posted 02-19-2019 12:27 PM               

I've been working on images a bit, but I feel like this is really something with enough content to cover that it really requires a solid database format. For myself, I want something that not only categorizes by mission, but helps differentiate manufacturers, era produced, and how they were distributed. Internal versus commercial (or mixed), etc.

We've been in the process of moving over the past year, living in temporary housing now and hoping to buy something soon, but once we finally get into permanent housing this is one of the projects I'd really like to dig into.

posted 02-20-2019 05:47 PM               

I have never seen your LRL pin before! A very nice item and your best pin in my opinion.

The gold "cut out" Gemini program logo pin and matching broach are fairly rare. There are also cuff-links in this set. These may have come from McDonnell but I'm not sure.

Your Mercury pin (upside down) is from General Dynamics. Also a really nice early pin and uncommon. Originally came with a small presentation card. The silver Apollo 10 insignia is also uncommon.

The Mercury and Gemini spacecraft are typically from McDonnell but not all that rare.

Not sure I have seen the Saturn V cuff-links before. Don't know about the p02 or SME pins.

Almost all of the rest of these pins were or are commercially-available. The Apollo launch team pins, which show up pretty regularly, were available in Space Coast gift shops at the time.

posted 02-28-2019 02:44 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by streetsnake:
Can anyone recommend a reference or someone that could help me decipher what I have?

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A few comments regarding the first picture.

I completely agree with Go4Launch regarding the LRL pin. By the way, it also exists in the form of the tie clip.

General Dynamics Mercury logo pin (attached up side down) exists in two version, both originally coming on the cards with explanations. The one you don't have is smaller.

Never saw Saturn V cufflinks and Saturn IB brooch (on the grey stripe).

First row, second from the right there is rare Space Shuttle pin from the first half of 1980s.

Second row, right in the middle rare Atlas-Mercury sterling pin. Rocket shown with the escape tower.

Second row, rightmost pin is from Grumman, made from sterling. Also exists as 10K gold plated though it is very rare.

Third row, around its middle – Saturn V pin with the blue rim; it was awarded to the people engaged in Apollo program. It is pretty common.

I believe that enameled Apollo mission pins/emblems are from the 1970s or may be even from Apollo times. I also think those are souvenir pins.

Rocketdyne pin with the mathematical formula isn't easy to find with the original card. You may be proud.

Round black/blue Apollo-Soyuz button is American despite the inscription in Russian. It was issued before the flight specifically for Russian counterparts and brought to Russia during the visits of NASA officials. The inscription on the bottom of the button is complete crap a literate translation of other inscription "Right and Ready" taken from the earlier Skylab button.

At last, two Skylab pins in the third row are attached up side down. Though there is no "up" and "down" in space, Skylab usually depicted with cross-like solar panels of the Solar Observatory on the top.

posted 02-28-2019 03:02 PM               

I'm puzzled by pO2 and SME pins. Are you sure they relate to space theme?

Second row, second on the left grey, round pin on the card. As far as I can understand from the image, it is very similar to the Balfour Apollo-Soyuz medallion. Is it possible to picture this pin separately, both front and back sides?

Apollo Command Module pins in the third row were issued by North American Rockwell, the company that built Command-Service Module. Originally, they were in the box like yours but with company’s logo. Pretty common pins.

posted 03-08-2019 11:59 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by to-the-stars:
...regarding Russian space pins

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posted 03-24-2019 04:49 PM               

Also, I don't know how you display/store your pins put I found the below that worked out very nicely.

posted 03-27-2019 05:52 PM               

The pin has three hallmarks on the back. One is of manufacture that I can not identify. Second one –“10K” means that the pin is 10 karat gold plated. And the third one – “GF”, more common for the jewelry than for pins. It stands for “Gold Filled” and means that gold is part of the alloy the pin is made from.

I once took my own similar pin to the jewelry store for expertise and they told me the ruby stone seems to be real.

I heard an opinion that the capsule of Friendship-7 is made of silver but I can’t neither confirm nor disprove this statement.

Your way of organizing and displaying your collection is nice. The only problem with it is that display boxes consume a lot of room. That starts to be a problem once you have really a lot of pins.

posted 03-27-2019 07:24 PM               

So how do you decide which pins to get vs. let go? It's seems difficult to determine the age of some pins.

Below are two additional I came across. I'm guessing the Presidential Seal pin is from when Rita Rapp received the Federal Woman of the Year award. I doubt the WACO is anything special.

posted 03-28-2019 03:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by streetsnake:
So how do you decide which pins to get vs. let go? It's seems difficult to determine the age of some pins.

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posted 05-26-2020 03:00 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by streetsnake:
Let me know what you think.

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Have some kind category. Once you have them categorized, now you could add on information about it. I know it is a lot of work, but once you have a catalog — you could even actually made it to a catalog — and it will be a reference guide!