Glider fakes? LGB STER mark

[armillary_journey]

Are the lines in the shield a big red flag? The LGB on the back is small, but I know that really don't mean jack.

[armillary_journey]

Here are the other two of the G wing.

[armillary_journey]

Glider shield. This program is making me load on pic at a time.

[Allan H.]

If you don't like this wing, send it to me because I have NO problems with it being an original WWII vintage wing. The "G" and shield is classic Balfour! :thumbsup:

Allan

[bschwartz]

I would avoid these wings if I were you. While John Cooper can elaborate on the "LGB STER" hallmark (I believe he does have period examples of its use), in my opinion this is not one of them. I think these are restrikes. I don't like the way that hallmark is laid out on one line and I don't believe that Balfour ever used the drop in catch like that for this pattern wing. My two cents. I believe this wing on my site to be a WW2 era Balfour glider wing.

[John Cooper]

Bob has offered you the best advice on this wing.

 

Balfour did use a "LGB STER" during WW2 but to my knowledge they did not use it on the full size wings. Make use the of the search function for additional background information and to read various opinions so you can come to your own conclusion.

 

To get you started follow the link below. Additionally there is an expansive wing book due out by a gentleman who has a passsion for wings whom I had the pleasure to discuss this very topic with over the phone. When this comes out I am sure it will become a required reference.

 

LGB STER

 

PS - The reproductions you see most often are made by Joe *************** (Visit My Website) who has a enormous selection of wings. I suggest you become familiar with what Joe makes as many folks try to sell you things Joe makes and call them real.

 

PPS - (coffee is kicking in The wings you posted are are made by Balfour but many years after the war for collectors... There are several folks that know so much more than I do that are members of this forum i.e. Cookieman and Dave H.

 

Regards,

John

[Paul S]

I think this one is O.K.; see any problems with it?

 

I would be a bit put off by the mark on the first example in this thread; didn't know that post WWII Balfour had been struck beyond the balloon ratings which I think also have the abbreviated marking, "ster".

[bschwartz]

Paul, your wing looks great. I would definitely consider that a legitimate Balfour wing.

[John Cooper]

Great looking wing you have there Paul!

 

John

[Jack's Son]

......................but I know that really don't mean jack.

 

HEY ! I resent that!!! :mad: :mad:

 

JS

[armillary_journey]

I would avoid these wings if I were you. While John Cooper can elaborate on the "LGB STER" hallmark (I believe he does have period examples of its use), in my opinion this is not one of them. I think these are restrikes. I don't like the way that hallmark is laid out on one line and I don't believe that Balfour ever used the drop in catch like that for this pattern wing. My two cents. I believe this wing on my site to be a WW2 era Balfour glider wing.

 

That's a very nice wing on your site Bob.

I read previously that the L G & S shields should have continuous lines, from side to side. However I have alot to read, but Allan says it's a Balfour design.

If you say don't touch 'em, I'm not! Thanks Bob.

[armillary_journey]

If you don't like this wing, send it to me because I have NO problems with it being an original WWII vintage wing. The "G" and shield is classic Balfour! :thumbsup:

Allan

 

They are currently for sale on Ebay.

[armillary_journey]

......................but I know that really don't mean jack.

 

HEY ! I resent that!!! :mad: :mad:

 

JS

 

Whoops, sorry about that.....

[John Cooper]

They are currently for sale on Ebay.

 

 

... and for a ridiculous price! $345.00

[Jack's Son]

Whoops, sorry about that.....

[MAA]

The lines in the shield are not a problem, LGB did do this during WW2. The hallmark (LGB STER) is typical of current reproductions being offered ~ they look great, but they are not period originals. Ebay has really been loaded with better reproductions as of late, and they are getting very good prices ~ unfortunate to see.

[armillary_journey]

... and for a ridiculous price! $345.00

 

 

Ridiculous is right, especially when it's very probably a fake. Report it to ebay, you won't be the first.

[KurtA]

I don't like the drop-in catch on the first wing. I typically equate that with pre WW2 insignia (which a glider pilot wing is not). I think the drop-in catch is a case of the repro artist trying "too hard."

Kurt

[Paul S]

Here's one that I've had in my whatsit file for some time...looks like the same obverse die as the first in this thread...don't recognize the mark.

[Allan H.]

That's a very nice wing on your site Bob.

I read previously that the L G & S shields should have continuous lines, from side to side. However I have alot to read, but Allan says it's a Balfour design.

If you say don't touch 'em, I'm not! Thanks Bob.

 

 

Sorry to be jumping in here late, but I stopped looking at the thread after Bob S. gave us the determination that the wing itself is a fake, which is good enough for me. When I originally posted, I was commenting on the shield design and the wing pattern itself which is indeed a Balfour design. The markings, hardware etc. indicate that the wing is a fake.

 

These reproductions just get better and better don't they? My apologies to anyone whom I may have misled and a fine lesson for me that when I post, I need to be far more specific about what I am talking about.

 

Allan

[John Cooper]

Here's one that I've had in my whatsit file for some time...looks like the same obverse die as the first in this thread...don't recognize the mark.

 

 

Paul I think that is a Joe W wing IIRC... you might want to contact him to confirm.

 

Thanks

John

 

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving!

[HOF]

On 11/22/2010 at 12:02 PM, John Cooper said:

Additionally there is an expansive wing book due out by a gentleman who has a passsion for wings whom I had the pleasure to discuss this very topic with over the phone. When this comes out I am sure it will become a required reference

John, I’m a little late to this discussion, but I was wondering if the Wing book ever came out? I’ve been a patch guy all my life and just recently started collecting  LGB marked wings.

[bschwartz]

3 hours ago, HOF said:

John, I’m a little late to this discussion, but I was wondering if the Wing book ever came out? I’ve been a patch guy all my life and just recently started collecting  LGB marked wings.

 

I'm not sure John is active on the forum anymore but no, the wing book he is referencing has not been published as of yet.

[pfrost]

Last I heard (and remember I am more gossipy than a 12 year old) is that the book is on hiatus.  I won't use his name, although many of us know him as a very smart collector, a great guy and a good friend. Many of the finest collection of US wings were made available to him to photograph and document.  Both Army and Navy wings, covering everything from preWWI to WWII.  He once told me that the project had grown and would (if every published) be something like 3 tomes and cost thousands of dollars.  The sure scope and size of this would have been a masterpiece of work and I still hope he figures out a way to make it possible for us to share in his efforts.

 

Bob Schwarz' website is one of the best, and I think many of the great images that would have been available can be seen there.

 

P

[bschwartz]

I too hope the book sees the light of day as I know of a couple of key collections that have limited representation on my site, and these are vast collections, that I do hope become available for people to see.  I know the book was a labor of love so I'd like to see it completed both from the collecting aspect and from the personal aspect.  If collecting taught me nothing else it has taught me patience.  Fingers crossed the wait will pay off someday.