Wwi, U.S. Air Service, Pilot Wing, Badge, and 50 similar items

WWI, U.S. AIR SERVICE, PILOT WING, BADGE, G.W. HALTOM, FT. WORTH, TX Description: Maker: G. W. Haltom Jewelers, Fort Worth, Texas Weight 20 grams (without the locking nuts) Handsome badge with exaggerated Art Nouveau curves to shield bearing well executed forced perspective of stripes to escutcheon with 13 five-pointed stars on background of fine horizontal lines in chief. Wings are near mirror image, exhibiting very fine feathering with a Neo-classical representational motif. 14K gold, separately applied, thin, gothic U and S. Manufacture. Die struck in two main sterling silver pieces (wings and shield) with separately applied die struck gold U and S. The single piece wings share a bar of silver upon which is separately mounted the shield. The mounting of the shield in front of the wings serves to further accentuate the forced perspective of the shield and enhance the illusion of bass relief. Mountings. Screw post with locking nuts. All G. W. Haltom badges examined appear to show evidence that the badges were originally screw-post mounted however many badges encountered show conversion to pin-back. Conversion to pin back would allow for greater utility swapping between uniforms without the requirement for making large holes. Markings: Although some badges bear no markings at all, most two-piece Haltom badges bear the three-line, raised hallmark: G. W. HALTOM FORT WORTH STERLING Note: The raised letters on the reverse of the shield read ?ORT WORTH? The ?F? is missing. Additionally, while all observed Haltom badges are struck in sterling silver, some badges also display (as in the wing being offered) an additional incised ?STERLING? content mark. Background: Undoubtedly one of the most handsome pilot badges of the WW1 era, G. W. Haltom?s Reserve Military Aviator wing, with its artistic forced-perspective shield and exquisite neo-classical wings, truly stands out among the many beautiful WW1 badges. Duncan Campbell called it one of the "superb" wing badges of WWI. Associated Airfields: Primary Airfields. The Air Service Airfields and activities in and around Fort Worth Texas included Camp Taliaferro, Carruthers/Benbrook Field, Barron/Everman Field, and Hicks Field. The Camp Taliaferro ?Flying Triangle? complex was used by both the US Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps for primary and gunnery training. Fledgling aviators assigned to Camp Taliaferro and its associated airfields would all have ready access to Haltom?s. Secondary Airfields. Airfields throughout Texas and nearby states would have been within cross-country navigation flight distance for fledgling aviators. Love Field and the Aviation Repair Depot in Nearby Dallas, Call Field in Wichita Falls, Rich Field in Waco, and Post Field in Oklahoma all would have used the various Fort Worth Airfields as destinations for basic navigation. More advanced navigation training would have included flights from farther fields such as Kelly Field and Brooks Field in San Antonio, Penn Field in Austin, Ellington Field in Houston, or even Gerstner Field in Lake Charles Louisiana. These young visiting aviators would have been feted at the Fort Worth Club and found ready access to G. W. Haltom?s. George W. Haltom was more than merely a Fort Worth Jeweler. Researching wing making WW1 era jewelers reveals a commonality among many. Not merely jewelers, many of these men were what could be termed ?Chamber of Commerce boosters.? Their legacies can still be felt even over the century that has passed since the war. Jewelers like the Linz Brothers of Dallas, Hertzberg of San Antonio, G. G. Sweeney of Houston, and Haltom of Fort Worth dedicated their time and resources to developing their communities. Each of the afore mentioned jewelers installed monumental clocks in their respective downtowns where they still tell local citizens the time today. G. W. Haltom, with his jewelry business occupying the entire ground floor of the Fort Worth Club building, also developed real estate. Today, Haltom City Texas, a suburban community outside of Fort Worth continues to bear Haltom?s name. Like other community boosters, Haltom envisioned the coming role aviation could play in expanding commerce and wanted to curry favor among the young pilots then training at nearby airfields. Haltom's Jewelers is closed their shop after more than 130 years in business, and their final day was January 11, 2025. announced their final day. The jewelry retailer, which has stores in Sundance Square, Fort Worth's Ridglea neighborhood and Grapevine, will close Jan. 11. The stores are owned by Jack and Ladye Miller, whose family has owned the luxury jewelry retailer since 1983. Aside from the jewelry, the stores are known for their iconic freestanding clock outside. ?Between us, Jack and I have 108 years of retail experience, and we have loved every minute,? Ladye Ann Miller previously said. ?We have always worked hard for our family, our employees and their families and our customers. While we are closing the stores and ending this chapter, we will remain a part of this community that is so important to us.? Haltom?s Jewelers was founded in 1893 by G.W. Haltom, who began his career in jewelry as a railroad-regulating watchmaker, according to the store?s website. ?It has been a pleasure for Haltom?s Jewelers to be included in their customers? special moments, commemorating engagements, anniversaries and special occasions with fine jewelry across generations,? a letter posted on the website read. While Haltom?s Jeweler?s is closing, Jack and Ladye say they plan to continue their work with Miller Investments. Sundance Square has seen other major closures recently, including the move of Reata Restaurant and the closure of a Melt Ice Cream location nearby. SHIPPING: Please contact us prior to making payment so we can discuss your shipping options. Unless we hear from you otherwise, this will be shipped via United Parcel Service, Full insurance, Adult Signature is required. We will not ship this to a Post Office Box. Other shipping options are available. Reference: U.S. Militaria Forum, ?cwnorma? Reference: Aviation Badges and Insignia of the United States Army 1913-1946, J. Duncan Campmbell Reference: United States Army Air Service Wing Badges ? Uniforms and Insignia, 1913-1918, Terry R. Morris International Buyers Please Note: We do not ship outside of the United States! No Exceptions. In addition, we will not ship to third party shippers or any other international shipping hubs such as International Shipping (EIS), EIS 110 INTERNATIONALE BLVD, GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL 60139-2080, or ACI Express Shipping. No buying agents such as Intercommerce America. No international buyers, no freight forwarding companies, no gift addresses, no non U.S. citizen buyers, and no non U.S. based forms of payment. If you place a bid, or make a purchase, we will cancel your bid, and or cancel your purchase! If you wish to make a purchase, you will have to find someone located within the United States to make the purchase for you. They would be responsible to send the package to you. We do ship to APO and FPO addresses.