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History of the Collar Disk


cutiger83
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Here are a couple of pics of my Amcraft Metal IIIA Illinois state guard disks. I picked these up locally a while back I thought I would share them here.

Posted Image

The back.

Posted Image

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

 

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  • 3 months later...

Didn't see any of the transitional Air Force disks, so here's a set for reference. This is the most common type, the scarcer Gemsco disks have the posts at top and bottom, as opposed to left and right.

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In the early 1920's these experimental enameled collar disks were made. I have also seen them with black enamel.

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Here's a very nice pair of rare disks. They were made in Caracas, Venezuela. Each has two screwback fasteners/posts. Only ones I've ever seen from Venezuela.

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Here's one more odd one, only one I've seen. Reverse marked "Meyer Metal".

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  • 3 weeks later...
NGCoastArtillery41

I see in your amazing thread about the history of the collar disk that the Type II disk use was unofficially extended until 1940. Would this mean that a soldier might be wearing a Type II disk on a M1939 pattern coat with the bi-swing back? Any possibility that a pre-war national guard soldier continued to wear this type of disk throughout the war?

 

Has anyone seen an instance of this? Anyone know about the supply situation in regards to pre-war soldiers when the new uniform pattern came out. I imagine that National Guard units were not too overly concerned about the difference in pattern between the M1926 and M1939 to issue a new coat and I imagine the same going for the collar disk. I, unfortunately, cannot find any pictures of National Guard soldiers being mobilized in 1940 - 41 that shows enough detail on their collars.

 

I have a Type II 251st Coast Artillery disk that I am itching to put on a uniform for living history, but until I can locate an M1926 (which is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be) but I don't want to put it on my M1939 coat unless it actually happened.

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  • 2 months later...

I have a question that maybe some of you insignia collectors could assist me with. I have searched high and low and have yet to see a plain gilt US Type I collar disk. Any that I have encountered are numbered and I am starting to wonder if they even exist. It seems that they would given the number of disks out there in this style. Does anyone have one that they could share on here?

 

Thanks,

Mike

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  • 2 weeks later...

I answered my own question about the Gilt Type I US disk. I located one and yes, they do exist. I don't have the photo but they are pretty self explanatory.

 

Mike

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  • 4 months later...

Just picked up this very unusual matched pair of Type II discs.

I say unusual, because they are the only two piece Type II discs I personally have ever seen.

Scipio mentions them on page 232-233 of his book and shows a few examples.

Both are beautifully made, have a Meyer Metal hallmark and a raised reverse Meyer shield.

The Meyer Metal mark was first used in 1923, but I am wondering if these were a transitional piece made

right before the introduction of the type III discs.

 

Best, John

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Hallmarks

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  • 1 year later...

I just picked up a small "button jar" type collection of pins and insignia and found two "US" collar discs.

 

I don't collect collar discs, but do have numerous uniforms and haven't seen a collar disc of this type before. I looked through the posting on here (mainly scanned pictures), but please excuse me if I overlooked one here.

 

To the disc (displayed next to another that came with it)-- it is dark almost old lead colored and very light weight. It has black on the background and may have once covered the disc to make the "US" stand out. The back is two piece in construction with "*EXTRA*". The small pins plied up to prevent spinning show what looks like cardboard between the two pieces of the disc.

 

Any information is appreciated. Again-- sorry if I overlooked an example on this posting.

 

Thanks.

 

Scott

 

 

post-124583-0-34942200-1476995640.jpg post-124583-0-20208200-1476995646.jpg

 

post-124583-0-61409000-1476995653.jpg

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I just picked up a small "button jar" type collection of pins and insignia and found two "US" collar discs.

 

I don't collect collar discs, but do have numerous uniforms and haven't seen a collar disc of this type before. I looked through the posting on here (mainly scanned pictures), but please excuse me if I overlooked one here.

 

To the disc (displayed next to another that came with it)-- it is dark almost old lead colored and very light weight. It has black on the background and may have once covered the disc to make the "US" stand out. The back is two piece in construction with "*EXTRA*". The small pins plied up to prevent spinning show what looks like cardboard between the two pieces of the disc.

 

Any information is appreciated. Again-- sorry if I overlooked an example on this posting.

 

Thanks.

 

Scott

 

 

 

 

This looks like a button to me and not a collar disk. There is a thread on here about old buttons. I would post this in that thread to find out more information. One member on here collects buttons.

 

...Kat

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This looks like a button to me and not a collar disk. There is a thread on here about old buttons. I would post this in that thread to find out more information. One member on here collects buttons.

 

...Kat

 

 

Thanks-- appreciate the input.

 

I wasn't aware of buttons with screw back on them. I'll check through the postings and see what I find.

 

Scott

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I just picked up a small "button jar" type collection of pins and insignia and found two "US" collar discs.

 

I don't collect collar discs, but do have numerous uniforms and haven't seen a collar disc of this type before.   I looked through the posting on here (mainly scanned pictures), but please excuse me if I overlooked one here.

 

To the disc (displayed next to another that came with it)-- it is dark almost old lead colored and very light weight.  It has black on the background and may have once covered the disc to make the "US" stand out.  The back is two piece in construction with "*EXTRA*".  The small pins plied up to prevent spinning show what looks like cardboard between the two pieces of the disc.

 

Any information is appreciated.  Again-- sorry if I overlooked an example on this posting.

 

Thanks.

 

Scott

 

 

{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif cdus1.jpg  {style_image_url}/attachicon.gif cdus2.jpg

 

{style_image_url}/attachicon.gif cdus4.jpg

You collar disk marked Extra is a post-WWI occupation period disk. The construction is similar to a uniform button and the back is marked "EXTRA FEIN." You can find these in darkened and gilt finish. I'll post a pic of my when I get a chance.

 

-Mike

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

 

 

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I should add to my last post, they were German made.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

 

 

Thanks much Mike-- I appreciate the confirmation and era information.

 

Construction/ "US" had me fairly sure it was a collar disk. I'd like to see yours when you can post.

 

Scott

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Thanks much Mike-- I appreciate the confirmation and era information.

 

Construction/ "US" had me fairly sure it was a collar disk. I'd like to see yours when you can post.

 

Scott

 

Scott, here is mine as requested.

 

-Mike

 

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Here are a few marked disks from my collection. The first one up is made by US Specialty Co., New York.

 

-Mike

 

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Next up is a disk marked on the nut. The company is Whitehead and Hoag, Newark, NJ.

 

-Mike

 

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Last one. This one is also marked on the nut. The H.A. Co. Kal., Mich. It was manufactured by the Henderson-Ames Co. in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A side note on this disk- This is one of many variations of US Type I collar disks. You can find them with no periods, one period, or two. This one has probably been the most difficult to find.

 

-Mike

 

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  • 2 years later...
  • 8 months later...
Salvage Sailor

 

Type 1 Pinback Variation

Generally regarded as French made but not all, see Air Corps which is maker marked by American Emblem.

 

LH top to bottom:

Quartermaster Corps

Signal Corps

Air Service

 

RH top to bottom:

National Disk

Transportation Corps

Artillery Corps

 

Bottom Center:

National Disk (Reserves)

 

 

attachicon.gifType1-Pinback-Obverse001_LO.jpg

 

 

Pin back Engineer

Engineers.jpg

Engineers Rev.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

Four piece Oroid Air Corps disc, Hilborn Hamburger (H-H) 1930's - Assembled

Air Corps oroid 04.jpg

Air Corps oroid 05.jpg

Air Corps oroid 06.jpg

 

Four piece Oroid Air Corps disc, Hilborn Hamburger (H-H) 1930's - Disassembled

Hawaiian Air Force, Wheeler Field, T.H.

06 25 10 014-1.jpg

06 25 10 014.jpg

06 25 10 038.jpg

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06 25 10 018.jpg

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  • 6 months later...

Some may be interested to see the 1907 order that was the origin of the collar disks, which were called buttons at the time.

 

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"On and after July 1, 1908, the collar ornament prescribed in paragraph 71, General Orders, No. 169, War Department, August 14, 1907, will consist of dull-finished bronze metal buttons, attached to the collar, two on each side, by means of a threaded post and thumb-screw nut. The buttons will be one inch in diameter, with raised edge, one showing in relief in the center the letters U. S., gothic design, and the other the insignia of the corps, department, or arm of service, according to sealed patterns in the office of the Quartermaster General.

"Organization commanders will exercise the greatest care in the issue of collar ornaments now in use to enlisted men under their commands, to the end that further purchases of those ornaments may not be necessary."

 

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Justin,

 

Very cool! Thanks for adding this to the thread!

 

 

 

Thanks for the thread to add to! Great information here.

 

Justin B.

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Hello. I have a Type I blackened state of Connecticut "CT" collar disk with post nut that looks every bit as old and original as any regular state disk from the 1916 era. However, it is made of STEEL! A magnet attracts it so it's a ferrous metal. I never heard of a steel collar disk before. Any ideas out there? There are no maker's marks of any kind on the reverse. What's up with this?

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  • 2 years later...
On 8/22/2013 at 9:25 PM, cutiger83 said:

Type IV Collar Disks

 

The Type IV disk is a thick stamped insignia of one piece construction with a clutch fastener. Use of this disk was short-lived so only limited examples are known to exist. Indications are the period of its production was about 1942-1943. Reference Scipio, The Collar Disk Story (1907-1999) pg 273

 

This is a beautiful example of the rare Type IV collar disk. Thanks JMAR for sending me this picture of his collar disk.

 

TypeIV.jpg

I recently posted the three disks of the same types, which one has the "Acidtest" while the other two have been stamped.

 

Larry

T-IV, Basic, 1-F.jpg

T-IV, Basic, 1-R.jpg

T-X, Basic, 02-F.jpg

T-X, Basic, 02-R.jpg

T-X, Basic, 03-F.jpg

T-X, Basic, 03-R.jpg

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Salvage Sailor
On 2/1/2020 at 6:07 PM, Kansas Raider said:

Hi, is there a book for the state guard collar discs? Thanks Steve

 

I wish there was, still haven't ID'd this one

 

 

IMG_1681.jpg

IMG_1683.jpg

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