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  Best way to catch up on shuttle patches?

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Author Topic:   Best way to catch up on shuttle patches?
Greggy_D
Member

Posts: 977
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 02-15-2007 07:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Back when I was a teenager in the 80's, I collected all of the mission patches starting with the ALT and ending with 51L. After that I discovered beer and forgot about the space program for a while.

Looking at my collection, it's clear that I have all AB patches. The "other" ones available back then (maybe Lions?) always turned me off because to this 80's teenager, they looked fake. In other words the AB patches matched all the NASA photos from back then whereas the "fake" ones did not.

Well, I would like to catch up my 4 inch AB collection to bring it current. What is the best and most cost effective way to do this?

spacy
Member

Posts: 14
From: Karlsruhe, southwest Germany
Registered: Jan 2007

posted 02-16-2007 03:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spacy   Click Here to Email spacy     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If you intend the AB patches I suggest AB itself. They have everything in stock... or if you have a nice reseller in your area go to them.

Go4Launch
Member

Posts: 542
From: Seminole, Fla.
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 02-17-2007 10:41 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Go4Launch   Click Here to Email Go4Launch     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Your question brings up the situation that AB no longer offers the original versions of the patches it sold up to the point, apparently around STS-88, when it switched to a different embroidery technique.

It means that if collectors want the same patches that AB sold to NASA from Apollo 13 through about STS-88 (in your case, after 51-L), they'll have to buy them on the secondary market, such as through eBay. But if you'd be satisfied with the (in my opinion) lesser-quality versions of those patches that AB sells now, then spacy is right -- order from them.

EBay, however, frequently has sellers offering groups of shuttle patches at less than if you bought them individually -- and many are the originals made in the 1980's and 90's.

Jay
Member

Posts: 82
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted 02-17-2007 11:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay   Click Here to Email Jay     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I want to echo the comments made by Go4Launch. I had recently been given one of the newer AB issued Shuttle Program (triangle) patches and was amazed at the quality difference when compared to my older version. The loss of gloss and 3D effect is tremendous. You would do yourself a real favor by seeking out the original AB issues.

Voyager1975
Member

Posts: 188
From:
Registered: Dec 2008

posted 02-12-2009 11:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Voyager1975   Click Here to Email Voyager1975     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
So when did AB Emblem change machines and/or embroidery take place in 1998 or after? STS-88? Anyone have any more info?

Space Emblem Art
Member

Posts: 194
From: Citrus Heights, CA - USA
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 02-13-2009 01:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Space Emblem Art   Click Here to Email Space Emblem Art     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Greggy_D:
After that I discovered beer and forgot about the space program for a while.
Isn't discovering beer a wonderful thing? Sorry everyone, I just couldn't resist.

Bill

KAPTEC
Member

Posts: 578
From: Madrid, Spain
Registered: Oct 2005

posted 02-13-2009 04:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KAPTEC   Click Here to Email KAPTEC     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Best of all is joining beer and patches!! Don't you think so?

Jorge

KSCartist
Member

Posts: 2896
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 02-13-2009 04:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for KSCartist   Click Here to Email KSCartist     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just don't use the patches as coasters for your beer mug.

But I digress - Goe4launch nailed it with the advice.

Tim

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