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Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:35 am
by silverly
This Broach is about two and a half inches long. The wing span is about two inches. It appears to be stamped or pressed metal. The only marking is the word sterling. Any help with further information would be very much appreciated.

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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:42 pm
by salmoned
Can't help at all, except to say 'that is a real beauty!'
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:53 pm
by silverly
Thank you salmoned. I have a little information about the aircraft itself and if no one else brings that out, I'll be happy to do so at some point. My hope is that someone will know something about the manufacture of items like this one in particular. The best I can do for now is label it as sweetheart pin.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:00 pm
by salmoned
Well, I looked it up - it's a Bell YFM-1 Airacuda. This is an item my Dad would absolutely love.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:09 pm
by silverly
I may be stretching it a bit, but it looks like the Bell XFM-1 Airacuda which of course is the XFM-1 before the Army Airforce's input on what it should contain.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:39 pm
by salmoned
Huh? It couldn't represent an aircraft that hadn't been accepted by the Army, since it has the Army's logo.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:56 pm
by silverly
It was designed and built to sell to the Army, but I only lean toward the experimental version because this pin is simpler than the drawings for the YMF-1. Maybe it was just easier to produce. Thanks for you insights. They're always welcome.
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:57 am
by silverly
Salmoned, I have to make a retraction. You made me look into the matter some more. This pin very closely approximates the 1B which is the model that was delivered to the Army. I like it better that way, and thank you again.
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Re: Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:43 am
by Bayshore
Seems I have the same broach and I always wondered what it was. thx
(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )
Re: Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2011 4:44 pm
by AHower
where is the sterling stamp?
I have this pin, but it doesn't appear to be stamped anywhere
thanks!
Re: Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:12 pm
by silverly
Welcome to the forum AHower. The pin is in a safety deposit box at the bank. It's not that I suspect the pin is extremely valuable; it's just that when the price of silver got so high, it seemed a good time to put most of what I have in a fairly safe place.
The next time I get in the box, I'll check for the sterling mark, but I can tell that it is prominently marked. If yours isn't obviously labeled sterling, my guess is that it is not.
Re: Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:23 pm
by AHower
silverly wrote:Welcome to the forum AHower. The pin is in a safety deposit box at the bank. It's not that I suspect the pin is extremely valuable; it's just that when the price of silver got so high, it seemed a good time to put most of what I have in a fairly safe place.
The next time I get in the box, I'll check for the sterling mark, but I can tell that it is prominently marked. If yours isn't obviously labeled sterling, my guess is that it is not.
thank you!
It turned out to be brass =)
I appreciate the quick response!
Re: Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 3:24 pm
by AHower
not sure how to edit so I'm double posting
I e-mailed the Bell Aircraft Museum in hopes that they can tell me more about the pin
I'll let you know if I find anything on it =)