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Robbins (C. H. Robbins) Co. of Attleboro, MA: Examples and Patterns


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Hi Cliff,

I think this picture is in the book by Ron Willis and Tom Carmichael on Navy Wings. I am at work now, so I don't have my copy handy, but I thought the picture had names with it. I wonder if the info in the book regarding these Aviators is possibly not accurate? Thanks for posting that great picture!!

 

Chris

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Pictured below is a photograph of the first ten USN enlisted pilot trainees who were selected to begin 18-months training at Pensacola, FL beginning on January 1, 1916. These ten were from the crew of the USS North Carolina. The picture was taken on March 21, 1917. Unfortunately, the name of these ten men have never been confirmed. The second class entered pilot training in June, 1917.

 

The book "United States Navy Wings of Gold" has these aviators named.

 

Here is the list;

 

"Standing left to right: Charles L. Allen, Naval Aviator #110-1/2; Walter D. Bonner, Naval Aviator #50; George Enos, Naval Aviator #61; Augustus A. Bressman, Naval Aviator #44; Oliver P. Kilmer, Naval Aviator #70; Alfred Hayes, Naval Aviator #69.

 

Seated left to right: Thomas H. Murphy, Naval Aviator #51; John T. Sunderman, Naval Aviator #55-1/2; Guy Mclaughlin, Naval Aviator #90; Giochino Varini, Naval Aviator #62.

 

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center Washington, D.C. "

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Hi Chris,

 

While doing some research yesterday for B-17GUY (John Ferguson), I found the picture in the Fall 1988 edition of Naval Aviation Museum FOUNDATION magazine, Volume 2, Number 9.

 

Thank you for the update.

 

Cliff

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...
  • 5 months later...

I wish that I had a set of wings to share, but I can share pictures of one of the wearers. In the list of NAOs above, LCDR Charles G. McCord was my grandfather. There are two pictures of him taken in late '26 and early '27 at Pensacola NAS. The final picture is on board USS Wright (AV-1), the first seaplane tender. He started as an engineer and was promoted to Air Exec some time in '28.

 

 

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  • 9 months later...

Just plain beautiful find AND WONDERFUL EARLY DROP IN PIN CATCH! I REALLY like Robbins' material, Quality Wings and a great Name they have made for themselves, especially with the ACFC Wings that pilots who started off the war donned under the Lend Lease Act. You are really hitting the target Buddy with these awesome finds! Please send some close ups to me on my regular email I believe you have Buddy, for my library. Thanks !

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  • 1 year later...

First, I want to give credit to B17-John and Cliff who (apparently) worked out some of these details studying a wide range of Robbins USN wings and who came up with this information. I am only building upon the work that John did and transmitted to me the last time we were at Russ' house looking at wings. John (and Cliff) are the giants, who I am only standing on...

Recently, this beauty of a WWI vintage Robbins wing joined my collection. It has the 3 Robbins' hallmarks that seem to have been used on wings around WWI, the "Tiffany-style catch" and is in 10K. A stunning wing and worthy of some close up shots. Pay special attention to the details in the shield...

I am not 100% sure that the use of the Robbins' 3-hallmarks are anything other than an attempt to copy or imitate the British and European style of proofs. Perhaps people much smarter than I can expand on this, but it does seem to be pretty clear that these types of hallmarks were used on WWI wings (both USN and US Army badges), and perhaps later than that.

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Apparently, Cliff and John noticed that while this finely feathered pattern wings (with 3 hallmark and Tiffany-style catch) were probably WWI vintage. On the other hand, other Robbins wings were in this very similar pattern, appeared to be manufactured much later. This includes the NANCO and PANCRAFT marked wings. In fact, I have always felt that despite the general belief that NANCO and PANCRAFT are 20's and 30's vintage, that they are actually more WWII vintage. I have found NANCO (but not PANCRAFT) wings from WWII and post-WWII veterans.

It was my belief that NANCO and PANCRAFT (and perhaps some others) were actually Robbins' made wings being sold under another company. It seems that John and Cliff found evidence that the WWI vintage Robbins wing dies had been recut for the NANCO and PANCRAFT wings sometime after WWI.

First, a line up of the WWI wing, a NANCO wing and a later (probably WWII vintage variation) of Robbins' made wings. Pay special attention to the shield of the top two wings.

 

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Cliff and John told me that they noticed that the vertical and horizontal lines in the WWI wing were very fine, but had clearly been reworked in the later wings. The lines are now more broad and less delicate. The may have also noticed some other die variations, but i will leave that for them to discuss.

 

In my collection I have a couple of NANCO wings and a couple of non-marked wings in this same pattern. You can see that the lines in the WWI wing are very delicate, while the later wings have been reworked. A comparison of the WWII wing is also included.

 

It is my understanding that this reworking of the die happened sometime in the 20's or 30's. Also note that the back of the wings are pretty much the same. What you no longer (apparently) see is the Tiffany-style catch and the 3 hallmarks. I believe I have seen this pattern wing marked as NANCO, PANCRAFT, Robbins and unmarked. But I only have the NANCO an unmarked versions.

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I also have a small collection of the 2 and 1 inch wings. Here are 3 different variations in the 1 inch wing.

These wings were (probably) worn on the hat and used well into WWII.

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The backs. I don't know if these can be dated like the larger wings. In the 3 or 4 versions of these wings in my collection, I have some that are not hallmarked, hallmarked with Robbins and one with the 3 hallmarks. All seem to have a "drop-in style" catch.

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Some close ups of the hallmarks.

 

I suspect that there are other Robbins variations of USN wings. But I did want to share what John and Cliff worked out, using my own wings from the collection.

 

It seems pretty clear that there was a progression of USN aviator wings that could be seen by reworking of a well used die.

 

 

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For reasons left unstated (but I suspect well understood), I am now including a "copyright" watermark on my posted images. You are welcome to "fair use" of these images, but not commercial reproduction.

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In heraldry, horizontal finely scribed lines represent blue (chief) and the finely scribed vertical lines represent red (pales). The space between the red would be silver or white. The national shield color scheme..

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A fascinating study Patrick, thank you for sharing. The 10k wing at the top is stunning. This made me break my wings out of the case for closer analysis. Always fun to learn something new about wings you've had for a while. I've always been partial to those Navy wings with the downward pointing feathers in the shoulders instead of the berries. A unique design and one that I usually pick up whenever I see one.

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  • 5 months later...
  • 1 year later...
rustywings

I'm certain that most wing collectors who've been in the hobby for a while will recognize the feathering pattern of these shirt-size wings as relatively common and almost always distinguishable by their very small raised "STERLING" mark and lack of any hallmark on the reverse.

 

Robbins F.jpg

 

 

So, after seeing and handling dozens of these handsome two-inch gems over the years, I was pleasantly surprised to find a Pilot wing example with an incised "Robbins Co." hallmark stamped on the back. Check out the badge in the middle of the image below. Even though the badge was meant to be a pilot wing, as noted above, it looks like they made a production mistake and used an Aerial Gunner die on the reverse (as seen below).

 

Robbins G.jpg

 

Anyway, I believe this might be a significant tidbit of info in furthering the identity of this wing pattern.

 

Robbins H.jpg

 

Your ideas and opinions are always welcome...

 

 

 

 

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