fortunate to attain a sweetheart glider by Beverlycraft a few months ago and couldn't believe finding another in a sweetheart grouping on ebay recently.  The Beverlycraft that I had has the palm trees and the Beverlycraft markings and it measures 1 9/16"  The new wing is only marked Sterling, is 1.5" and the pin is cammed; something I have never seen on Beverlycraft wings.  It is die struck and does show traces of silver gilt.

    However,  I do think it's possible that the Beverlycraft pattern was used by another maker to produce this.  I know someone copied their sweetheart tank pin and have included the Beverlycraft version from my collection.  I have seen the tank pin being sold from Ft Knox after the war with different maker marks.

    I would appreciate all opinions as to whether it's a Beverlycraft variant or another manufacturer. 

[5thwingmarty]

Its interesting to me that both of these have the pins mounted the "traditional" way with the catch to the left, rather than Beverlycraft's normally reversed attachment.  Is the new pin clearly die-struck?  1/16" on a 1.5" wing sounds like the realm of shrinkage due to being a cast copy unless there has been some damage to the wing.

[Tesla]

Beverlycraft sweetheart wings are interesting in that they weren't particular in the way they attached the findings.  You can see in the pics here that there is no rhyme or reason to the direction they were attached.  As far as the 1.5" glider, it is die struck with crisp edges and no indication of casting.  

[5thwingmarty]

This was on ebay last month, and I didn't think I had snagged the photos but it appears I did.  I mentioned these in another thread not long ago but I can't find that one, but thought this should go here as well.  I have never seen one of these before.

 

[Tesla]

Here is something interesting in reference to Beverlycraft's  distribution of their products.  These carded Warrant Officer insignia from my collection are both Beverlycraft manufactured and the insignia are marked as such.  One has had a sticker applied over the printed BC logo which reads: Daniel P Adamson, Westwood Village CA. (Near Los Angeles). Westwood Village had over 400 retail stores in 1939 and references show Adamson sold crusher caps, uniforms and accouterments.  

[Tesla]

Also an interesting note about the insignia.  Beverlycraft painted them with blue paint instead of using enamel.  My thought is this was a cost saving method.  (I have a set with extreme flaking of the paint)

[Pryo]

Havnt seen this exact example so wanted to add mine to the mix. They had more but unfortunately I was told they sold the week before

[rathbonemuseum.com]

that is nice on card!

[historylives]

if i may can i ask a question about Beverly Craft? which full size wing is the scarcest or hardest to find? hope i am not out of place asking. thank you.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

I would say the Instrument instructor that Cliff posted on page one. In my opinion. After that, the applied letter alphabet wings and the gold flight instructor.

 

 

[5thwingmarty]

I picked up the top one a while back, and then just picked the bottom one up last week.  The top one is a good original with a 1-9/16" span which is the same as all my other "cap sized" Beverlycraft wings.  The bottom one is only 1-1/2", is a slick back with the pin mounted the wrong way and appear to match one of Tesla's earlier posted wings.  In hand it is clear the bottom one is a cast copy, possibly inspired by by the ones that have been for sale for close to $900 for so long. The casting is most obvious under a loop on the front side with a very course texture on the feathers.

 

I wanted to post this paired example so no one else wastes any money on these cast copies.  My fake was cheap so I am not going to cry about it, but I would hate for others to spend hundreds of dollars for one as I am sure more will be popping up for sale.

[Threewood]

Unmarked, slickback Beverlycraft Air Crew pattern. 3-1/16" wide.

[B-17Guy]

Here is one that I've had for a long time, but I didn't realize I never added to the thread.

Probably a special order from Beverlycraft, Flight Engineer wing badge.

John

[cwnorma]

8 hours ago, B-17Guy said:

Here is one that I've had for a long time, but I didn't realize I never added to the thread.

John,

 

That is a PHENOMENAL wing!  Thank you for sharing it.

 

Chris

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Well that's one of a kind. Great add, John!