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Author
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Topic: Kennedy Space Center shuttle patch packaging
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48310
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-09-2013 12:24 PM
   
Assuming there is a desire to collect space shuttle mission patches that are contemporary to their missions, in addition to changes in embroidery methods and design style, I would think it would also be possible to narrow the dates when a patch was issued if it is still inside its original Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex packaging.Browsing eBay and my own collection, I know of at least four different types of poly bag packaging, including the current style sold at the visitor complex.  
So, a few questions: - Are there more types of packaging that I have missed here?
- Are the above in the correct order?
- Has anyone tracked the date ranges when these different type of packages were used?
It also appears that the changes in packaging also denote the switch by the visitor complex from selling Swissartex Emblem patches for those produced by AB Emblem. On edit: Another question arises: Are there other stores that had vintage packaging for AB Emblem's patches for the same period that the visitor complex was selling Swissartex patches? |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 06-09-2013 01:01 PM
- Yes there is an earlier Swissartex card header, 1983 - 1985, the one you show in the top image is the second card header 1985 - 1987.
Cape Kennedy Medals also sold their patches at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, 1983 - 1984. - Yes.
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Greggy_D
Member Posts: 1005
From: Michigan
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 06-09-2013 05:46 PM
When I visited KSC in April, 1983 the gift shop was selling AB Emblem patches. Sometime after that, they flipped to Swissartex.On edit: I had my date wrong. It was actually April, 1982 right after STS-3. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3185
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-10-2013 01:03 AM
There were STS-6 patches (1983) sold on eBay recently in the packaging below.   What made them interesting, and which explains the carefully worded stamp applied to the back, was that the patches themselves were Cape Kennedy Medals rather than Swissartex. Kevin suggested to me that Swissartex ran out of stock of the STS-6 patches at some stage and had to buy-in patches from another manufacturer to cover the shortfall, and I think this is very likely the explanation. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-26-2013 03:25 PM
Is there a mission timeline for the approximate changes in Swissartex and A-B Emblem packaging? For example which shuttle mission patch was the first to be made available in the next iteration of packaging and not to be found in previous?It might help a collector who was interested in archiving patches in the proper packets that was available for a particular patch as it was released. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-27-2013 03:35 AM
I'm afraid it works the other way around Liem, especially with AB Emblem KSC packages. You can find the earlier shuttle patches in most of the six various package types, but the later ones in only the current package type. This is because if the KSC asked AB Emblem for a re-stock of earlier patches they were put into what ever the current packaging type was at that time. So it is possible to find the Shuttle Program patch, the ALT, plus the first 6 missions in all six package types. (If replacement stock were required at any time within the 30 years of the shuttle). Though the patches themselves may have varied slightly over that period of time. - Images of three of the six AB Emblem KSC packet types can be seen above. The second image down is a Type 2, the third image down is a Type 3 'Spaceport USA', and the fourth image is a Type 6, (the current one available).
- A Type 4 is the same design as in Type 3, but is printed on a 8x4.5" card insert instead of directly onto the plastic bag. The card insert and the patch are then put into a plastic bag 5x4.5" and stapled with the design not covered by the plastic bag.
(Except the 'type 4A' variant found in December 2017). (See the Update on the 12-09-2014 post for the STS-76 and STS-77 finds below, paragraph 7). - A Type 5 is nearly identical to the Type 6 in that it is a folded white card header with 'Kennedy Space Center' on one line and 'Visitor Complex' on another line, but in a different font design to Type 6.
- Finally, the Type 1 AB Emblem KSC package is basically the same as used for the Apollo, Skylab, and ASTP patches, but without the reference to 'TWA Tours'. It is a 6x4.25" card insert in a 5.5x4.5" plastic bag. I have only seen up to STS-6 used in the Type 1 packets.
- Types 2 and 3 were sealed plastic bags with the design printed directly onto the plastic.
- Type 1 and 4 are card inserts stapled near the top to seal the patch.
- Type 5 and 6 are folder card headers stapled twice over the top of a plastic bag to seal the patch. (Just like the two Swissartex card headers).
As for Swissartex Emblem Inc., all shuttle patches from the Shuttle Program patch, the ALT, STS-1 through to STS-51L can be found in both their types of KSC folded card header packets.Update; The Swissartex STS-26 patch has now been found in the 2nd ('type B') folded card header sealed KSC sales packets. Images of both these card headers are above, the top one being the second, 'type B', (1985-87), and the one just above this post being the first, (1983-85). 'Type A'. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-27-2013 04:17 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Liembo:
It might help a collector who was interested in archiving patches in the proper packets that was available for a particular patch as it was released.
You would of had to of bought every mission patch in it's KSC packet at the time of that mission when the first stocks came in for public sale at the KSC visitor center. (I wish I could of done that, but only a few lucky collectors who lived in that part of Florida could of achieved that over the 30 years of the shuttle).  |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-27-2013 12:15 PM
I get that patches can "move forward" in the KSC packaging. (You can get an Apollo 11 in every generation of packaging.) However, for every packaging change, there is a mission that, from that point forward, will never be found in the previous packaging. Therefore that packaging type is its origin/genesis packaging. An STS-118 patch will never be found in the all plastic cardless sleeve, for example. There must be some way, (and I'm working on attempting to find out for SPDb), what each STS mission's "genesis" packaging is. That way, if you are interested in purchasing patches in their original package, you can know that, while STS-N appeared in Type Y and Z KSC packaging, it first appeared in type X. It would seem to me, that the perceived value of a patch acquired like that would be higher in its proper era packaging. An STS-1 patch in the 1980's card-in-sleeve packaging has more value, temporally and chronastically, than one in the current white, fold&staple packaging. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1250
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 10-27-2013 05:00 PM
I ordered almost all of my patches from KSCVC at the time of launch....but never kept any packages! OOPS! |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 01-25-2014 01:12 PM
Was the A-B Apollo 1 patch ever released in KSC packaging? I haven't seen an example. |
Kenny
Member Posts: 31
From: Johnson City, Tennessee USA
Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 12-08-2014 10:27 PM
I have a NASA worm patch in what is described as the AB Emblem "type 3" packaging shown above. (It has the picture of the shuttle and is printed directly on the package — the third photo in the original post above.)What would be the approximate date of this packaging? |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 12-09-2014 04:03 AM
The 'type 3' AB Emblem/KSC packets were first introduced around mid 1991 with STS-40, and continued to be used until around the beginning of 1998. The last Shuttle patch found in a 'type 3' packet is STS-89, (launched in January 1998), though a STS-94 patch has also been found in 'type 3' because it's launch date was July 1997.AB Emblem did introduce a 'type 4' package (not shown above), during 1996, which was a clear plastic bag 5" x 4 1/2" with an 8" x 4 1/2" white card insert stapled just above the patch, with all the 'type 3' text and Shuttle illustration on. This 'type 4' was a short time experiment which started with STS-72 & ended with STS-80. 'Type 4' packets are also know with the 3" NASA meatball and U.S. flag patches in. STS-26 was the first patch to be found in a 'type 2' KSC packet as AB Emblem won back the contract from Swissartex Emblem Inc. in 1987. Though the ALT, Shuttle Program 3" and 4", and STS-1 right through to STS-39 can also be found in 'type 2' packets. STS-40 was the first patch to be found in a 'type 3' KSC 'Spaceport USA' packet. Though the ALT, Shuttle Program 3" and 4", and STS-1 through to STS-91, (plus STS-94 & 95), can all be found in 'type 3' 'Spaceport USA' & 'type 3A' 'Visitor Center' packets. STS-72 was the first patch to be found in a 'type 4' KSC packet. The last was STS-80. No previous mission patches have been found. Though saying that I've not yet found any patches for STS-73 through to STS-79. All these 'type 4' KSC packets are very rare. Update; A STS-58 has been found in a sealed 'type 4' sales packet in mid October 2017 by Liem. (This looks like a possible re-stock of the STS-58 patch during the year of 1996 when the type 4 experiment was in progress). Update; A STS-76 patch has been found in a sealed 'type 4' KSC sales packet, in early December 2017. Also a STS-77 patch has been found in a sealed 'type 4A' KSC sales packet, also in early December 2017. This variant has on the insert card the words 'Visitor Center' in Blue instead of 'Space Port USA'. Also 'Souvenir Space Emblem' is printed in Black instead of Red, and has NO 'Iron On Instructions' printed in Black as can be found on the 'type 4' insert card. I'm not sure of the exact date when the 'type 5' KSC packets was first introduced, but I think it could of been STS-90 in early 1998. I have examples of STS-1, 2, 7, 51F, 61B, 36, 44, 53, 60 (English version), 63, 70, 71, 84, 89, 91, 93, 94, and 98 through to STS-113, which was the last in the 'type 5' packets. (There maybe other missions I've not found yet). Update; More Type 5 found; STS-3, 8, 9, 61C (one piece patch), 51L, 54, 56, 80, 83, 87, 88R, 90, 92, 95, 96 & 97. 'Type 6' started at STS-114 in 2005 and continues to this day. The only change to them has been the type of plastic bag used, from polyurethane, 'type 6' to cellophane, 'type 6A'. All of the flown shuttle missions are available from the ALT, STS-1 right through to STS-135. Though not all the Shuttle mission patches are listed on their website. (You have to request them in the 'notes' section of your order). |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 12-09-2014 05:01 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Liembo:
Was the A-B Apollo 1 patch ever released in KSC packaging? I haven't seen an example.
I've just won an example of the Apollo 1 patch in a 'type 3' KSC packet. But when I received it, it turned out to be an Apollo 1 patch in an open 'Type 3A' 'Visitor Center' packet with an Apollo 11 barcode label on the back of the packet. |
Kenny
Member Posts: 31
From: Johnson City, Tennessee USA
Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 12-09-2014 07:24 AM
Thanks Kevin! This is great information for you to share and it will help me more accurately date the handful of patches I have bought on eBay that are still in their original packages.Of my patches that were purchased "on site", all were bought at Johnson Space Center, which sold them loose (unpackaged) in the cafeteria. The salesperson had them in boxes behind the counter; one would tell her which mission one wanted and she would dig around until she found it. This would have been in the late 1980's to mid 1990's -- before the current visitor center was built. I have no idea how the patches are sold at JSC today. Thanks again! |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 12-09-2014 08:43 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Kenny:
This would have been in the late 1980's to mid 1990's -- before the current visitor center was built. I have no idea how the patches are sold at JSC today.
As from November 1992 the patches bought from the Johnson Space Center were mounted, (stapled), to white 'Space Center Houston' sales cards, 4 1/2" x 6 1/4". The patches on these cards were first supplied by Eagle Crest Emblem Inc., (formally Swissartex Emblem Inc.), and from February 1999 AB Emblem. (Most of these cards from 1992 to 2001 were dated on the barcode labels). The earliest date I have is 11/92 for a Swissartex STS-38 patch, (not the Eagle Crest patch made in Taiwan, that one is dated 10/95). Sometime during the later 2000's the sales cards were re-designed into a multi coloured 'Johnson Space Center' sales card with the NASA meatball logo at the top. These cards are 4 1/4" x 7" at the highest point. These are the cards currently on sale in the Visitor Center with AB Emblem patches attached, but none of these cards are dated. |
Kenny
Member Posts: 31
From: Johnson City, Tennessee USA
Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 12-09-2014 02:15 PM
Interesting! I can tell you that the loose patches sold in the JSC cafeteria were from A-B Emblem.I'll go home and see if the receipts I still have will list the year(s) I purchased the loose ones. I know for sure that I have a sales brochure the lady gave me so that I could "check off" the ones I'd purchased. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48310
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-09-2014 02:22 PM
You are both describing different stores: the Space Center Houston card-back patches are from the public visitor center, which is an independent organization (unlike at Kennedy Space Center, where NASA owns the visitor complex). The shop inside both cafeterias on site at the Johnson Space Center is the employee exchange store. Space Center Houston's store is called Space Trader. JSC's exchange store is ShopNASA.com. If I recall correctly, the exchange store now sells its patches polybagged with a card identifying AB Emblem as the supplier. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 12-09-2014 02:37 PM
Yes thanks Robert, on the backs of the 'Houston' sales cards are the barcode labels. They say 'Space Traders-31K', then the date, 'mm/yy', then '44', followed by the barcode and barcode number, followed by the price. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 48310
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-10-2015 04:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin T. Randall:
...the Type 1 AB Emblem KSC package is basically the same as used for the Apollo, Skylab, and ASTP patches, but without the reference to 'TWA Tours'.
A cS reader pointed out a Goodwill sale that was offering these patches: This packaging references AB and the TWA Tours, so would this be Typo 0? |
Cozmosis22
Member Posts: 1112
From: Texas * Earth
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 10-10-2015 09:47 PM
Maybe the patch on the left does not belong in that packaging? It appears as though the bag has been opened, as there is no visible staple. Perhaps someone just placed the Shuttle Program patch in there... sideways  and put it up for sale? |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-11-2015 03:38 AM
Yes, I've just looked closely at my KSC 'type 1' packets and to my surprise I to have some examples of the 'NASA TWA Tours' card inserts shown on the left with both sizes of Shuttle Program patches, the KSC Florida patch with the shuttle moving from right to left, and the 85mm x 60 mm U.S. Flag patches in.
So it looks like there is going to be a 'type 0' KSC sales packet insert.
Though saying that the 'type 1' inserts do have slight variations along the tops of the cards. The patch prices, or no price, (a blank white rectangle), each side. Where prices are part of the top red strip they are; $0.75, $1.00, $1.35, $1.50, and $1.65. There maybe other prices available. (I don't include the addition of price stickers or labels). |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-11-2015 04:23 AM
I need to update the 'type 5' KSC card headers packets as I have found more, and with variants to the wording on them.The main (99%) of the 'type 5' card headers has in red letters "Souvenir Space Emblem" along the top, but I have also found in the same size font in red, "Mission Program Emblems" and "Challenger Emblems" used for single patch packets. The "Mission Program Emblems" card header I've only found with the STS-107 patches, plus the STS-107 'memorial ribbon' patches in. I've not found any others as yet. The "Challenger Emblems" card header packets has the Challenger mission patches in, but I've only found the STS-8 and STS-51L mission patches so far. If they have done this for the Challenger missions patches, they may well of also done this for the Atlantis, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour mission patches, but again I've not found any so far. It is very difficult to get any reliable information from anyone at the KSC Visitor Complex gift shop. I have tried to contact the chief buyer through the lady who is in charge of sales through their website. But so far he has not returned my e-mails. Even the website manager and her assistant don't really know what patches they have available or what patches will be coming in to sell in the near future, like the ISS mission patches, which are now all sold out of or unavailable to website buyers, and the SpaceX CRS/SpX patches now manufactured by AB Emblem (their supplier). The only new patch that has appeared on their website recently is the U.S. Astronaut Hall Of Fame patch. If any members from this forum are visiting the gift shop at the KSC, could they let us know exactly what patches they do have for sale in the shop? Many thanks. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-11-2015 02:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Kevin T. Randall:
So it looks like there is going to be a 'type 0' KSC sales packet insert.
Seems to me that it should be a 'Type 1x' (subtype of Type 1) rather than a new Type "0" if it's just a cosmetic change to the card-in-plastic type? I am not sure if there are other 1x types so I did not know what letter to use there. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-11-2015 02:18 PM
Yes I agree Liem, it's a 'type 1' but the problem is that this NASA TWA Tours insert card came before the NASA KSC cards with the price variants. So we have got to work out how many 'type 1' A, B, C, etc. we require to cover all the variants that there are.Your thoughts Liem? And of course any other members who have thoughts on this subject too? |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 10-11-2015 02:25 PM
I don't think the individual price variations need their own subtype. I've got some with updated price stickers on them and such, peeling them would be destructive. I'd say just the artwork/labelling variations should be noted. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1395
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 10-11-2015 02:43 PM
I too have some with revised price stickers/labels on. I would not remove them deliberately, but some have adhesive problems, in that time has affected how well they are attached to the top of the card inserts or the polyurethane packets. I keep all my KSC patch sales packets in A5 plastic sleeves so if the price stickers/labels do come off, they are not lost. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 11-12-2015 03:16 PM
I found an ALT patch in the "TWA Tours" Type 1 packaging as well. |
Bill Nelson
Member Posts: 151
From: Lakewood, Colorado U.S.A.
Registered: Jul 2006
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posted 11-13-2015 04:15 AM
The old TWA Tours patch packages had the price of the patch printed on the card. Does anyone what years that the patches had $1.00 on the card, what years it was $1.25, and the $1.50 and so on? |
Liembo
Member Posts: 788
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 03-06-2017 06:04 PM
I wanted to share a tool with you that a fellow cS member Kevin and I have been working on for the past few weeks. It's a table of the different crew patches that have appeared in the different A-B packaging (Apollo to Space Shuttle). There are a various uses for this. If you have patches in their original packaging, this tool can give you a general idea if the patch was released close to the time of the mission or as a re-issue in newer packaging. It also gives an idea of what patches were available in what packaging in general and where the potential overlap lies. It is not yet complete: the gray cells indicate where we are not sure, but can infer that a patch was offered in that packaging, while a blue "verified" cell is one that Kevin or I have seen personally or saw in a photo. If you have packaged patches (from A-B Emblem,not Swissartex) and you see them listed as gray/unverified, feel free to shoot Kevin or I a message about it. |
aero-engineer
Member Posts: 26
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 05-05-2022 02:03 AM
I think the AB Emblem KSC packaging sheet should include the Swissartex packaging also. That would give context to when that transition happened and indicate the first “native” patch for the packaging type. |
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