The Common Unmarked Graduation Wing pattern mystery solved: Made by Robbins

[rathbonemuseum.com]

If you have any interest in collecting WWII wings, one of the first and most common patterns you will encounter is a rather plain, low detail design with four diagonal cuts in each shoulder with a rather plain back (figures 1, 2). You will quickly find this pattern was produced in most of the WWII ratings. You will also find that none of the WWII produced examples come with any hallmarks to indicate who made them other than a small, raised ‘STERLING’ mark. For such a ubiquitous wing, this has been a stubborn nut to crack proving which company made such a large production. But now that mystery has been solved. For years, collectors have asked “who made this wing?” and the response has been a tired “unknown graduation wing” or “you’ll never know.” Now we can all say, “that’s a Robbins!”

(Thanks to Heath White, Marty Upchurch and Paul McDaniel for their contributions and edits).

 

Figure 1

 

Figure 2

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As the US Army Air Force ramped up its manpower requirements it embarked on a well-documented enlargement of its training program, first by sub-contracting with private commercial partners as part of a civilian training program and then with a fully mobilized ever-expanding military-run training command. The graduates of the various early ratings (pilots, bombardiers, navigators, aircrew and later aerial gunners) would receive a certificate of graduation and a qualification badge, or wing, courtesy of the U.S. Government.

 

These graduation wings were considered government property. They were produced through the typical methods of war department requirements that were then sent to the U.S. Army quartermaster department that then provided procurement contracts to private companies to fulfill the order. These ‘graduation wings’ were produced in large quantities and were ordered with no identifying maker hallmarks to avoid preferential treatment or perception of bias between the government and the maker. The official government-procured graduation wings were then stocked and distributed by the army to commands as requisitioned. Plain graduation wings were popular engraved commemoratives given to family (figures 3, 4). Wings that were sold wholesale by manufacturers directly to tailors, jewelry and department stores for eventual resale had no such hallmark restrictions.

 

Figure 3

 

Figure 4

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The War Department authorized a new series of Army Air Force qualification badges on September 4th, 1942, to correspond with the growing number of specific roles in military aviation. Added to the standard list of pilots and observers were service pilots, glider pilots, liaison pilots, navigators, bombardiers and a general aircrew badge (the aerial gunner was not authorized until April 29th of 1943). In anticipation of these new qualifications, the Quartermaster General’s Office approved official design specifications on July 10th, 1942 (figure 5).

 

Figure 5

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Not long after the designs were approved, new evidence reveals the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot, the manufacturing arm of the Army’s Quartermaster Department, contracted with The Robbins Company to produce a series of dies in preparation for stamping large quantities of badges.

 

The Robbins Company was originally founded in 1892 by Charles M. Robbins as the Chas. M. Robbins Company and operated under that name until he retired in 1910. In 1912 the newly named The Robbins Company produced myriad numbers of commemorative medals, fraternal, school and heraldry items, athletic medals and military insignia. During its entire operation it was based in Attleboro, MA and was one of the largest metal crafters in the country. In the 21st century, Robbins changed ownership and company names. With flagging sales and profits the Attleboro factory ceased operations in 2021 with priority assets being moved to Canada and all non-essential assets being sold or scrapped. There were literally tens of thousands of dies produced throughout Robbins’ 100 plus years in business, all carefully recorded in hand-written ledgers. Fortunately for us insignia collectors, there are equally dedicated die and hub collectors, like Heath White @haw68, who have preserved this history. Thanks to Mr. White, we can see that on July 24, 1942, an order was received and recorded from the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot for the six new AAF qualification badges: Service Pilot, Glider Pilot, Liaison Pilot, Bombardier, Navigator and Aircrew; dies numbered O-1297 to O-1302 (figure 6).

 

Figure 6

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In Mr. White’s collection, he has the dies that correspond to these die registration numbers, and they are illustrated below (figures 7-12):

 

Figure 7

 

Figure 8

 

Figure 9 

 

Figure 10

 

Figure 11

 

Figure 12

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Since all the dies follow the same design and aesthetic details, and all came from the same order, time period, and same manufacturer, we need only look at one of them, the Glider pilot wing and its corresponding die, in detail to understand that The Robbins Company was indeed the manufacturer of the most common WWII graduation pattern wing (figure 13. 14).

 

Figure 13

 

 

Figure 14

 

 

We even have evidence from the backside of this wing as The Robbins Company also designed their own forcers (the die that presses the back of the badge) with a unique series of shapes engraved to help with the correct positioning of findings, whether pin or clutch (figure 15, 16). Note, this is but one of the many forcers that Robbins used. There were plain flat backs, backs with slight recesses in the shoulders, and the small, raised STERLING mark can be found in different positions.

 

Figure 15

 

Figure 16

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For reference, here are more examples of the Robbins series. Note that the backs illustrate a number of different forcer dies used for the reverse and different findings.

 

 

[MMcollector]

Great post Tod! 

[rathbonemuseum.com]

Thanks Clinton!

[Nack]

Fascinating- well done!

[dpast32]

OUTSTANDING POST !! THANKS FOR ALL OF US 😊

[rathbonemuseum.com]

From a 1946 Robbins catalog, we can see the common graduation style illustrated. While these are not detailed enough to prove they are the same pattern, you can see they align with the patterns I have illustrated in detail above. Also note some of the other patterns Robbins used that are similar to Josten and NS Meyer.