CliffP Posted May 11, 2010 Share #1 Posted May 11, 2010 Looking at this badge on eBay made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. What a beauty! Oh sure, it has about 90 years of tarnish on it now; however, if ever polished it would definitely make a stunning statement. See: http://cgi.ebay.com/WW1-STUNNING-STERLING-...I-/290434064054 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #2 Posted May 11, 2010 That is a great badge. Just before the Duncan Campbell auction, another wing like this came up for sale. It was pinned on a very nice, if somewhat dirty, flight instructor uniform. The wing had a black fabric backing and you can see had been on the uniform for a long time by the shadow it left on the fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #3 Posted May 11, 2010 That is a great badge. Just before the Duncan Campbell auction, another wing like this came up for sale. It was pinned on a very nice, if somewhat dirty, flight instructor uniform. The wing had a black fabric backing and you can see had been on the uniform for a long time by the shadow it left on the fabric. Here is the wing, its backing, and the uniform. You can clearly see where it had sat. The backing is interesting in that it is a black wool material that has been sewn over a very thing bakelite-type plastic form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #4 Posted May 11, 2010 The wing. The scan really doesn't catch all the fine detail. Also, the kind of blotchy finish makes the wing look a bit funky, but that is more a factor of the lighting from the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #5 Posted May 11, 2010 The detail up close is STUNNING. You can kind of get an idea from this scan of the detail and workmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #6 Posted May 11, 2010 Th wing is made of 3 parts, the shield and two wings. The wing is very nicely vaulted, giving it a great 3D feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #7 Posted May 11, 2010 From the other side you can see the quality workmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 11, 2010 Share #8 Posted May 11, 2010 The wing in the auction is a screw back, but mine is a pin back. I suspect they made it using different methods depending on the pilot. Also, the sterling mark is in a different place, but mine also has the triangle at the end of the STERLING stamp. I have no idea what that is for, but the marks are the same in both wings. I agree with Cliff, this is one of the nicest WWI wings I have seen. Funny thing, but IMHO, you really have to see these beauties in hand to get a full appreciation of how nice they are. It will be interesting to see what this one sells for. Duncan's auction (IIRC) had both the full size and the 1/2 wing version of this badge for sale. At the time, I thought they sold for less than they were worth. It will be interesting to see if the eBay price brings in more than the Campbell auction did? Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brig Posted May 11, 2010 Share #9 Posted May 11, 2010 I like it and I'm not even a wing collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19delta-uav Posted May 13, 2010 Share #10 Posted May 13, 2010 Is that to say that this wing is a good one? Or a reproduction? Also if its real, whats a good average price for it? I would love to own one but know nothing about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfrost Posted May 13, 2010 Share #11 Posted May 13, 2010 Is that to say that this wing is a good one? Or a reproduction? Also if its real, whats a good average price for it? I would love to own one but know nothing about them. I think it is 100% good. :thumbsup: Examples of this pattern wing can be seen in both of the major WWI wing books; Duncan Campbell's and Terry Morris' book (or maybe the one in the Morris book is the one from the Campbell collection--I am not sure). Initially, these were attributed to being English-made in these books, but I suspect that they were more than likely made in the US instead. At least I see nothing to say these are English made. As I said, the wings in Duncan Campbell's collection came up for sale at (IIRC) the last Butterfield auction. My recollection was that they sold for less than I had anticipated, considering they were from Mr. Campbell's collection and were attributed to specific pilots. P Frost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffP Posted May 13, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted May 13, 2010 :dunno: Who can say with any degree of certainty what a fair price would be for that badge; however, the one from Mr. Campbell's collection sold at Bonhams & Butterfields for $2,223 inclusive of Buyer's Premium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rathbonemuseum.com Posted July 23, 2022 Share #13 Posted July 23, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted November 24, 2022 Share #14 Posted November 24, 2022 These are wings made by Charles Simmang of San Antonio, TX. There is one currently available on ebay for $5200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted November 24, 2022 Share #15 Posted November 24, 2022 One of the most handsome and rugged designs to come of the WW1 period. There was surprising variety available in Simmang's wing offerings. Although they are all very scarce the most commonly encountered variation (and most popular with aviators and observers in 1918) is as seen above with three silver pieces soldered together (with or without an additional separate cloth covered backplate). Less commonly, they are also known configured "Dallas-style" with separate pieces affixed to a felt covered backing plate with pin. Simmang produced at least two versions of the shield (two, and three lines of stars) and affixed at least two different patterns of US: I have encountered one example with the two-line shield trimmed somewhat smaller than normal. Simmang badges are found with both screw back and pin back findings with neither being predominate. These badges typically bear Simmang's sterling mark "STERLING" followed by a narrow pyramid (although they are occasionally encountered unmarked). Charles Simmang was a San Antonio-based die maker and medallic arts manufacturer whose company did not have a retail operation. Simmang's wares were sold through retail jewelers in the San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston areas. Warm regards! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted November 24, 2022 Share #16 Posted November 24, 2022 Here is my example, which appears to have a replacement catch. The wing reminds me of the Navajo Bombardier wings in the three-dimensional working of the silver. The tips on mine curve forward like the horns on a bull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwnorma Posted November 27, 2022 Share #17 Posted November 27, 2022 Marty, That is a handsome wing! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5thwingmarty Posted November 28, 2022 Share #18 Posted November 28, 2022 Thanks Chris. If it wasn't for your guidance I wouldn't be its owner. Did you ever publish your Simmang article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted November 28, 2022 Share #19 Posted November 28, 2022 I'll add mine, it is biographical. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted November 28, 2022 Share #20 Posted November 28, 2022 Back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-17Guy Posted November 28, 2022 Share #21 Posted November 28, 2022 ID Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind pew Posted November 30, 2022 Share #22 Posted November 30, 2022 Heck- I have been to Harlan, Iowa several times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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