Posted 8 years ago
sub2001zero
(1 item)
I bought the item from a friend and he did not know much about this item but I believe it a rare item. It is marked R.O. STERLING. It front of a type of plane they few at that time. The last photo I found online of a L'ESCADILLE LAFAYETTE and the front of the plane look like my medal.
They were flying French planes. This depicts a rotary engine. The crankshaft mounted solidly to the firewall & the whole engine, with prop. solidly attached rotated. Sounds crazy, but worked rather well. All that balanced weight rotating made a firm gyro & the whole plane could be rotated quickly around this gyro core, making it very good in dogfights. Early engines are fascinating. A serious collector would luv to have it. My email is on my profile. This is museum type stuff.
Hi blunderbuss2 what model where the planes?
Nieuports & Spads.
The clutch pin fastener shown was not in use until the 1940s, so I believe this is a post war veteran's item. - Still very cool. Also, the l'Escadrille Layfayette served from 1916 to 1918. If the plaque was for an individual who served in it from 17-18, you'd think his name would also be on the plaque.
Chris
Chris, that passed thru my mind, but didn't register till you mentioned it. Can't tell by the pic if it was a pin previously & repaired or just converted. Good point you made.
Hi I know everyone commented on the clutch back pin. They did have them in post ww1 private made items and there is some prewar ww2 items that do have clutch backs, the one in the pictures is a ww2 back and not original to this item. I would say the medal is a post war ww1 made in the 1920-25 era.