RKO/Bermans marked WW2 squadron patches?

p51

Sr Member
Does anyone know the story behind a mass of canvas pieces with WW2 squadron and submarine insignia painted on them with RKO studio and Bermans property stamps? Im seeing these things all over the internet over the last year or so.
I got this recently, the 323rd Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group:
1000007921.jpg

1000007920.jpg
 
These things have been on eBay for decades in a never ending quantity. The Berman connection is new, to me, and raises the question of authenticity, as M. Berman and Sons did not incorporate until 1949 - well after the war ended. The Internet Archive lists no record of them operating before that. I have David's and Monty's obits and they mention nothing of them and maintains the 1949 date. Archived periodical ads start appearing in 1950. Also, the RKO Costume and Props Departments were two separate entities and not one. And, their full legal name was RKO Radio Pictures, INC., as can be seen on all the film credits, documents and contracts.
Corp.PNG
 
These things have been on eBay for decades in a never ending quantity. The Berman connection is new, to me, and raises the question of authenticity, as M. Berman and Sons did not incorporate until 1949 - well after the war ended. The Internet Archive lists no record of them operating before that. I have David's and Monty's obits and they mention nothing of them and maintains the 1949 date. Archived periodical ads start appearing in 1950. Also, the RKO Costume and Props Departments were two separate entities and not one. And, their full legal name was RKO Radio Pictures, INC., as can be seen on all the film credits, documents and contracts.
View attachment 1942117
I agree that everything about them seems odd and nobody really has a solid grip on the story of these.
The one thing that makes me think they might actually be something made for a movie studio is the price. You hardly ever see them going for a lot of money and it'd take time to make that many of them just as part of a scam...
 
I think the errors in the corporate stamps pretty much expose them as being fantasy pieces and not involved in the war efforts or reality. You sell thousands of them, at whatever price, and it adds up.
 
Back
Top