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Author
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Topic: STS-51J/Atlantis mission patches
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airnorth
Member Posts: 15
From: uk
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 02-17-2016 09:23 AM
   
I have two patches relating to STS-51J. One is minus PAILES but has the usual A-B Emblem sticker on the reverse showing the design number 56321. I have another that has the PAILES tab but is very slightly smaller and the manufacturing is not good. A-B website shows their version has the tab. Did mine minus the tab come first and any ideas which other manufacturer was involved, perhaps many? Any enlightenment would be much appreciated. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 583
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 02-17-2016 11:46 AM
If it has an A-B sticker that matches the ones on this thread then it it likely you have a rare prototype/evaluation copy. Can you provide a scan of both sides?
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airnorth
Member Posts: 15
From: uk
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 02-17-2016 12:14 PM
Thanks for the information. I will scan later but for now, the sticker is under the wax coating and is marked with the design number below which is 'MADE IN USA' then below that is 02/1320 which does not seem to equate to any relevant dates. This is the patch minus PAILES and is exactly 4". |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-17-2016 12:21 PM
It is not especially uncommon to find vintage AB Emblem patches missing their tags. My understanding is that these are, in most cases, incomplete or damaged patches, rather than alternate or rare variations. |
airnorth
Member Posts: 15
From: uk
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 02-17-2016 12:54 PM
Robert, I can definitely say that this patch is not damaged, this has never had the tab attached but I accept this may have been made before the crew was finalised perhaps? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42984
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-17-2016 01:15 PM
It is more likely a case where the patch was incomplete, i.e. never had its tab attached. I may be mistaken, but I do not believe the 51J patch was produced before the crew was confirmed. |
Harald Kraenzel
Member Posts: 304
From: Dinslaken,Germany
Registered: Nov 2005
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posted 02-17-2016 04:25 PM
To me it sounds that the patch has been produced in 02/2013. The 20 at the end means manufactured in USA.But that the tab is missing is indeed strange. |
mooncollector
Member Posts: 104
From: Alabama, USA
Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 02-17-2016 04:55 PM
Years ago I would go to flea markets around the Space Coast and find boxes full of Shuttle patch rejects that had no tabs attached. That was the only thing wrong with them. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1082
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 02-17-2016 04:57 PM
This STS-51J patch was certainly manufactured in February 2013 if the date code is correct, but the 20 at the end is for the number of patches in the original sealed cellophane packet. When the 'country of manufacture' was added to the embedded labels, the meaning of the last number of the date code was revised.Harald, take a look at Liem's and my ISS and Shuttle patches spreadsheet now it has been up-dated many times over the past few months. (I have just added this one to it). Do you still have the link? |
OV-105
Member Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 02-17-2016 10:47 PM
Sometimes the patch might look fine but the names might not be lined up the way they should be. |
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