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  Collection: SkyMan1958's space artifacts (Page 1)

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Author Topic:   Collection: SkyMan1958's space artifacts
SkyMan1958
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posted 01-27-2011 10:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My name is Sy. I'm a newbie here, but I've been collecting for years. My predominant collecting goal is to collect at least one flown item from all 27 Mercury, Gemini and Apollo (MGA) flights (6, 10 and 11 respectively). So far I've got items from 4, 7 and 10 respectively. I still need something from Freedom 7 (which I bet is going to be the hardest to find), Aurora 7; GT's 5, 6 and 8; and Apollo 16. For what it's worth, I also own some flown items from STS-1, but shuttle items are not something I plan on going after.

In the last couple of years I've also started to collect autographs and other associated items for those 27 missions, but those items are not my predominant focus.

Here are some items from my collection (there are associated CoA's with each of these items):

Liberty Bell 7 dime (ex: Jerry Hammack).

A piece of Friendship 7's booster (ex: Deke Slayton).

Richard Gordon's silver astronaut pin. (Unflown).

SkyMan1958
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posted 01-27-2011 10:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A Snoopy pin flown on the Apollo 10 LM "Snoopy" (ex: Tom Stafford):

A flag from Apollo 11 (ex: Buzz Aldrin).

SkyMan1958
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posted 01-27-2011 10:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I realize that a good chunk of the following items could/should go under the autograph and/or pins and/or medallions section of this forum, but I prefer to keep all of my collection in one area, and as my focus is flown MGA artifacts I'll be using this thread. I'll specifically mention whether the following items are flown or unflown.

In the unflown category are:

Gemini-Agena tie-clip (ex: Jerry Hammack):

Deke Slayton's Turtle Club pins (they are both a little smaller than a dime):

STS-1 Liftoff and Landing:

A Flown Flag and Patch from STS-1 (ex: Deke Slayton).

One thing I noticed in another thread was a person talking about how best to protect his/her items that had some issues. I also collect Fine Art and live in California near a major metropolitan area. One thing I've learned is to call the conservation/restoration department of major museums. They normally can put you in touch with people who conserve valuable objects.

One thing I noticed about both the Apollo 11 and STS-1 flags was that they had essentially been stuck to their respective cardboard/paper sheets by two-sided scotch tape. I called a conservation department at one of the major local museums and they recommended someone who could conserve these flags.

In essence the recommended person got the tape residue off/out of the flags. In the case of the Apollo 11 flag the flag was remounted using current high end mounting techniques. The STS-1 flag was mounted to a completely different sheet as the "frame" it had been in had essentially fallen apart.

If you enjoyed the items that I posted, please keep coming back regularly to this thread, as I'll occasionally be posting new items to it. It's GREAT to be a member with the rest of the Lunatics here!

SkyMan1958
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posted 01-27-2011 10:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Both the Apollo 11 and STS-1 flags are imaged BEFORE their conservation. The difference is particularly noticeable for the STS-1 flag.

SkyMan1958
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posted 01-28-2011 10:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a flown Gemini 9 Fliteline medallion (ex: Wally Schirra).

Joel Katzowitz
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posted 01-28-2011 07:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Joel Katzowitz   Click Here to Email Joel Katzowitz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Sy and welcome to cS.

It looks like you've got a pretty good start on reaching your goal. A few years ago I completed my own collection goal of acquiring a flown item from each of the collective Mercury 7 astronaut missions. That's 13 total flights. It took me, you might want to sit down for this, about 18 years to complete. There were certainly frustrations along the way but it was so worth it in the end. And actually, the journey itself was really a great experience.

Hang in there and good luck.

SkyMan1958
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posted 01-31-2011 07:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This patch was flown (ex: Ed Mitchell).

capoetc
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posted 02-01-2011 10:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for capoetc   Click Here to Email capoetc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
In the case of the Apollo 11 flag the flag was remounted using current high end mounting techniques. The STS-1 flag was mounted to a completely different sheet as the "frame" it had been in had essentially fallen apart.
A very nice collection.

Something to think about, though, and a question for others here:

When you remove a flown flag from it's presentation and re-mount it, have you essentially destroyed its provenance?

If the flag were signed as flown by an astronaut on the crew, then it would not be an issue, but if not... someone in the future could easily think that the flag could have been swapped out for an unflown flag.

Thoughts?

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-01-2011 11:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Given that I have the original bill of sale, the auction catalogues the items came from, and the write-up from the conservationist I don't see this as a problem. What I did was try and conserve the pieces for the long term as I feel I am only the custodian of the pieces... holding them in trust for the next generation(s).

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-01-2011 11:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Given that we were just talking about the Apollo 11 flag, here is another item I keep it paired with. Both items are framed and are hung right next to each other. I find it a nice juxtaposition.

The item is unflown and is ex: Deke Slayton. It is circa 1960 and shows how many issues the US manned space program was having back then. If you look closely you'll see that each of the "astronauts" has been signed by one of the Mercury 7. I like the concept of having a flag from Apollo 11 right next to a cartoon showing how screwed up the US manned space program was in 1960.

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-02-2011 04:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The following notes are unflown.

stsmithva
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posted 02-02-2011 10:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for stsmithva   Click Here to Email stsmithva     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by SkyMan1958:
a cartoon showing how screwed up the US manned space program was in 1960.

I've seen that original cartoon art somewhere before - it's a great piece that does do a bittersweet job of showing the state of the program for the first couple of years. The fact that it's signed makes it extraordinary.

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-04-2011 11:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's one I just got. The sole dime Gus Grissom brought with him on GT-3. Given to Guenter Wendt.

Philip
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posted 02-05-2011 03:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting items to say the least! Thanks for sharing...

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-08-2011 01:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The following items are unflown:

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-10-2011 09:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This Gemini 7 patch was flown. (Ex: Jim Lovell).

SkyMan1958
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posted 02-14-2011 12:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Unflown:

SkyMan1958
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posted 03-01-2011 12:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This Fliteline was flown (ex: John Young):

SkyMan1958
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posted 03-07-2011 11:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Unflown:

SkyMan1958
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posted 03-16-2011 09:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's Buzz Aldrin's GT-12 flown flashlight. As far as I can see, it is essentially the same design as those flashlights flown on the Apollo missions, but luckily it didn't cost as much.

SkyMan1958
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posted 03-28-2011 04:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

The bill is flown.

SkyMan1958
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posted 04-05-2011 01:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a Gotcha' that Gordon Cooper and Jim Rathmann played on Wally Schirra. They smuggled an individual size bottle of Cutty Sark Scotch and a row of cigarettes into a compartment in the instrument panel on Sigma 7. The attitude control handle had a "remove before flight" tag as well. Schirra found the items while in flight and was Quite amused. Schirra drank the scotch as soon as he could aboard the recovery carrier and kept most of the cigarettes and the tag as mementos. I recently won the cigs at auction.

Flown.

SkyMan1958
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posted 04-11-2011 12:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Flown Apollo 9 patch (ex: Jim McDivitt).

SkyMan1958
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posted 04-29-2011 02:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

SkyMan1958
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posted 05-23-2011 11:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This one was flown to the lunar surface. (ex: Ed Mitchell). Last week I had printed out an 8" X 10" photo of Mitchell by the ALSEP. I hope to get him to sign it at Spacefest to pair in conjunction with this piece.

SkyMan1958
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posted 06-15-2011 01:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Before the recent Spacefest III show I had printed a couple 8x10" pictures of Mitchell working on the ALSEP at Fra Mauro. I wanted to use them (well, at least one of them) with the ALSEP piece for a display. Mitchell signed them at the show, and included a brief comment about the ALSEP on one of them.

SkyMan1958
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posted 06-20-2011 01:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here are some previously posted items showing how they've been conserved. Both the Apollo 11 and the STS-1 flags (and the STS-1 presentation card with patch) had been stuck to their presentation pieces with essentially 2 sided scotch tape, and the flags were being discolored (and in the case of the STS-1 flag starting to fall off). I called a major San Francisco museum's restoration department and they recommended a person to deal with this issue (and the residue on the back of the STS-1 patch presentation page).

After the flags were conserved the Apollo 11 flag was re-"glued" to it's presentation piece by best current conservation techniques (which interestingly enough are an old Japanese technique). The STS-1 flag and presentation page with patch were left "freestanding". I had them framed using museum quality material. The STS-1 frame is hung in the playroom and the Apollo 11 flag is in my bedroom closet.

In the closet with the flag is a circa 1960 cartoon, e.g. during the height of the issues of getting Mercury man-rated, showing the Mercury 7 astronauts getting old waiting for their chance to fly in a Mercury capsule. The cartoon is ex-Deke Slayton, and each of the astronaut caricatures has been signed by one of the Mercury 7. I love the juxtaposition of the early Mercury screw-ups with the Apollo 11 flag.

SkyMan1958
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posted 06-27-2011 04:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
While I'm predominantly interested in MGA flown artifacts, I'll also collect the occasional item from Skylab, ASTP or STS-1 if they catch my fancy. One thing I had always wanted to collect was a complete 4 patch set of flown personal patches (e.g. name tag, US flag, NASA meatball and mission patch). At the recent Heritage auction, held in conjunction with Spacefest III, Heritage exhibited the auction items at the convention. I found the 4 patch Skylab 3 group of Jack Lousma's patches to look quite good together and was able to win the lot at the auction. They are not patches from a spacesuit, but rather an interior flown flightsuit.

The next day I was able to meet and talk with Jack Lousma. He was a very pleasant gentleman to talk with... and that was before I mentioned that I had won his flown patches. After talking with him for some period of time I mentioned about the patches, and he became even more effusive. One thing that was amusing to me (in the "small world" kind of a context) was that after leaving NASA he had worked for a period of time with the Chair of my Doctoral Committee.

I decided to get his signature on two pictures; one of Skylab (which I also had Alan Bean, Skylab 3 mission commander, sign) and one of Lousma on a Skylab EVA. Jack was kind enough to write a nice inscription on the EVA picture. The two pictures and the 4 patches make a very nice grouping, and I plan to hang them together on the wall in the playroom.

gliderpilotuk
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posted 06-28-2011 04:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for gliderpilotuk   Click Here to Email gliderpilotuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Nice presentation Skyman.

I won the STS-3 flown cue-card holder at the auction. What was really disappointing was the speed with which Heritage packed up the auction items, preventing winners from having the opportunity to get a photo with Jack Lousma of the many items he had consigned. Not being able to take the winnings away from Spacefest cost me a fortune in postage and duty.

FFrench
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posted 06-28-2011 10:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
With your focus on his Skylab patch, it would be fun to frame with this photo...

SkyMan1958
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posted 06-28-2011 11:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Fun photo Francis!

SkyMan1958
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posted 07-25-2011 04:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recently won this at the Goldberg's auction. I think it makes a great addition to the Lousma patches and the autographed pictures, and gives an insight into the morale of the crew and the mind of Alan Bean. I'll be framing this with the autographed picture of the Skylab (although I'll probably wait a bit to try and get Garriott's autograph in the next year or two). The embossing on the letter is really quite nice. I'm guessing, given the postmark date, that Bean's wife mailed the letter, as the mission started July 28. It seems a nice item to round out the other pieces.

Eventually, as a grouping on one part of my playroom wall, I'll be hanging the patches as one item, the inscribed picture from Lousma as a second item, and this with the Skylab autographed picture as a third item.

Greggy_D
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posted 07-25-2011 04:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Greggy_D   Click Here to Email Greggy_D     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The detail on the embossment is absolutely amazing.

Nice piece! I was looking at bidding myself, but wanted to save my funds for some shuttle items later.

Philip
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posted 07-26-2011 11:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Philip   Click Here to Email Philip     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A great piece from a forgotten era of manned spaceflight. All week news channels gave overviews of 50 years manned spaceflight and almost every item mentioned a rest period during the 1970s. They all forgot about the space stations era (Skylab and Salyut)... and from 1973 to 1979, Skylab was a remarkable manned workshop with missions lasting 28, 59 and 84 days!

Skyguy48
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posted 08-01-2011 04:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Skyguy48   Click Here to Email Skyguy48     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thank you Sy for all that you have shown. I am off to my first Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show in November and going to be seeking out my first Apollo signatures and just wish I started collecting years ago. Thank you again for letting us all see your treasures.

SkyMan1958
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posted 08-03-2011 04:13 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a presentation piece from the crew of Apollo 13 to a NASA worker. I had the chance at the Nov. 2010 ASF meeting to talk to Jim Lovell and Fred Haise about it. I brought a xeroxed copy of it and then had Fred sign that too.

SkyMan1958
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posted 08-16-2011 12:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's a flown eye patch from Apollo 9 (ex: McDivitt). According to NASA, "The eye patch serves two purposes: It enables a crewman to maintain night vision in one eye..., and it is used by a crewman to cover one eye while sighting through the navigation eyepiece. The eye patches are made of room temperature vulcanizing rubber. One eye patch is stowed in the CM and another is kept in the LM".

rjurek349
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posted 08-16-2011 11:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for rjurek349   Click Here to Email rjurek349     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sy - I have really been enjoying this thread. You have a marvelous collection. There is much to be admired about it! Look forward to more future additions!

SkyMan1958
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posted 08-22-2011 12:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Here's an unflown signed bill with the Mercury 7 plus one... it has Bill Dana too. For those of you that don't know about Dana, he was a comedian who did a skit called, "Jose Jimenez, the reluctant astronaut". He became known as the unofficial 8th Mercury astronaut. Here's a link to the skit. It is only audio... sorry, no video.

SkyMan1958
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posted 08-31-2011 03:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote


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