Om Pilot Badge

[Lorenzo Brown]

Hi Joe. I believe that the "." should be to the right of the "O" on this badge - not on the left. However, Paul has stated that his badge mark does not have one and it is not unusual that the periods are sometimes missing because the dies and stamps can get filled with crud.

Badgemakers had to clean the dies periodically to ensure a clean strike. I am certain that they paid far more attention to the Obverse design than they did to the reverse details. Same is true for a maker's stamp. Think of how small the ". " mark would be on a stamp...or on a reverse die. Even if the makers periodically cleaned the reverse dies or maker's stamp, it would be extremely easy to overlook and miss cleaning the small indentation that would create the relief "period". I have several badges where the periods are missing, or half missing, for this reason.

What is strange about yours is the "period" is to the LEFT of the "O". My guess is that it is not actually a period, but some excess material that ended up on that spot inadvertantly.

I think you have a rare circumstance where a "dirty stamp" caused the period to the right to be missing.....and the same dirty stamp impressed an extra piece of material (that looks like a period) to the left of the "O".

Just a "wild-ass-guess"...but it's possible.

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear all,

As promised I post some pics of my new OM badge that just arrived. It also has the hinge sheet metal formed to a small plate under the barrel, like I can see it on Lorenzo´s pictures. Catch is also closest to Lorenzo´s example.

The OM logo has no dots at all, same as Paul´s badge.

Cheers, Frank

[Frank Heukemes]

reverse

[Frank Heukemes]

hinge with sheet metal formed to a barrel and "plate" under barrel:

[Frank Heukemes]

rivet

[Frank Heukemes]

catch

[Frank Heukemes]

eagledetail (shows wear)

[Frank Heukemes]

left wing

[Frank Heukemes]

right wing

[Frank Heukemes]

lower wreath detail

INTERESTING:

Start to count the OAKleaves at the 6 o´clock position and focus on the first leaf from there. The middle line is squished and deformed. I found this detail as well on Lorenzo´s and Joe´s examples, the others shown in this thread have a perfect line on the leaf. Probably a damaged die, which would make some badges earlier, some later. What do you think?

[Frank Heukemes]

OM mark, no better pic possible because of flatbed scanner and mark is "up too high" on this highly vaulted eagle to get sharper results. But trust me, the dot is not there at all.

[J Temple-West]

Hey Frank, here's one that will bring tears to your eyes...It has all the traits of an OM, including the 'squished' leaf, etc..BUT!! It's unmarked... The pic's are from the seller and not too good but will post some better one's when it arrives...I know, It's in a bit of a mess but for the price, a good example of a de-Nazified OM,
Question.. Why do we find known makers examples marked & unmarked?

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear John,

No, that one does NOT have the squished leaf!
Yes, a pity it is broken, would have been a killer example.

Cheers, Frank

[J Temple-West]

Silly me, I was looking at the Laurel, not the Oak..Must learn my left from my right...

[Frank Heukemes]

Yeah and to drive on the right side of the road!

Sorry, couldn´t resist, ole matey!