Original Fokker D.VII Fabric

[Steve Knott]

FYI,

A very rare original piece of aircraft fabric from the Fokker D.VII (4635/18) in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum collection is currently for sale at The Horse Soldier antique store in Gettysburg, PA:

Home
(Go to “inventory” and then “WWI/ WWII.” It is listed as item 476-36).

The piece of fabric is 8 x 11 inches in size and appears to be the multi-color lozenge pattern used on the underside of the wings. The original fabric belonged to aviation historian/author Stanley M. Ulanoff; the piece is accompanied by a 1969-dated letter of provenance. I believe aircraft 4635/18 is one of only seven remaining original Fokker D.VII fighters in the world.

Best regards,
Steve

[War Bird]

I got a piece of the U10 fabric on eBay. I can't remember offhand what I paid for it, but I know it was nowhere near the asking price for this one. Shoot, I remember the framing cost as much as the swatch.

I'm sure my swatch is a Smithsonian original, but not so long ago there was an eBay seller who was listing pieces of fabric allegedly from the Baron's DrI. When I contacted him, he claimed to have purchased a swatch at a well-publicized auction which he had cut into smaller pieces, but his details didn't match up to any of the sales from that auction. When I asked for more details, I got no further response.

Caveat Emptor

[gipsymoth236k]

Humm...this lozenge fabric sure looks rather new...

Could you please get them to post a real good close-up photo of this fabric?

-Gary Sewall

[Steve Knott]

War Bird & Gary,

Good comments! This piece does have other items that come with it that help establish its provenance: The letter to Stanley Ulanoff when it was presented to him as a gift; documentation from Greeff Fabrics who made the new replacement fabric for the U10 restoration job (this original piece was one in their possession for use as a model in making the replacement fabric), two large (yard square) pieces of replacement fabric made by Greeff, etc.

Concerning price, original German aircraft fabric pieces of similar size (8" x 11") usually sell in the $800-$1000 range; this one would be much rarer given its identity. Many pieces of U10 fabric were sold at the Smithsonian to raise money for the restoration, but these were just 1" square! I've been told that very few larger pieces of U10 fabric are in the collector market - but who knows for sure.

War Bird, did the piece you bought on eBay come with any provenance or chain of custody? Also, how large is it?

Thanks & best regards,
Steve

[War Bird]

Steve, I have the small swatch Smithsonian piece. It is 2" sq and came mounted on heavy stock with an 8x10 pic of the U-10 above, inscribed:

FOKKER D-VII

"U-10"

Pilot: Lt. Hienz von Beaulieu-Marconnay

(swatch)

Original Fabric

The Fokker D-VII was an outstanding German fighter used during the final months of World War 1. On November 9, 1918, the "U-10" landed on a forward Allied airfield east of Verdun, France, and was captured by Capt. Alex H. McClanahan, Lt. Edward P. Curtis, and Lt. Sumner Sewell, pilots of the American First Pursuit Group. The "U-10" is now a part of the Collection of the National Air and Space Museum.


It has Smithsonian markings. I had it matted an mounted. I'll see about getting a pic and posting it.

The piece you are describing seems like a very nice one, and the extras not only establish the provenance, they add additional value...

[Jim]

The Fokker D.VII at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum was given to them in 1920 by the U.S. War Department. Back in the 1970s or early 1980s the Smithsonian authorized the sale of small 2" square swatches of fabric from this aircraft which came from the restoration when there were some small scraps left from the larger pieces that were kept by the Smithsonian for historical reference. Otherwise the Smithsonian would not have let go any other pieces of this fabric - legally they can't. This means that if there is a piece of fabric that is not one of the 2" square pieces officially sold by the museum, that piece of fabric is either a nicely done fake, or it is stolen either by the person who claimed to have worked at the Smithsonian or by someone else and it remains the legal property of the Smithsonian. Either way, buying it would be foolish.

[Steve Knott]

Hi Jim,

Your position may be a bit extreme on this (IMHO). First, I believe this piece was given to Stanley Ulanoff by the Smithsonian in recognition of his service & patronage supporting the restoration project (evidently he was instrumental in raising a lot of money for the project). Secondly, I have a Civil War cannon sitting in my garage that formerly belonged to the Gettysburg NMP. This resulted from an official transaction, so my point is that the Federal government can pass property to private individuals as long as it is authorized by the responsible administrators.

Lastly, I have no dog in this fight; I'm a Civil War collector who was trying to make another collector community aware that there was a nice item available. The Horse Soldier enjoys perhaps the best reputation in the country for Civil War collectibles, but on occasion they do have some other items pass through their doors. If you see all the items & paperwork in this grouping, there is no doubt it is an original piece of U10 (given legally to Stanley Ulanoff).

Best regards,
Steve

[War Bird]

I have no doubt this swatch is the real deal. I don't have a clue as to FMV.

I can't remember any more what I paid for my swatch, but I am confident I have less than $250 invested, most of that in a nice custom frame and mat job.

Thanks for the heads up, Steve.

[Steve Knott]

Thanks, War Bird. You are quite fortunate to have snagged the U10 piece of fabric - and I believe you got it for a very good price. Given the obvious rarity of original aircraft fabric from WWI, think of the few pieces with identifiable provenance to a specific aircraft (& a famous fighter at that)!

Best regards,
Steve

[gipsymoth236k]

I too have an original piece of NASM (Smithsonian) "U.10" Fokker D.VII fabric - a small 2" square piece of lozenge fabric mounted on a descriptive poster. I bought it back in the 1960s directly from the Smithsonian when I was a kid.

It REALLY would be best if a good close-up photo of the subject large piece of "U.10" Fokker D.VII lozenge fabric could be posted here...

As an example of what to look for to help determine original lozenge fabric from a possible good fake ("aged") is by looking very closely at the finish. I have seen such fakes before. It's a shame what is being sold today for large sums of money that are not always originals, but very convincing fakes.

CAUTION! Some suspect fabric COULD be a WWI reproduction made of readily available, authentic-looking five or four-color lozenge printed linen fabric. The "aged" look is achieved with a little artificial wear and wrinkling of the faked fabric. Criminal!

In contrast is original lozenge fabric that should look rather faded, with a light coating of yellowish, flaking, thin topcoat of old varnish applied over a thin coat of old clear dope. As example, here's my original piece of five color lozenge fabric taken from the top-left wing of a downed Fokker D.VII:



Click and zoom in:



It was taken as a victory souvenir on October 28, 1918 by Lt. Clayton Bissell, American A.E.F., 148th Aero Squadron while flying Sopwith Camel E.7329 in a fierce dogfight with eight Fokker D.VIIs:



Here is Lt. Bissell's "COMBATS IN THE AIR" report of the actual dogfight (see last report):



This is how I like to document a valuable piece of lozenge fabric. Gosh, I wonder what my large piece is worth today!

Well, I hope to see a close-up photo of the subject lozenge fabric here! I just might be interested!

Respectfully,
Gary Sewall

PS - here is Lt. Bissell's Sopwith Camel F.1400 he flew during his first listed "COMBATS OF THE AIR" report of August 21, 1918:



Good stuff, eh?