Faint H & H (Hilborn & Hamburg) hallmark on eagle wing.Gemsco hallmark on flag.Eagle and shield sterling plate over copper; wreath brass/gold-plate.Second World War era. badge: 60mm x 65mm flag: 25mm x 22mm As follows is an essay on the history of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company. Collecting the data on this specific company is somewhat […]
Category: Gemsco
Insignia Houses
Where have all the insignia manufacturers of the American Merchant Marine managing operators gone? Long passed are the days of enamel flags on high-pressure caps, and so too is true for their makers. Through complex mergers and acquisitions, tools that once struck these diminutive flags found their way to the scrap heap or in the […]
Panama Railroad Steamship Company
White enamel swallowtail house pennant (flag), black enamel P and gold fill. No hallmark, but definitely Gemsco. The rear screw and flag style dates to it to the 1940s-50s (see below). This could either have been mounted on a wool-backing in the center of a wire and thread wreath or applied to Maritime Service-style eagle […]
American President Lines
American President Lines hat badge. Gemsco hallmark on flag. Eagle and shield sterling; wreath brass/gold-plate. House flag, enamel with gold fill. Second World War era. badge: 60mm x 65mm flag: 25mm x 22mm American President Lines was formed by the U.S. Maritime Commission in 1938 to stave off the impending bankruptcy of the Dollar […]
American President Lines wool hat badge
merican president lines American President Lines wool hat badge Gemsco hallmark on flag. Wool backing and wreath of gold bullion thread. House flag, enamel with gold fill. Second World War era. badge: 70mm x 50mm flag: 25mm x 22mm As noted in a previous post, shipping companies’ ships were appropriated for the duration […]