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Author
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Topic: NASA vector 'meatball' insignia patches
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Liembo
Member Posts: 842
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 05-28-2020 11:58 AM
   
A new oddball in the collection. It's 6" wide, vintage 60s or early 70s based on the construction.  
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Paul J. Brennan
Member Posts: 260
From: Linden, CA
Registered: May 2019
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posted 05-28-2020 01:41 PM
Nice find! |
kosmo
Member Posts: 522
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 05-29-2020 12:28 PM
The last A in NASA and vector don’t look right. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 522
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 06-10-2020 09:12 AM
quote:
Originally posted by kosmo:
...it looks like the NASA vector patch-type V was used on the Apollo 11 Bio Isolation Garments.
So no ones open for the discussion about the type V vector patch being on the Apollo 11 BIGs? According to The Crew Patch reference guide they were ”Worn by the Apollo 13, 16 and 17 crews on their post-flight jump suits”, this seems quite a bit earlier. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 842
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 06-10-2020 10:56 AM
I would agree that the Apollo BIGs do appear to have the Type V. Photos of Aldrin's and Collins' suits at the Smithsonian seem to confirm it as well. Unrelated, but Collin's suit (on display in Houston) has the wrong and horribly rendered Apollo 11 eagle patch applied. There are a few instances of this kind of thing on suits in their collection, which does not inspire 100% confidence in matters such as this, but seeing that the three suits have the same meatball, that's likely confirmed. (Also confirmed watching a video of them exiting the helicopter on deck.) |
kosmo
Member Posts: 522
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 06-12-2020 12:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Liembo:
Looks like a "Type I" to me.
Crickets on the 5/28 post? Is it really a type 1 vector patch? Type 3? There has to be more than one opinion on this! |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3191
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 06-14-2020 04:26 AM
I'm always wary of patches visible today on vintage flight suits etc, as so many are clearly replacements for the originals. However, it does seem that Type V patches were used on the BIGs for Apollo 11. I'll update my site to note this.For the white border meatball patch posted on 05-28 I'm torn between Type II and Type III, as it contains elements of both. It may be that these variations between runs are more mixed than originally suspected, which means perhaps we should treat them all as one type, or that we should sub-divide them further. |
kosmo
Member Posts: 522
From:
Registered: Sep 2001
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posted 06-15-2020 07:49 AM
The thickness and shape of the letters in NASA seem to match the Crew Patch reference guide photos of the Apollo 11 post-flight jump suit photos best. The top of the "A" seems cropped off where it meets the vector, there's no top left extension to the "A". The ends of the vector seem to be similar also, the bottom left one being a little longer than the top one. So maybe NASA vector patch type III? Also the stars of the patch seem to have the thickness of the type III patch, their thinner in the type II. |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1527
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 11-30-2021 02:02 PM
AB Emblem have just released reproduction versions of the NASA Meatball "Type I" and "Type II" patches. These patches have the following details on their embedded labels;  
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Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1527
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 12-10-2021 12:10 PM
Today AB Emblem added the reproduction of the type III NASA Meatball patch to their website listings with the following details;- 437920 A-B Emblem Made In USA 11/2120
- 437920 A-B Emblem Made In USA 12/2120
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Paul J. Brennan
Member Posts: 260
From: Linden, CA
Registered: May 2019
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posted 12-11-2021 10:52 PM
Thanks for the updates Kevin! |
Kevin T. Randall
Member Posts: 1527
From: Chesham, Bucks UK
Registered: Dec 2008
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posted 08-12-2022 10:19 AM
AB Emblem have now added to their website four further reproductions of their earlier 60's and 70's NASA Meatball patches;- Type IV 440218 A-B Emblem Made In USA 082202 - Apollo 10, 12, 14, and 15.
- Type V 440219 A-B Emblem Made In USA 082202 - Apollo 13, 16, and 17.
- Type VI 440220 A-B Emblem Made In USA 08/2220 - Apollo 9, 10 backup, and Apollo suit tech Joe Schmitt.
- Type VII 440221 A-B Emblem Made In USA 08/2220 - Late Apollo days.
The date codes for each patch are now all confirmed as August 2022, all were manufactured at Weaverville, NC. |
Kenny
Member Posts: 35
From: Johnson City, Tennessee USA
Registered: Nov 2013
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posted 07-19-2023 05:15 PM
I recently purchased this NASA vector patch. It is bare-backed and embroidered with very fine thread. The entire width of the patch is 3 inches, including the head and tails of the vector.The quality of this patch is excellent, with delicate details. Some of the stars are embroidered with just two tiny threads, and the two protruding tails of the vector have been trimmed very thinly. I've never seen this pattern before and I'm wondering if anyone else has. What are your thoughts about this patch? Do you think it is a vintage patch from the late 1960s? Do you have any ideas about which company may have manufactured it?  
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