Opinion's on Pilot's Badge

[John T]

Hello fellow forum members:

I am posting this badge for a friend. I already have an opinion on it but would like to hear what you guys think.

Thanks,

John

[John T]

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[John T]

8...note the casting seam...it is light, but appears to go all the way around the inside of the wreath:

[Mike Kenny]

Hi John,

This one is trying very hard to be an example from the "unknown maker". It does not look too bad from the front but the rear raises several questions imo. The wreath and eagle appear to be "buntmetal" but the hinge and catch are imo wrong for both "buntmetal" and zinc versions by this maker. The cutouts on the eagles reverse right wing are of the style found on zinc badges. The rivets on this example would be unusual even for the "unknown maker" and the countersunk holes for the wreath are very unusual - period. The reverse profile does not appear to have a soft/cast appearance from the images but the edge effect you point out is not typical of "buntmetal" or zinc examples from this maker.

If you could provide some accurate (mm, 2 dec place) measurements of the wreath (not the eagle) I think that would help in this instance.

All up, I don't like it as there are too many questions over it. I won't rule out a heavily repaired example, but I don't really see much evidence of repairs. Based on the images and info to date, "not for my collection".

Regards
Mike K

[Al P]

John, I have my doubts about this one as well.

The details on the eagle are good but not crisp enough for a buntmetal bird and the swas also looks a bit thin to me. As Mike noted the cutouts are not correct on the wing tip, and the reverse profile of the eagle is lacking in some details.

I won't comment on the reverse hardware, but the countersink/rivet setup are very dubious and added up together =


I am interested to hear what others have to say on this example.

Al

[Brian S]

This doesn't look like the 'unknown maker' I'm familiar with. The patina has that painted on look also.

[skip]

John,

like you already pointed out yourself, more than likely a cast copy of the unknown maker. Details just don´t bring it and funky hinge and rivets.

Skip

Skip

[mrg]

Hi John would agree with the above comments, not keen on swaz, hinge, or the look of the eagle. Not one for me im afraid. All the best

[John T]

Thanks greatly Mike, Al, Brian, skip and mrg for your input. Mike, I can not find my tool for measuring badges but can tell you that when I place the eagle side by side with a zincer by what appears to be the same maker from the top the eagle does look smaller. Al...you are right the swastika does look thin, as does the whole bird when looked at from the side. Brian, the patina does look like it was burnished on to give the piece artificial age. I will convey the info to my friend, Thanks, John