RFC Gilt Metal Wings........

[dragonz18]

A friend has asked me to try & find out about these Gilt RFC wings.
This exact type does not appear in W.Carrol's book 'Eagles Recalled' and the pin looks to be the later American( Canadian also?) type,to me. Possibly a later added attachment here ?
These are a 'full sized' type at 94mm wide.
Anyone know more about these ?
Cheers !
Steve

[Sonofacqms]

I have a set of wings on the top of a photoframe similar to these in bronze, as usual these have been restruck in various metals and from the look of the reverse, your badge could be a sweetheart.

[wright241]

Originally Posted by dragonz18

A friend has asked me to try & find out about these Gilt RFC wings.
This exact type does not appear in W.Carrol's book 'Eagles Recalled' and the pin looks to be the later American( Canadian also?) type,to me. Possibly a later added attachment here ?
These are a 'full sized' type at 94mm wide.
Anyone know more about these ?
Cheers !
Steve

I have the wings RFC and a couple of sweetheart brooches. Could you let me know what the overall width is and I will compare.
Rgds, David

[dragonz18]

David,
they are full sized ,at 94mm wide.
As mentioned in the origional post ?

Cheers !
Steve

3 things concern me about your illustrated wings. Firstly, they are not the correct shape for contemporary RFC wings - they simply don't 'droop' enough - similar to the cloth wings. Secondly, the pin is shorter than the contemporary wings - it should be approximately 85mm in length, almost the entire width. Finally your wings don't appear to be die-struck, which the contemporary ones were. I offer this information as I have 4 original sets of metal wings, in varying condition and all from a vast and totally original military badge collection sold in the early 70s. At 94mm, however, I don't see your wings being intended as a sweetheart brooch - much too big. I have also found over the years that several original RFC wings have appeared on photograph frames, which is where most ended up in reality - missing their pins and heavily polished, sometimes almost beyond recognition. I suspect your wings are of non-contemporary manufacture. Regards. David

[wright241]

Originally Posted by dragonz18

David,
they are full sized ,at 94mm wide.
As mentioned in the origional post ?

Cheers !
Steve

Point taken about the size. My mistake.
I am at work at the moment and all I have is a picture of the
front (no measurements though) - so will have to do another
one over the weekend and post on Monday morning - front and
rear plus dimensions.
I have never been sure about this one - even though the detail
is very good...

Rgds, David

[wright241]

Originally Posted by dragonz18

David,
they are full sized ,at 94mm wide.
As mentioned in the origional post ?

Cheers !
Steve

Steve,
I don't have the RFC wings here (in Hamburg) but my wife (Luxembourg) measured it with a micrometer and she says its 95mm. Plus, the "blades" at the back actually look like a pair of (thinner than normal) sliders that have been bent over and brazed on the back - maybe a repair?

Once I get back there this weekend, I'll see what I can dig out and take some snaps.

Rgds, David