pconrad02 Posted February 22, 2007 #1 Posted February 22, 2007 OK, this on is rare enough that I thought it needed its own thread! An example of a real first pattern Luxenberg Aircrew wing. The Lux Aircrew is one of the harder Luxenbergs to find, as they where expensive, and most of the enlisted men probably had better things to spend their money on, unlike those “rich” Pilots! Hope everyone likes it as much as I do!! Paul
David B Posted February 22, 2007 #2 Posted February 22, 2007 Congrats Paul, that sure is a beautiful wing I'm afraid I am still a Lux "virgin" and have no wings by this manufacturer ..I hope to get one soon! Dave
kklinejr Posted February 22, 2007 #3 Posted February 22, 2007 Beautiful wings, Paul. Man, Lux knew their business! I have yet to find a Lux aircrew, but your find lets me know that at least another pair still may be out there. Thank you for posting them. Ken
KurtA Posted February 22, 2007 #4 Posted February 22, 2007 Outstanding wing! Normally Air Crew wings are kind of ho hum, but not yours! Kurt
USMCRECON Posted April 28, 2008 #5 Posted April 28, 2008 I just got this pair of 3" Luxenberg pilot's wings in the mail today. They look OK to me but I wanted to get the opinion of some of the wing experts on the forum on the pictures below (I know they're not Joe ***************'s as I asked him about them before bidding). I would appreciate some expert opinions before I leave feedback. Here's the front. I left them as large a size as possible to provide the best detail views as possible. The down side it that probably only one picture will fit on a given post.
USMCRECON Posted April 28, 2008 #6 Posted April 28, 2008 ....and here's the back. the pin is open as far as it will go in the picture.
USMCRECON Posted April 28, 2008 #7 Posted April 28, 2008 Here's a close shot of the back of the shield with the markings.
USMCRECON Posted April 28, 2008 #9 Posted April 28, 2008 Finally....a close shot of the pin hinge and clasp. This composite of both ends shows what look like large, deep striations. I think the magnifying macro lense and the flash accentuated these as, in reality, they are almost invisible to the named eye and are are just barely discernable when I run my fingernail over these areas.
USMCRECON Posted April 28, 2008 #10 Posted April 28, 2008 Look good to me! Thank you for the super fast reply, Paul.
pfrost Posted April 28, 2008 #11 Posted April 28, 2008 I agree with Paul, nothing really jumps out at me. They look good, but of course that is always hard to tell unless you have them in hand. Patrick
John Cooper Posted April 29, 2008 #12 Posted April 29, 2008 What is the exact size from wing tip to wing tip?
APO472 Posted April 29, 2008 #13 Posted April 29, 2008 What is the exact size from wing tip to wing tip? There is nothing wrong with these wings. They are quite nice.
John Cooper Posted April 29, 2008 #14 Posted April 29, 2008 There is nothing wrong with these wings. They are quite nice. Although the popular opinion is these are good I would still like to know the exact size if you do not mind... PS a little FYI I am not suggesting they are bad nor good just want to know the size. Thanks
pconrad02 Posted April 29, 2008 Author #15 Posted April 29, 2008 Although the popular opinion is these are good I would still like to know the exact size if you do not mind... PS a little FYI I am not suggesting they are bad nor good just want to know the size. Thanks John, Hasn't anyone told you that size doesn't matter, oh wait, that was for something else... not wings ( oh how I crack myself up) Paul
John Cooper Posted April 29, 2008 #16 Posted April 29, 2008 Sound ike you are speaking from experience... in wing collecting that is.
USMCRECON Posted April 29, 2008 #17 Posted April 29, 2008 Although the popular opinion is these are good I would still like to know the exact size if you do not mind... PS a little FYI I am not suggesting they are bad nor good just want to know the size. Thanks Hello John. No problem giving you measurements. The only problem might be the definition of "exact." I've already put them into my wings display case and screwed the back on again (8 tiny Phillips-head screws) but I measured them through the glass of the case so I can give you an "almost" exact measurement. From the widest point of the wings to the other widest point is just a hair or two under 3 1/4 inches. If you take into account that they are bent slightly to contour the chest of the wearer, I think that would put them at pretty much right on 3 1/4" wide.
John Cooper Posted April 30, 2008 #18 Posted April 30, 2008 Hello John. No problem giving you measurements. The only problem might be the definition of "exact." I've already put them into my wings display case and screwed the back on again (8 tiny Phillips-head screws) but I measured them through the glass of the case so I can give you an "almost" exact measurement. From the widest point of the wings to the other widest point is just a hair or two under 3 1/4 inches. If you take into account that they are bent slightly to contour the chest of the wearer, I think that would put them at pretty much right on 3 1/4" wide. THANKS I wanted to compare them to another set. Speaking of display cases I am looking for new ways to disply my wings care to share a photo of your display case? Regards, John
USMCRECON Posted April 30, 2008 #19 Posted April 30, 2008 THANKS I wanted to compare them to another set. Speaking of display cases I am looking for new ways to disply my wings care to share a photo of your display case?Regards, John Hi John. I'm going to be leaving shortly to go to the airport to pick up my old Recon Platoon Commander. We're having our Vietnam reunion this week and I probably won't be able to spend much time on the computer between now and at least Sunday afternoon. My current display case isn't really much to write home about. It's actually a bit too small and not all of my wings fit in it but, until I can get something larger, it'll have to make do. I'll take a photo of it either Sunday evening or early next week and post it here.
John Cooper Posted May 2, 2008 #20 Posted May 2, 2008 Thanks Bill! I hope you have a great time with you buddies at the reunion. John
USMCRECON Posted May 5, 2008 #21 Posted May 5, 2008 Thanks Bill! I hope you have a great time with you buddies at the reunion. John Hello John. As promised.....below is a picture of the one display box for my wings. I have more wings than room in this particular box and the ones that are in it are crammed too close together than I'd like so I'm looking around for another on. It's a rather heavy oak frame with a screw-on Masonite backing sheet, and a piece of glass cut to fit. the glass is rather reflective, as the photo shows, but I plan to go to a frame shop to get a piece of the nice, non-reflective glass to replace it. Inside is a sheet of thick foam cut to fit and it has a piece of velvet cloth covering the foam. When I bought the box several years ago it came with a really cheap-looking piece of "velvet-like" cloth over the foam. I found a really nice velvet remnant at the local fabric store and picked it up for a couple dollars. It makes a much better backing than the cheap crap that came with the box. Once the wings are placed where you want them on the velvet, all you have to do is carefully lay the glass down on the wings, then (again carefully) push the frame down until the glass pushes gently on the wings. This will push them slightly into the foam and fix them in place. I usually let it sit like that for 15 minutes or so to let everything seat before carefully but quickly flipping the frame over so the wings won't shift (you can see that a couple of mine did shift despite my best efforts) to tighten the screws down and lock the back to the frame.
John Cooper Posted May 6, 2008 #22 Posted May 6, 2008 Bill, Thanks for taking the time to post this. Looks like we have about the same type of display. I buy my cases from Steele's Display Cases and found them to be of very good quality. They come with the high density foam which I recover like you have done. I am switiching out the backing material for something I know will not have hrm the silver which I undesand is possible with some materials. I currently have two cases with wings - one USAAF with the other all Navy. Both cases only contain Balfour wings... all my other wings are stored. This brings me to a question I have been thinking about and want to run past all the other collectors. How do you store your wings? BTW there some interesting wing in that case I wouls love to see more photos of. Cheers John Steele’s Display Cases 5665 State Route 605 Westerville, OH 43082 Orders: 800.589.2944
Austin_Militaria Posted September 2, 2008 #23 Posted September 2, 2008 Interesting Luxemburg wing I picked up. A plain pattern wing and clutch back.
pfrost Posted September 2, 2008 #24 Posted September 2, 2008 Nice wing. Luxenberg didnt seem to actually make any of the wings that have their name on them. They seem to have contracted with Blackinton and AE Co to manufacture wings. Your wing is the AE Co pattern. Nice and rare, but for some reason will only bring a fraction of the Blackinton style wings. Patrick.
texcen Posted September 2, 2008 #25 Posted September 2, 2008 Interesting Luxemburg wing I picked up. A plain pattern wing and clutch back. Nice looking wing and I would not have ever guessed it was not US. I have picked up some items from Central or South America which were also made in the USA. I live in Austin too. Do you have a shop?
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