Odd Bracelet

[Customx_12]

Have to admit that I didn't find it detecting. I found it at an estate sale of a WW2 vet. I'm not sure what type of metal but it is possibly aluminum. It is composed of a series of panels. On the front of one of the panels is the letter "E" with the letters "A", "R", and "T" on subsequent panels. In between the letters "A" and "R" is the center panel that says "N=8" on one side and some sort of cross on the other. It appears to be hand made but I have no idea what the specifics are. I'd appreciate any help!

 

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[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks a bit too complex to me compared to a lot of the trench made jewelry I have seen online, yet the etchings on it are the same style as a lot of them, making small stitch looking lines.

Im asking this question because I want to learn. Thats what we are here for right? 8)

I always thought those small stitch looking zigzag engravings were done with something electric, but I dont really know.

Are these stitchings done with an electric engraving tool?


Here is a good example supposedly WWI trench art. I cant imagine these tiny zigzags were done with a simple sharp instrument. Can anyone explain? http://referencelibrary.blogspot.com/2008/11/wwi-trench-art-mess-kit-rl-custom.html

 

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[Customx_12]

Obviously I'm not an expert either, but I also assumed it was an etching machine. This particular bracelet has very neat and straight lines though so if that's the case, he must have had some VERY stable hands.
Oh and it is not magnetic and relatively lightweight.

 

[Customx_12]

Also, these are pictures I took a few months ago and I can't take better ones because my camera is currently not working. That being said, here is a pic of the whole bracelet but it's a very blurry image.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Also, these are pictures I took a few months ago and I can't take better ones because my camera is currently not working. That being said, here is a pic of the whole bracelet but it's a very blurry image.

Thanks. Its good to have a look at the entire item.

Wow those are large spring rings! And I see no need for 2 of them. It looks very much non production made, as Twisted said.

Is any part of it magnetic? Can you test the pins? It may be aircraft aluminum, or magnesium and it may have been made by someone that worked in a WWII era factory as stated.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

To get the /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ chisel pattern you lay a flat chisel on a diagonal, tap it, move the rearmost edge forward, tap it again, move the other edge (now being rearmost) forward. Repeat about a billion times. I believe it is called "wiggle tooling".

 

[Customx_12]

So do you think it's trench art?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

To get the /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ chisel pattern you lay a flat chisel on a diagonal, tap it, move the rearmost edge forward, tap it again, move the other edge (now being rearmost) forward. Repeat about a billion times. I believe it is called "wiggle tooling".

Thanks Charlie. Good link. http://www.engravingglossary.com/Hand Engraving Glossary W.htm Someone with a lot of time on their hands.. Do you think this bracelet was done with a chisel? And the WW1 canteen?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

In some of the pics, I see some gold. Was it at one time plated or anodized?

 

[Customx_12]

In some of the pics, I see some gold. Was it at one time plated or anodized?

I'm not sure if it was ever plated or anodized. I got it in the shape it is in. Best part was it was buried under some paperwork in a filing cabinet on the last day of the estate sale. The people running it had never seen it and gave it to me for a quarter.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The picture looks like it was made from gold anodized aircraft aluminum.


My thoughts on this would be a homemade one-of-a-kind WWII era anodized aluminum bracelet made from parts salvaged, possibly aircraft parts. Identify the parts and you will have some answers.


I see no need for 2 spring rings so large but the owner made it that way. The spring rings must have come from a jeweler. I searched online but could not find any made of aluminum. Maybe they are silver. Look real close for tiny markings.

The letters mean something but I dont know what. Owners initials, military codes are some possibilities..

 

[Customx_12]

I searched this thing with a loop a few times trying to find a maker's mark but to no avail. I was thinking it was possibly trench art too but why aircraft pieces? Because it's aluminum?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I searched this thing with a loop a few times trying to find a maker's mark but to no avail. I was thinking it was possibly trench art too but why aircraft pieces? Because it's aluminum?

Yes just guessing but if you could find any other military item made from aluminum pieces like this would solve it.

The iron cross looks military or surfer related.

I dont know who would make such an odd bracelet other than someone at war with too much time on their hands that wanted to make something from these parts as a keepsake. The engravings are centered, straight and well balanced but the bracelet parts are loose fitting..

 

[Customx_12]

Well, thanks for all your help! I suppose I can try to find a WW2 military expert around to see what he thinks of it. Supposing it is a one of a kind trench art thing, what are those worth typically?

 

[SgtJim]

Hi I have seen these bracelets from time to time they are becoming harder to find with so many WWII veterans passing away. I am retired Air Force when you retire from the Air Force you just get a string of special gifts made just for you form different organizations depending on your job. My best was the large base flag the flew over the base on my last official day sealed in a mahogany and glass case must weigh over 20 pounds, with a brass engraved ID plate in front that was from my squadron. These are gifts you keep for life. Your piece looks Army Air Force, he was a pilot, first officer or air crew member, he’s initials were A. R. and he flew with bomber crew number 8 and the iron cross was their mascot logo. It defiantly looks like it was made inside an air base aircraft machine shop. That’s my best guess. Id call it WWII aircraft art.

 

[Twisted One]

Is there a reason you say the n=8 is a bomber crew? Is that standard code or something? and with the EA on one side and the RT on the other side could one set be initials while the other a rank? Sadly I am not as familiar with military ranks as I wish I was.

I find myself with time on my hands lately thanks to the wonderful economy, so if I run into a dead spot again tomorrow I will try to look up some of the assembly papers for the aircraft back then.

 

[DialM]

I don't think that is supposed to be "N=8" but "N-8". It looks like it was struck twice to make the dash a little bolder. A single strike would have looked like a mistake.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Are the pieces solid metal? or hollow inside? The center N-8 piece seems to have a lot of play as if the holes are too large for the pins. I wish I could see a side view of the N-8 piece. It may be the key to solving this.

 

[Customx_12]

Are the pieces solid metal? or hollow inside? The center N-8 piece seems to have a lot of play as if the holes are too large for the pins. I wish I could see a side view of the N-8 piece. It may be the key to solving this.

All of the panels are hollow inside. It's a front panel and a back panel on each one.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Are the pieces solid metal? or hollow inside? The center N-8 piece seems to have a lot of play as if the holes are too large for the pins. I wish I could see a side view of the N-8 piece. It (center piece)may be the key to solving this.

All of the panels are hollow inside. It's a front panel and a back panel on each one.

I didnt realize that. I thought they were solid aluminum. That makes it more interesting. I wonder if anything is inside? Maybe they are silver?

 

[Customx_12]

Are the pieces solid metal? or hollow inside? The center N-8 piece seems to have a lot of play as if the holes are too large for the pins. I wish I could see a side view of the N-8 piece. It (center piece)may be the key to solving this.

All of the panels are hollow inside. It's a front panel and a back panel on each one.

I didnt realize that. I thought they were solid aluminum. That makes it more interesting. I wonder if anything is inside? Maybe they are silver?

I don't see anything inside but when I bought it, there was a small bloody piece of gauze inside the main panel. It was nasty so I threw it away. I don't really think it's silver though. What's the best way to check?