Rocketeer fans, get a load of this...

[MattMunson]

Somewhere around 2 years ago, I decided to pick up the reigns on the search for the elusive center buckle on the pack. Lots of work had been done by other talented folks, but the trail went cold at a point that seemed very close to a breakthrough.

I went nuts, and really buried myself in research. I enlisted the help of a few friends in europe who I thought might have better resources, or at least access to more "hands on" research opportunities.

They did some great work for me, and dug up a few nuggets... which ultimately proved to already be known. After a couple of months of "full steam ahead", the trail went cold, at almost the exact same point that it had done for those who came before me.

And then the whole thing just kind of dropped off the radar.
Then two days ago, I got an email from a friend in Germany. From what I can tell, he hit paydirt. While he didn't find the buckle itself, he unearthed some as of yet unknown information about the buckle itself. Here's the message I got from him:

the "tree" symbol was used from a company called "Schmöle & Comp" from
Menden, formerly Iserlohn, Germany.
Actually they manufactored horse "hardware" but snap hooks and belt buckles also.
The company was sold in 1967 to another company called "Grohe" but the buckle you are looking for is much older (D.R.P. is pre-war).
Possibly the buckle is some sort of horse equipment or belt buckle (maybe military). That's all for now.

Pretty stellar. I did a little poking around on the interwebs, and didn't come up with much. A few sites displaying belt buckles by this company, but nothing more.
Perhaps someone new can pick up the reigns of this search and breathe new life into it.

 

[bulldogcafe]

Good detective work! It's good to hear fresh buckle information after such a long time. Sooner or later someone is going to uncover a bushel basket of those things. I figured R-Bob would have found a U-Haul full of them by now.

Brad

 

[Entropy]

Now I'm intrigued. Where can I find pics of this buckle?

 

[LeMarchand]

ah, a fresh lead, After you asked me to be on the look out over here in europe, i must have seen every single diving, poleworker and parachutebuckle ever made.

time to look in a different direction.

 

[roboprop]

3:05 into this clip you can see the buckle (sorry, Spanish version)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRr9LdJiMVI&mode=related&search=

It looks very military to me.

I'll be giving this a good search. :love

 

[Vaderman]

This it?



>>It looks very military to me.

 

[roboprop]

If someone can post a bigger picture of this, I might have a lead. Preferably without Cliff's hand in the way.

 

[Rocketbobs]

Hey gang-
Nice info. Cant wait to hear more....hopefully. I am still looking for that Uhaul full of buckles...I am close. Until then look at my measly single screen used buckle. The last 2 shots are of another buckle a friend has. I know of 4 out there in the world. Free Rocketeer rocketpack kit to the person who finds me another one!

 

[Westies14]

Bump! Anyone ever get anywhere with this hunt?

View attachment 4740

 

[Teroch]

Well, since there are at least 4 known, has anyone tried to get a machinist to remake it from one of them? I've been researching this costume to make, and this is pretty much the only piece I can't find.

In fact, I know the perfect company that has it's international headquarters right next to my family's old auto repair shop. Good friends, and might even get a steal of a deal because of that. I'll see what it might cost to make a run of them. I'm guessing there would be a good demand for them if it worked, but are we saying like 10-20, or more?


If it is military and from Germany, you could try military surplus stores in Germany. Probably already tried, but I thought I'd mention it anyways.

 

[MattMunson]

There's been a couple passes made at getting this manufactured. It's really not suitable for machining for a number of reasons. To get it close, you'd have to have most of it CNC'd. Theres other parts that are more difficult. So your costs are already in the hundreds per unit. Manufacturing anything under 5,000 units is a waste of money, and I don't care HOW strong the rocketeer community thinks it is, it ain't gonna support 5,000 buckles at 50 bucks each :lol

 

[Teroch]

True, but there might be a couple other options. Probably already look upon, but hey, I'll look anyways to fill the time.

 

[Westies14]

Wow! That sure shot up at the end!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250154750276&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

This has to be worth someone's while to replicate... What about a functioning buckle, similar in appearance, but not as complex? Would that be more feasible?

- Douglas

 

[rocketeer25]

Yeah, let's just hope Bob get's his money!

 

[dualedge]

Wow! That sure shot up at the end!!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250154750276&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

This has to be worth someone's while to replicate... What about a functioning buckle, similar in appearance, but not as complex? Would that be more feasible?

- Douglas

Folks have tried but like Matt said, it's just too expensive. It's got a lot of parts and it's just not strong enough if you do it in anything but metal. There have been solid resin copies as well... not sure how you could simplify it to both function and look the same though. Anything's possible I suppose...

 

[Westies14]

What if it had a molded/cast front, and was a simple squeeze tab insertion type buckle inside? The mechanism is so complex on this buckle... So many parts... There has to be a way to make a different kind of buckle appear similar to this one, I think...

 

[Robot Monster]

BTW I came across a whole bunch of Rocketeer jet packs when I was at Disneyland this week. The tour prop room has at least 3 of them stacked up and the Sci-fi diner has one attached to the wall. I will get photos up once we finish unpacking.

 

[dualedge]

BTW I came across a whole bunch of Rocketeer jet packs when I was at Disneyland this week. The tour prop room has at least 3 of them stacked up and the Sci-fi diner has one attached to the wall. I will get photos up once we finish unpacking.

Would love to see pics! Was this Disneyland in Anaheim or Disney World in Florida? I know they've had stuff on display for a while in Florida. I'm always interested in checking out pics though and it's nice to know where some of the items are just for the heck of it.

Rob

 

[Robot Monster]

Florida they had a bunch of them stacked up in a pile for the backstage tour on a rack. I should be able to post them soon.

 

[DavidS]

wonder if i could go down there and buy um?