Rare Wwi Air Service Pilot Wings Homrichous Memphis Tn Variant Badge Superb
Presented for the collector of WWI insignia or aviation badges is this superb specimen of what is technically known as the Junior or Reserve Military Aviator Badge. The early days of the United States Army Air Service saw rapid changes in the design of insignia and the designation of the various ratings among pilots. If you aren't familiar with the specific changes with regard to the early regulations, I would invite you to consult the books by Morris or Fitzsimmons on WWI Air Service insignia and wings.
Regardless of the technical designation, what we have here is a superb, archetypal specimen of a WWI United States Army Air Service pilot's wing that is fresh from a Wheeling, West Virginia estate. If you could confine yourself to one WWI wing this would be it in my opinion.The wing is in untouched, uncleaned, as-found condition with a superb patina. This wing is nothing short of superb and I will echo Fitzsimmons in stating that it is the ultimate in design extreme.
This is by far my favorite pattern of WWI wing and if I didn't already have two specimens it would not be here. This style of wing is generally attributed (if it isn't marked) to the Homrichous Co. See pages 24 in Morris and 34 in Fitzsimmons for comparable specimens. Some Homrichous wings were marked with the company name and some were not.
In contrast to 99% of WWII wings, I would estimate that only about 1/2 of WWI wings were die struck. The remainder were embroidered bullion or were jeweler-made from scratch by established jewelry concerns that were in close proximity to WWI aviation training bases. Eisenstadt, Robbins, Haltom, and Homrichous are four of the known manufacturers I can think of off the top of my head that manufactured aviation badges by hand and in-house. Some may very well be unique and we may never know their point of origin.
This wing measures an impressive 4 1/8 inches in width. Construction is identical to the marked Homrichous wing with the wings being joined to the shield with four U-shaped wires. The substantial pin on the reverse is retained by a Tiffany-style catch that is very characteristic of wings and insignia of the WWI period. Both are fully functional and firmly attached.Although it is obviously of sterling silver with gold letters, the wing is completely unmarked save for the tiny letters R. F on the Tiffany-stye catch. The hand-chased design elements of the wings and shield are absolutely stunning and are further highlighted by the vaulted shoulders of the wings.
Although unmarked, the wing bears all the attributes of having been produced by the Homrichous firm of Memphis, Tennessee. This wing would be the centerpiece of any collection of aviation badges or WWI Air Service ephemera. Please see my other listings for items which may interest you. Specialized packing materials, boxes, or other arrangements may cost more with large or oddly-sized items. Please understand the extra cost and time involved if that is necessary. I will consider the item yours after you have won it. I will, of course, send a reminder toward the end of that time. I will endeavor to answer any question promptly and accurately to the level of detail required for your satisfaction. I will also indulge additional photo requests if the posted photos do not illustrate a particular aspect of the item you are curious about. Rest assured that the photos and description accurately depict the item being auctioned. What you see is what you get. The sooner I receive funds, the sooner your item leaves my hands!If you want something different let me know and I will attempt to accommodate you if I can. Please do not renege on the contract through a lack of communication.
Again, I'll be more than happy at any time to indulge your questions about a particular item or aspect of condition. Please consult my feedback profile and you will see three trends: superlative packing, prompt service/communication, and accurate descriptions.Thank you for your business and I look forward to serving you again! The item "RARE WWI AIR SERVICE PILOT WINGS HOMRICHOUS MEMPHIS TN VARIANT BADGE SUPERB" is in sale since Thursday, May 26, 2016. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW I (1914-18)\Original Period Items\United States\Medals, Pins & Ribbons". The seller is "abncav" and is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This item can be shipped to United States.