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Author
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Topic: Apollo-era astronaut 'signed' fabric quilt
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woodg2
Member Posts: 148
From: Madison AL
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 09-28-2020 10:54 AM
   
A while back I acquired a quilt that was supposedly signed by 30 Apollo-era astronauts as well as a series of newspaper clippings describing how the lady who made the quilt obtained the signatures. Most of the signatures appear to match known autopen patterns, but there are a few that I am unsure about — to include a block "signed" by Neil Armstrong. I'm trying to decide whether to keep it or offer it for sale, but I'm not really sure about authenticity on a few of the blocks. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!  
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usafspace
Member Posts: 133
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-28-2020 11:43 AM
Wow! We believe that the signatures that you shared are original signatures. We also believe that is a very unique item but not sure that it would sell for what it's truly worth. If you have family, pass it on. Just our opinion. It's a very special item. Thank you for sharing it. (The Armstrong signature looks very authentic in our opinion.) |
usafspace
Member Posts: 133
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 09-28-2020 02:08 PM
Would it be possible to share some of the newspaper clippings about this quilt, please? We bet that the entire collectSPACE group would love to see them. There is so much space history in this. Please speak with a museum or a real expert before letting this go. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 434
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 09-28-2020 02:29 PM
I have never seen a Gordon Cooper signature like that. |
woodg2
Member Posts: 148
From: Madison AL
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 09-28-2020 09:06 PM
I agree. I've never seen a Cooper signature like this either. It's not even close to any autopens or real signatures I’ve seen. I've never seen an example of him printing his name instead of signing either. Supposedly every signature/autopen was obtained when the lady who made the quilt mailed fabric squares to the astronaut office. It seems odd to have one this atypical mixed in with all the others. quote:
Originally posted by usafspace:
Would it be possible to share some of the newspaper clippings...
I'll shoot you an email unless others really want to see it. |
hbw60
Member Posts: 107
From:
Registered: Aug 2018
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posted 09-28-2020 09:39 PM
My guess is that Gordon Cooper was worried about a messy signature, because fabric is so hard to properly sign. The pen won't slide smoothly, and it can lead to blotches or "skips." Not wanting to risk it, he probably just slowly wrote his name out. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4653
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 09-28-2020 09:43 PM
Looks like a few autopens to me. Perhaps some skipping where the autopen lost contact with the surface (due to varying material thickness). |
kosmo
Member Posts: 434
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 09-29-2020 12:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by hbw60:
...he probably just slowly wrote his name out.
Why would he end his "r" with such a downward stroke, when he never did that on anything he signed for me, or anything I have seen signed by him? Very puzzling. |
NicDavies
Member Posts: 19
From: Tobermory, Argyll, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2019
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posted 10-01-2020 12:44 PM
Does anyone know someone who operates/operated an autopen machine? Would they ever stick something like this in it? Seems like it might end in tears (and tears!). Might be instructive to find out. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 44755
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-01-2020 01:05 PM
From what I understand having spoken (a number of years back) to a couple of people who worked the machine at NASA, the autopen operators would guide the items through being signed, such that they could stop the process before causing any damage. With regards to this specific piece, if you look at the construction, it appears the fabric strips were signed (or autopenned) separately and then sewn into the quilt. |
usafspace
Member Posts: 133
From: Los Angeles, CA USA
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-01-2020 02:23 PM
Well, it would certainly help to see the newspaper clippings to get some more of the story. |
NicDavies
Member Posts: 19
From: Tobermory, Argyll, Scotland
Registered: Jan 2019
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posted 10-02-2020 11:44 AM
Thanks Robert, fingers crossed for the owner. |
woodg2
Member Posts: 148
From: Madison AL
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 10-02-2020 01:25 PM
The newspaper clippings do indicate the lady who created this mailed individual fabric squares. This is one of several quilts she made by sending fabric samples to celebrities back in the early 70s, though it appears to be the only one she did with astronaut "signatures." |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4653
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-02-2020 03:45 PM
Given Armstrong's humbleness hard to believe he would write "First Man to Walk on the Moon" |
woodg2
Member Posts: 148
From: Madison AL
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 10-02-2020 04:20 PM
I’m pretty sure the lady who made the quilt added that. There are similar comments on many of the squares, all in the same handwriting, highlighting key accomplishments. |
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