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Path: utzoo!linus!husc6!bloom-beacon!gatech!mcnc!ncsuvx!ncspm!jay
From: jay@ncspm.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Getting NASA patches
Message-ID: <458@ncspm.ncsu.edu>
Date: Wed, 21-Oct-87 12:22:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: ncspm.458
Posted: Wed Oct 21 12:22:19 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 23-Oct-87 00:45:38 EDT
References: <440@netxcom.UUCP>
Reply-To: jay@ncspm.UUCP (Jay Smith)
Organization: Crop Science Dept., North Carolina State University
Lines: 68
Xref: linus sci.space:3386 sci.space.shuttle:392

In article <440@netxcom.UUCP> rkolker@netxcom.UUCP (rich kolker) writes:
>Since the shuttle jumpsuits some of us ordered have gone out, I've
>gotten several requests for information concerning where people can get
>NASA mission and other patches for them.  Here's the information I have,
>feel free to add to it.

Well, what about the official NASA patch contractor, one of NC's proud
contributions to the space program, the A-B Emblem Company.

Write to:

A-B Emblem Division
Conrad Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 695
Weaverville, NC 28787

and ask for the space emblem price list.  They sell other patches, too.
You can even get them to do a custom job if you want sufficient
quantities.  Inquire for more details.  Their Mercury and Gemini
patches go for $1.25, Apollos for $2.25, and STS for $3.50 (these are
last year's prices).  They also have Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, NASA, and other
interesting patches like the Roadrunner Apollo 14 patch (can anyone
explain this one?).  And if you think your ordered patch has some
faulty stitching, then just send it back and they will fall all over
themselves apologizing in the letter they send with your replacement.

The Mercury and Gemini 3 and 4 patches sold are total
fabrications.  But there was a Gemini 3 patch (totally different from
the one being sold) that was imprinted on the cover of Gus Grissom's
book GEMINI and worn by John Young on his flightsuit as late as 1981.
It wasn't worn during the actual mission, though, and I think it may
have been designed later.  A real space collectible, and I have no
idea how to get one.  The real Gemini patches were manufactured by the
previous NASA patch contractor (who was it?) and A-B Emblem claims total
ignorance of any patches other than the ones they sell.

Some inaccuracies in A-B's Gemini patches:

Gemini 5 -- "8 days or bust" was not on the patches worn
during the flight because NASA didn't want adverse publicity in case
they didn't meet the mission objectives (newspaper headline:
"Astronauts Have To Settle For Bust").  It was the original design,
though.

The Gemini 9 patch they sell is inaccurate since the names were on a
separate patch below the main patch, and not amidst the design as they
have it now. 

The Gemini 10 patch should have no names on it, and the "X" should
protrude beyond the borders of the patch.

The others are pretty close, except for some minor color variations.

BTW, does anyone know what patch John Young was wearing on the right
shoulder of his flightsuit during the months before STS-1?  I can't
find any pictures with a good view of it.  Does anyone know where I
can get a velcro Navy astronaut wings name tag?

Thanks in advance.

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Jay Smith                     uucp:     ...!mcnc!ncsuvx!ncspm!jay
Domain:	jay@ncspm.ncsu.edu    internet: jay%ncspm@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu
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Jay Smith                     uucp:     ...!mcnc!ncsuvx!ncspm!jay
Domain:	jay@ncspm.ncsu.edu    internet: jay%ncspm@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu