WWI, ARMY AIR SERVICE, HOMRIGHOUS, PILOT WING, STERLING, HALLMARKED, ORIGINAL Manufacturer: Homrighous Jewelers was a Memphis, Tennessee, company that produced pilot wings for aviators training at nearby Park Field. Early wing manufacturers sometimes had varied business interests, and Homrighous was also involved in banking, real estate, and other jewelry manufacturing. Henry Clay Homrighous and Co, Memphis Tennessee. American made by H. C. Homrighous Jewelers of Memphis Tennessee. One of the few completely hand-made wings, the type is normally characterized by thick, flat sterling silver billet, carved into the shapes of wings and shield and attached together by thick U-shaped sterling silver wires. The shoulder area of each wing is chased from the rear to create three-dimensionality. This wing was made in the usual 3 piece construction, with 2 hoops on either side of the central shield, attaching it to the accompanying wings. All pieces are intricately hand engraved and chased. The central shield sports the boldly cut 14K gold letters US and 13 stars. If you use a close loop inspection you can see a mark and faint horizontal line where that would make the "C' a "G" is visible. The original open tongue-type C catch was replaced during the period of wear with a Tiffany type locking catch. Somewhat unique jeweler-type replacement findings. The catch has a bench jewelers repair to it. Typical period jeweler repair. These pilots were mighty proud of their wings and if the pin or catch broke, they would get them repaired. This is a legitimate period repair which adds to this wing, and shows it was worn and treasured by the original owner. Expertly executed by hand, the outline and rachis of the feathers are completely done using bright cuts with the vanes using a very fine parallel line making onglet tool. Behind the first row of feathers, a second row of bright cut and textured feathers blends into the shoulder area, itself textured with at least three different hand texturing tools. The shield chief usually contains 13 small, hand cut, five-pointed stars. The lower portion of the shield consists of 13 contrasting stripes, again, hand done using bright cuts. The entire perimeter of the shield is beveled, again with bright cuts. The US of this type of badge consists of flat, 14 karat gold, hand cut into a US with slightly beveled edges and individually soldered to the front of the lower half of the shield. Weight: 12 grams Markings: HOMRIGHOUS Co MEMPHIS. STERLING Background: Various sources and collectors have referred to this jeweler as ?Humrichous? or ?Homrichous? A search for ?jewelers? and ?manufacturing jewelers? within 1917-1919 directories returned ?H. C. Homrighous Jewelers? of Memphis, TN. Homrighous, like several WW1 wing makers, acted as a community supporter. Homrighous had financial interests in automobiles, real estate, and banking?as well as manufacturing jewelry. The scion of a Mattoon, Illinois jewelry making family, Homrighous was also an early leader in the American Numismatic Association. Similar to Dan Dunham, or George W. Haltom, Homrighous also apparently wanted to court favor with the young aviators in training at nearby Park Field?perhaps envisioning some future role in aviation-based commerce. Associated Airfields: Besides the fledgling Aviators of Park Field, no doubt other young aviators would fly to Millington from fields like Eberts, Gerstner, Payne, Scott or others. Perhaps Airmen from even as far away as Ellington found their way during navigation training to Park Field and headed down into Memphis for some Barbecue and purchase of a pair of wings? A number of men illustrated in the yearbook ?Ellington? can indeed be seen wearing Homrighous wings. Primary: Park Field, Millington Tennessee Secondary: Eberts Field, Lonoke Arkansas; Gerstner Field, Lake Charles, Louisiana; Payne Field, West Point, Mississippi, Scott Field, Bellevielle Illinois, Ellington Field, Houston Texas Historical context: These wings would have been worn by pilots from the U.S. Army Air Service, which was the aerial warfare component of the U.S. Army between 1918 and 1926 before it became the Army Air Corps. Notable example: A surviving example of a Homrighous wing is brazed to a trophy awarded to Major R.W. Schroeder for an altitude record he set on September 18, 1918. This trophy is now held in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. During the First World War no real standard wings existed for the US Army Signal Corp Air Service. Many wings were cloth, but many jewelers made metal wings during the war at the request of pilots. The real wings were based on Special Regulation #41 issued on 15 August 1917 and were to be made on cloth with embroidery. But right from the beginning Pilots had jewelers make the metal wings because the cloth ones did not hold up to washing uniforms. Because of this many designs existed, no one may ever know all the different wings that were made. 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.