Sterling Airplane Broach Information Please.

[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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[salmoned]

Can't help at all, except to say 'that is a real beauty!'
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[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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[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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[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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[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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[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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[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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[Bayshore]

Seems I have the same broach and I always wondered what it was. thx

(admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

[AHower]

where is the sterling stamp?

I have this pin, but it doesn't appear to be stamped anywhere

thanks!

[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.

[AHower]

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!

[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 =)