Interesting two-tone silver over gold USN aviator wing

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Found at the recent SOS show, I bought this two-tone wing as part a large group. Too well made to be dismissed and yet has elements I’ve not seen before. Most obvious is the silver plating on the shield. I know Willis & Carmichael attributed a different silver shield as a “1923 Coast Guard wing” but I have found no authorization for such a wing.
 

It is full size at 2.75 inches. It is a finely die-struck thin planchette. It has quality findings with a very round ball hinge and cammed pin. Also unique are the hallmarks. A stylized “M” a circle “C” (copyright?) and STER for sterling. Anyone have more info on this one?

[bschwartz]

That's a gorgeous wing, Tod.  This wing immediately came to mind although this wing is bullion and the entire wing and shield are silver while the anchor is gold.  Originally from the Terry Morris collection and identified as a lighter than air badge.

 

http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/wwi/us/presleybullionballoonpilot.shtml

[LuftStalg1]

Being marked sterling I would think it was a sterling wing gold plated with a chemical painted on the shield so the gold did not stick to it rather then the reverse.   But it also looks like a casting to me and not a crisp die strike.  Soft rounded edges and kind of washed out detail.  IDK but it is interesting.

[CliffP]

1 hour ago, bschwartz said:

That's a gorgeous wing, Tod.  This wing immediately came to mind although this wing is bullion and the entire wing and shield are silver while the anchor is gold.  Originally from the Terry Morris collection and identified as a lighter than air badge.

 

http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/wwi/us/presleybullionballoonpilot.shtml

 

It's interesting to note that in the second half of 1917 the USN was was still trying to decide what the official design for a Naval Aviator wing badge should look like. While a number of designs were under consideration, on 27 October 1917, BuNav sent a letter to Bailey, Banks & Biddle in which they asked the firm to submit some sample wing badge designs. . . and one of them should have gold wings with a silver shield. In response, BB&B sent a letter dated 1 November 1917 in which they stated that a die was being prepared and several samples would be submitted in combinations of silver and gold.

 

With regard to the bullion badge mentioned above by Bob. Yes, a number of these were worn by some Naval Aviators who were trained by Goodyear to fly airships in Akron, OH. This one was worn by Ensign Rolland E. Corbin, Naval Aviator 621 LTA.

 

 

[pfrost]

I suspect that most of these "one off" silver/gold hybrid wings were salesman samples.  No proof, but fa few years ago, these Link/AMCRAFT samples came into my collection.  They came with a fair number of other wings, that I believe came out of an old uniform store.  Probably salesman samples or display samples to show the potential buyer what was available. 

 

You could buy any sort of insignia (small, large, silver, gold, USN, USAAF, pilot, commercial, sweetheart, etc).  You would get your catalog (think Sears Catalog) fill in the order sheet and send way your request.  I want a USN style wing in gold plated sterling....  I want a sweetheart wing with MOM in yellow enamel.  etc. You just provided a catalog number and the finish you wanted.

 

Lots of patriotic jewelry was also available and if you were the proud owner of a yacht/dingy/rowboat/fishing noodle and wanted to wear something nautical on your hat... and found USN wings to be cool.... well I suspect for $1.25 Blackinton or LGB or what ever Sears Roebuck had on hand in their catalog, would be sent once the check cleared.

 

Of course I could be wrong and these could have been all sorts of other things.  But this is not (IMHO) one of those rare unicorns of some sort of LTA wing or what not.

 

Also, just because I am feeling a bit of a quibbling sort, these wings do give me a bit of heartburn.  They do look cast and don't have the normal level of quality that I would expect.  But you have them in hand Tod, and you are as savvy a collector as any of us (certainly smarter than me), so what do YOU think they are?  I would give your opinion a lot of weight.

 

Is it an M or a mountain?

 

In any case, cool beans.

 

Best

Patrick

 

 

[pfrost]

some other wings from that group.

 

None were hallmarked.  The gilt observer is a nice example.  I think that a not some rare observer instructor wing.  Just an example of what you could get from Amcraft/Link.  All the different variations of the little one inch wings too!  LOL

[5thwingmarty]

It looks like a cast copy of a Gemsco wing.  On the shield, is there some gold showing though in areas?  And in hand does the shield just look like shiny sterling or is it brighter than that?  The shield almost looks like it might be rhodium plated.

 

My first thought on the one mark was mountains.  Is the other another hallmark or a copyright mark?

 

[GAZOO]

3 hours ago, pfrost said:

 

Is it an M or a mountain?

 

In any case, cool beans.

 

Best

Patrick

 

 

 

OR a Bumble Bee