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Author
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Topic: Apollo 7 to Apollo 13 artifact plaque appraisal
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ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-25-2015 05:09 PM
  
I have had this item for the past 17 years, and obtained it at a local thrift store. I love space and space exploration, so the item peaked my interest. Below are pictures of a wood plaque with seven hard plastic capsules each with a decal and two pieces of metal. The wood plaque looks like it is from the 70s. Each decal corresponds with the missions Apollo 7 through Apollo 13. On the back of the wood plaque is a hand wrtten note, which is also pictured. It says: Each of these capsules contains a specialy mininturized decal and two pieces of metal from its respective missiles that went to the moon. There were only five (5) of these made by Rockwell International so they are very valuable to those interested in space memorabilia. — Don Burns I would greatly appreciate any help on determining what this item is and its authenticity. I found out that Rockwell International did make NASA memorabilia, but did they make this, and who is Don Burns? I would also like to find out how to appraise the item if real for insurance purposes. Thank you for your help. 
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SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-25-2015 06:29 PM
Most embedded contents are non-discernible (at least to me) when viewing your images... one of them looks to be pieces of ablator plug. The accompanying description would also seem to be inaccurate given that with few exceptions, elements of the "missile" aka launch vehicle was not recovered, so in theory the display may contain small spacecraft components. Contingent upon authentication of the contents including flown Apollo command module bits, a swag on valuation might be in the 2 to 3K range. |
ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-28-2015 08:32 AM
Thanks for the reply and info. Where should I go to get the item authenticated? Do you think Don Burns was a worker at Rockwell International or just a random guy? And if it is real should I get a better plaque to present them on or keep it they way it is? Thank you again! |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-28-2015 08:43 AM
Send me better images and I can further evaluate.In my opinion, leave the presentation as is... it looks fine. |
ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-28-2015 09:39 AM
Here is the best I can do with my phone. 
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ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-28-2015 09:44 AM
 
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ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-28-2015 11:05 AM
 
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David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 02-28-2015 12:34 PM
Side views are helpful; hope I'm interpreting the pictures correctly here.I think Scott is right and these are slices of ablative plugs from the Command Modules (CM), used to protect fasteners and access points on the capsule surface. If correct, the embedded pieces are neither metal nor missile, but even better really as they are part of the fiery return of the crew vehicles. It's interesting to note that the Apollo 9 example is the least charred, consistent with what I think was the lower re-entry heat loading of that Earth-orbit mission. The returned command module now at the San Diego Air & Space Museum looks pretty 'fresh' compared to the some others anyway. The other Earth-orbit mission, Apollo 7, might be expected to look similar though though it doesn't seem your sample escaped the torch. The returned Apollo 7 CM also appears less charred and enlarge the image to see the holes where abalator plugs went around hatches, panels, and windows. North American Rockwell, formerly North American Aviation, was the company that made and de-processed the Command Modules so the source company mentioned makes sense. Didn't find anything about Don Burns and not sure how I'd conclusively authenticate but the likelihood is these are genuine fragments in my opinion. I'd probably leave it as is but if you do remount suggest carefully documenting the original (and of course keep the note) to retain provenance. Nice find! |
ArmyDentist
New Member Posts: 7
From:
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 03-01-2015 06:42 PM
Thanks for the info!!! As for authenticity, who and where do I go to? If these pieces are real, what would a good appraisal be for insurance? |
fredtrav
Member Posts: 1673
From: Birmingham AL
Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 03-02-2015 11:58 AM
It is a very nice piece. As far as authenticating it, I don't know how you can. If it was an issued piece with several examples out there, that is one thing, but with only a handwritten note, and with the name of someone who may or may not have worked on the launches, and nothing really to tie the enclosed pieces to the spacecraft, I just don't see it. As far as insurance value, again it will be hard to get an appraisal without authentication. I think it has value and that some collectors would love to have it even without authentication, but price could only be determined at an auction.If you can find out some information on Don Burns, that might help. For what it is worth, I think they are real, but proving it will be challenging, if it can be done.
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tnperri
Member Posts: 452
From: Malvern, Ohio
Registered: Jun 2011
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posted 03-02-2015 04:35 PM
I did some searches and found a few references of a Donald Burns retired from Rockwell International. But that's about it. Not sure if this helps. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 03-02-2015 08:01 PM
I agree with Fred on all points; hard if not impossible to authenticate / appraise but probably real, so auction ultimately determines the value. Lower end of Scott's (spaceaholic) initial estimate seemed about right to me, for what it's worth. I'd be suspect of anybody that tells you they could definitively authenticate and appraise this piece in the absence of other similar artifacts. I'm not aware of any heat shield fragment assemblages quite like this coming to market, but others may have a better memory. Found the same Don Burns reference mentioned above but decided it must be a different Rockwell employee with the same name since the decedent was from Rockwell's Wyomissing Pennsylvania operations making (I think) printing presses and textile machinery at the time. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-03-2015 05:34 AM
quote:
Originally posted by David Carey:
I'm not aware of any heat shield fragment assemblages quite like this coming to market, but others may have a better memory.
Probably the closest is a display discussed in this thread. In arriving at an estimate for the original posters presentation concluded each of the 7 small encapsulated components had values hovering around 300 dollars (give or take based on perceived mission significance). |
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