Help identifying maker of WWII US Bombardier Wings

[Big Iron]

I'm trying to replicate a uniform down to the accouterments, and I'd like to identify this type of bombardier wings. I'm hoping to find an identical set to begin my restoration.

[rathbonemuseum.com]

From my research, no one has yet been able to determine this manufacturer as no example has been found with a hallmark. It is one of the most common of what we call "graduation wings", meaning they were purchased and distributed by the government for distribution at graduation and were prohibited from having maker hallmarks. 

[Big Iron]

3 hours ago, rathbonemuseum.com said:

From my research, no one has yet been able to determine this manufacturer as no example has been found with a hallmark. It is one of the most common of what we call "graduation wings", meaning they were purchased and distributed by the government for distribution at graduation and were prohibited from having maker hallmarks. 

Thank you for a detailed response. If I were to be looking for one, what is a reasonable price to pay? It seems prices are wide and varying. US insignia isn't my forté, so I am a little out of my element.

[5thwingmarty]

Less than $100.  They come up pretty regularly on ebay with a wide range of prices, with many being between $50 and $100.  Dave Hoover has one available for $75.

https://www.militaryaviationartifacts.com/images/1-27-22/IMG_7440.JPG

[pconrad02]

2 hours ago, 5thwingmarty said:

Less than $100.  They come up pretty regularly on ebay with a wide range of prices, with many being between $50 and $100.  Dave Hoover has one available for $75.

https://www.militaryaviationartifacts.com/images/1-27-22/IMG_7440.JPG

And he guarantees everything, if you are worried 🙂

[warguy]

Yes I will add Dave is a great guy, wonderful dealer. You wont be sorry if you buy from him. 

[Big Iron]

12 minutes ago, warguy said:

Yes I will add Dave is a great guy, wonderful dealer. You wont be sorry if you buy from him. 

I will check them out and see if any more pop up. The wings are in a little rougher shape than I'm looking for.

1 hour ago, pconrad02 said:

And he guarantees everything, if you are worried 🙂

Thank you, I appreciate the info.

[warguy]

I would encourage you to call him, as he often has a lot of stock he hasn’t listed. I wouldn't be surprised if he has another (or two) of this type and maker that might better fit your needs. Good luck. 

[pfrost]

If you have patience, these show up on eBay all the time.  The average price on common wings (not to say that they aren't nice, but not rare) has steadily dropped and it is hard to sell them if you are a dealer.  I suspect that a frequent check of eBay and some polite emails offering 40-50$ "buy it now" to the sellers may eventually get you what you want at a good price.  I did a quick search and found a range of wings that pretty much what the boys said.  However, there is a big difference in what is being asked and what is being sold. 

Good luck

[Big Iron]

2 hours ago, warguy said:

I would encourage you to call him, as he often has a lot of stock he hasn’t listed. I wouldn't be surprised if he has another (or two) of this type and maker that might better fit your needs. Good luck. 

 

I will do so as I'm just not seeing what I'm after condition-wise.

 

40 minutes ago, pfrost said:

If you have patience, these show up on eBay all the time.  The average price on common wings (not to say that they aren't nice, but not rare) has steadily dropped and it is hard to sell them if you are a dealer.  I suspect that a frequent check of eBay and some polite emails offering 40-50$ "buy it now" to the sellers may eventually get you what you want at a good price.  I did a quick search and found a range of wings that pretty much what the boys said.  However, there is a big difference in what is being asked and what is being sold. 

Good luck

 

There seems to be a high asking price on most I'd be interested in, but as you said. There is a difference between "asking" and "selling".

[5thwingmarty]

I will also point out that there is a very similar pattern that is attributed to LeVelle.  On the LeVelle wings from the front the main difference is the bottom feathers next to the bomb.  The feathers meet the bomb edges slightly below where the bomb meets the target background.  On the wing you show the bomb, feather and target all meet at the same point.  On the backs, the LeVelle wings will have the Sterling mark on the right side while on the other pattern the Sterling mark may be on the left or vertically in the center.  Here is a link to a LeVelle pattern wing currently on ebay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166405492223?hash=item26be8a4dff:g:Ed0AAOSwaP9lPvKl&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4NXbRHI87rxIh%2Fmt40stuegNKsEAyVJHetI8jQtngz5ZIVhOxsogcKdVFkOifP30Vx4QRDbTt9rXp0wnUvP2N9UyfXTAfYPDZQLa7yY895AmQsFbv7pFO0LG%2F6SV7ZHS%2BAtEr9%2BB0W%2BEcRGcZcVNyvIHvcL8vtAVDnD7cZZV8taZlNwQW01UQ41%2F6R4MGgdg3X2e4D748lOcXQULpDIeLzfHVPQ00TTaZQ1b3mtllBVUo%2FRyUgmL%2By1VxCGatrrfQh0lmG%2BXl2QH096Ow4DSclPlBffVtetBPnsKa0kjnkHa|tkp%3ABk9SR-DalZryYg