Wolf & Brown Plastic Coated Ribbons

[Armed 2 tha Teeth]

I have been wondering when the process of plastic coating ribbons began. Was Wolf-Brown the first to patent the idea? And when did they start? I am trying to find something through the US Patents office about it but does anyone know anything?

[FrankEaton01]

Most of the Wolf-Brown plastic ribbons are marked with the company name and either "Pat. Pend." or "Pat. No. 2392351". I did an internet search for that patent number, and a patent for "campaign bar and mounting therefor" was apparently approved in January 1946. The ribbons marked patent pending would pre-date 1946 obviously, but I don't know exactly when they were first made.

[0811gysgt]

I know some of you members collect these too.

 

I don't know anyone who possess' or has seen the MOH in this variation of ribbon.

 

Does anyone have an idea when Wolf Brown stopped making these type of plastic coated ribbons? It seems like the newest ribbon I have is for the USCG Achievement Medal.

 

I am always looking for the ones that I don't have, so please PM me if you have one for sale.

 

I am also selling some of my own duplicates in the forum sale section.

 

I know Wolf Brown was a Los Angeles, CA based company that went out of business in the early 80's?

[Bones]

Nice collection, I too have a few. I use mine to restore uniforms and such but I do have some saved back. These are my US Army WW2. There are some dupes.

[Bones]

These are my USMC/USN 1/2. If there are singles it is because they are in my collection.

[Bones]

Now these type you did not address. They look like paper or material that has been pressed between 2 thin sheets of plastic. Then the pin back is applied. These too are marked Wolf Brown LA patent pending. They bow with age. I believe they made DUI's using the same process.

[Bones]

The backs of the above.

[Dave]

Gunny:

 

AWESOME collection of Wolf Browns! I had no idea they made the plastic covered ribbons as late as the USCG achievement...the latest I have ever seen is an NDSM.

 

To answer your question, yes MOH ones did exist, I've had one in my hands long ago though...

 

Dave

[0811gysgt]

Gunny:

 

AWESOME collection of Wolf Browns! I had no idea they made the plastic covered ribbons as late as the USCG achievement...the latest I have ever seen is an NDSM.

 

To answer your question, yes MOH ones did exist, I've had one in my hands long ago though...

 

Dave

 

Thank You Dave.

 

I have never seen the MOH in W/B plastic and probably never will.

 

Rocco

[ItemCo16527]

Wow! :w00t: That is a fine collection you have, Rocco. I love that Wolf-Brown ribbons still look brand-new, despite being 65 years old. I have a few myself, and the worst damage to any of them is one ribbon bar has very slight fading on the top edge of the three ribbons. I wish these guys were still in business and making ribbons.

 

EDIT:

I just noticed the CG Achievement ribbon. I've never seen a Wolf-Brown ribbon that recent. Very nice!

[Stinger Gunner USMC]

Great job Gunny! No doubt that you out bid me on a few of them over the years on ebay. Ive never seen such a complete collection of the W-B ribbons

[Captainofthe7th]

Nice collection! I love WB ribbons, I think they are some of the best looking. I try to accumulate as many as I can....

 

I have a few that are too small or too loose on a bar...is there a way to un-warp these? Will some sort of heat work or will that just ruin them?

 

Rob

[ItemCo16527]

Hi Rob,

I've also noticed that WB ribbons differ in size (thickness? other?). The difference is slight, but would require different thickness mounting bars. Otherwise, like you said they'd be too loose on the bar, or wouldn't slide on at all. I definitely wouldn't try heating them, you may risk melting the plastic or further warping them. I'd set the odd-sized one aside as loose examples, rather than trying to bend them. Better to have a few loose ribbons in perfect condition, than several broken ones. Just my two cents

[Captainofthe7th]

I figured I'd leave them be. I just wasn't sure if there was a proven method. The tight ones are okay and I can eventually get them onto a bar...the loose ones, depending on severity, I have found them on original bars where the loose ribbon is in the center of two others.

 

Rob

[0811gysgt]

My most recent addition. No quite the MOH, but still very RARE. This is the 1st W/B Brevet that I have ever seen.

 

I purchased a Sampson Medal W/B Ribbon last year that was unfortunately lost in the mail, along with one or two other rare ones.

 

Does anyone own one like this?

[ETN]

Anbody got a nice plastic coated ribbon bar for the 1950's National Defense Medal? I need one to repair a very significant group of ribbon bars...

 

Erich

[Brig]

here's something a bit different. Appear to be Wolff-Browne plastic encased ribbons, thick and not at all your typical plastic wrap, but hard, curved plastic. Anyone know anything about these?

[Captainofthe7th]

Here's the one I have been hanging on to. All it says on the reverse is patent applied for, so that's kind of a dead end. This particular ribbon was on a Korean War Ike I picked up. It did not belong (in my opinion), so I removed it but keep it in the pocket.

 

Yes, it is 1/2 inch.

 

 

I really don't know what to think of them. This is the first 1/2 inch ribbon I've seen of this type, so that means that they were produced for both Army and Navy/USMC.

 

I think this used to be mine...Bones has it now. So many trades...but this is awfully familiar and I know I had a double bar at some point. I stole this image from his display topic. Maybe he can get some clearer photos for us. But, this shows that they were not only produced in singles, but in doubles and potentially triples.

 

 

I'm guessing that this idea came before the wrap around WB ribbon we all know and love. However, it's not practical as they are not customizable for each individual. The slide on bars allow one to purchase the ribbons and make their own rack and that wouldn't be possible with this kind of ribbon.

 

Rob

[Captainofthe7th]

Aha, I forgot I had this page saved. This should give all the answers. Refer to Fig. 6 and all notes regarding Fig. 6. Fig.4 is the typical WB ribbon. Fig. 2 is not this style of ribbon we are discussing here, but what Wolf calls the 'parent' piece from which the final ribbons are formed. The first full paragraph on page two seems to cover our topic here.

 

http://www.google.com/patents?id=COhMAAAAE...p;q&f=false

 

Rob

[Brig]

interesting read, thanks for the link

[Titanfan]

I have a few as well. You do not come across them as often as the more popular Wolf-Brown ribbons. They are not as physically flattering as the normal types as they seem to be prone to bending, fading, and general wear.

 

I still like them. They are a unique design.

[Tim B]

Very interesting! I have never seen this particular style before.

 

The Wolf-Brown and George Studley plastic covered ribbons didn't last long. I know the Navy officially banned the wear of ribbons with protective coverings or protective coatings in December 1946, though it allowed the sewn ribbon bars then.

 

Interesting link and patent history on Wolf-Brown! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:

 

Tim

[Kman1752]

Here is one I have, only one I'd seen until this post. They aren't very common, but kinda neat.

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

All,

 

Does anyone have a spare 5/16th Distinguished Service Cross Wolf Brown they can spare? I need it for the ribbon rack of William Leverette.

 

Thanks,

 

John

[MWalsh]

In looking at this thread, please clarify for me, is the question with this thread whether MoH and Brevet Medal large style W-B ribbons exist at all or is it do they exist with the plastic coating?

 

MW