Navy Pilot Amico, Older Hallmark

[The Rooster]

Here is a nice old Amico that was on ebay

that I was lucky to get for an astonishing $30.00 !

Older Amico Hallmark.

[bschwartz]

Now that's a great price for a very nice wing. Congrats.

[The Rooster]

7 hours ago, bschwartz said:

Now that's a great price for a very nice wing. Congrats.

Thank you Bob.

Every now and again I luck out.

I was surprised too that it did not go for more.

I didnt snipe it either.

I put my bid in a couple days in advance.

And no one went any higher than $30.00.

I like how they managed to plate the pin on this one too!

Dave

 

[bschwartz]

I absolutely love Naval wings but I'm biased as the F4U Corsair is my favorite airplane of the war. I've found that there aren't as many people interested in the Navy stuff as there is in the Army Air Corps stuff. I think it's because there isn't as much variation in the Navy patterns as there are for the AAC stuff. But I love them and snap up as many new makers, etc as I can when they come around. You can find some pretty good deals at times you just have to have a little patience. You did very well with this one.

[AmHistoryFan]

Not a Navy wing, but I have an Amico command pilot wing with a similar hallmark that isn’t only the letters that spell out AMICO. My camera doesn’t show it well in the pictures. But is there any timeframe when this hallmark was used? This wing is clutchback which I typically associate with later periods. 

[AmHistoryFan]

If this is a restrike, also feel free to share that. 

[AmHistoryFan]

I thought I’d try another picture. The hallmark itself isn’t crystal clear on the wing. It’s worn. 

[AmHistoryFan]

I have found this hallmark referenced to the pre-war period circa 1940-1941 in a few of the searches I have made. 

[5thwingmarty]

I believe there are at least three versions of the eagle, shield and scroll Amico hallmarks, but no definitive proof as to when any of them were first used or last used.  As the Amico Senior Pilot and Command Pilot wings were all made using standard Pilot wings, there is no way to determine whether such wings were made pre-WWII or during the war with remaining stock of pre-war made Pilot wings.  The placement of the Amico and sterling marks is typical for these wings, so if this Command Pilot wing is 3-1/16" in span I would say it is not a cast copy.  I don't know if I have seen a clutch back example before with this style of hallmark, can you tell if the posts are original or if perhaps a pin and catch were removed and replaced?

[AmHistoryFan]

Here are a few extra pictures. The measurement seems correct. The posts could have been added but whoever would have switched them out did a good job making it look original. Not sloppy work to my eye. 

[AmHistoryFan]

This wing came in a grouping named to Bernard Tobias Castor who received his pilot training in 1918. He then became a flying instructor in 1919. In the 1920s he continued his own training and flight instruction. In the 1930s he was a flight instructor in the Illinois National Guard in Chicago. In 1939 he was transferred to Shreveport, LA at the rank of Major. In 1942 he was at Hunter Field with the rank of Colonel. He retired in 1949.

 

Here are his photographs. 
 

But I do have another grouping that included restrikes along with period correct wings. So thought I’d also learn about this set of wings. On his service uniform he has a Meyer period correct Command Pilot wing with the appropriate findings. 

[AmHistoryFan]

Just wanted to share these details to offer timelines of Mr. Castor’s service and when he may have worn these wings. The photos appear to show the Amico style wing. In contrast to the pinback Meyer wing he had on his uniform after retirement.