Om Pilot Badge

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Gentleman,

I few weeks ago I asked your opinions on this OM Pilot Badge and was given the thumbs up. Well, the newest birdie arrived today in good order. The example is worn and in very good condition. The eagle's beak does have a ding as well as the right wing. The reverse looks as though the wreath may have been cleaned postwar, not 100% on that. Regardless, I am pleased to have aquired one of the more hard to find Pilots badges. This one really has character.

With that said, I think one of the real beauties of this maker is the wreath. The detail is just incredible. Please share any thoughts that you may have.

Best regards,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

More Pics

[Yuri D.]

May I see a closeup of the hinge?

Yuri

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Yuri,

Your wish is my command.

Best regards,
JD

[Yuri D.]

It is a different hinge than I've seen on other OMs. They have the barrel hinge sitting on a rectangular block.

Below is an example from a badge from Mike Richins' collection

[Yuri D.]

Lorenzo's OM also has that hinge configuration with the rectangular block - you can seen it on his site. Tim Calvert also has an OM Pilot's badge with the same rectangular block under the barrel hinge. Other than that detail, the badge looks like a genuinely worn OM Pilot's badge.

Yuri

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Yuri,

Thank you for posting the hinge set up. Hmmm.......that certainly is a different set up than mine. What are your thoughts on the the piece overall?


Best Regards,
JD

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello,

The maker mark is also different on mine vs Lorenzo's example, (keeping in mind my pics are not that good, the reference is make to the characters) The "O" is the same the "M" is slightly different, BUT most importantly the "." is to the left of the "O" on my example, vaiation in the mark??? The "O" itself is not symetricaly round at 1 o'clock. Interesting.

Best Regards,
JD

[Yuri D.]

Does the "O" have a small period to the right of it? All of the examples I have documented (5 total) have the period to the right of the "O".

Yuri

[Joseph D'Errico]

Hello Yuri,


No period to the right.

Best Regards,
JD

[Yuri D.]

The hinge and catch may have been replaced? Because the rest of the badge looks good.

Yuri

[Joseph D'Errico]

Thank you Yuri,

I spent some time comparing the details of my example with Lorenzo's, I do not see any red flags, but the period to the left of the "O " instead of the right is certainly an interesting point. I think that Frank is already having nightmares about this thread and he is still sleeping.

Thank you again,
JD

[RPN]

Hello Joe

I've just got my "OM" out of the safe ... a well-worn example with replaced pin.

Had a look with a x10 .... a bit of 'crud' around the periphery of the maker stamp ... but no period (full-stop) ... anywhere. Maker mark looks like yours ... the "O" included. The hinge is as described by Yuri.

My FTP software is 'broken' but I'll try adding pics directly to this site - my pics are not particularly good though.

Kind regards
Paul

[mmiller]

JD,

Your OM looks pretty good over the net. Maybe with it in hand (your OM, that is....) I could find some faults. For now though, I'd say it's a 'keeper'.

Here are scans of mine. Unfortunately, I do not have a close-up of the hallmark. My hinge, however, has the 'Yuri-style-block'. Calvert's badges are all so worn out that no details are available. [HA-HA-HA Tim! I'll call you at 3AM your time.]

Regards,
Mark

PS- And I thought that only GWLs had frosting.

[Mike H]

More OM pictures

Gentlemen:

Here are some photos of an OM pilot's badge in my collection. It does have the rectangular box under the hinge. A very small period appears after the "O". It is part of a grouping I bought from a transport pilot's family in Germany who was killed in January 1945.

These are really beautiful pilot's badges.

Mike Heuer