Badge Collection Military Government Police Fire

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yes, EE87, now most Federal (civilian and military) and State … as well as many local … fire service and law enforcement agencies do these “kiddie badges”. Some even do patches:

 

[easterneagle87]

Yes, my department has stickers. This isn’t a new badge but probably from the 70s. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Yep: stickers, patches, plastic badges, pins, whistles, etc. The “world” of kiddie collectibles is actually huge.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Earlier in Posts # 389 to # 395 we discussed some White House and Secret Service badges. Recently on eBay one of these “Police Badges of the White House” plaques came up for sale at ~$2,800:

 

 

The badges were made expressly for these plaques and instead of being pin backs were screw backs. The original cost of one of these plaques was ~$400.

[jmd62]

Very nice! Now going for $2,800, quite the jump from $400..

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Definitely quite a price jump, jmd62. Interestingly, the basic breast badge hasn’t really changed from 1922 to present. It went from chrome to all gilt, to gilt with blue enamel. And, of course the titles changed from “White House Police” to “Executive Protective Service” to “U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division”.

 

A related aside: during the Nixon years a new “ceremonial uniform” was created, commencing in 1970:

 

 

The “troops” hated it and, personally, it is strongly reminiscent of what a high school marching band would wear, especially the cheap-looking hat!

[jmd62]

40 minutes ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Definitely quite a price jump, jmd62. Interestingly, the basic breast badge hasn’t really changed from 1922 to present. It went from chrome to all gilt, to gilt with blue enamel. And, of course the titles changed from “White House Police” to “Executive Protective Service” to “U.S. Secret Service, Uniformed Division”.

 

A related aside: during the Nixon years a new “ceremonial uniform” was created, commencing in 1970:

 

 

The “troops” hated it and, personally, it is strongly reminiscent of what a high school marching band would wear, especially the cheap-looking hat!

 

Totally! :D 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Here’s another lucite encased set of badges:

 

 

This is quite a rare set and expensive, as well (and, unfortunately, I don’t own it!). These types of sets are helpful since they include usage dates.

[MinutemanEMTer]

I remember Federal Marshals escorting our re-entry vehicles to the LF's during a bomb swap. They wore the middle badge for the period.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks, MinutemanEMTer. Probably it was silver-colored, since that’s what the POD’s (Plain Ol’ Deputy’s) wore. 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Anything directly related to the ill-conceived period known as Prohibition (~1920 to 1933) is highly collectible. Here’s a “State Prohibition Investigator” badge from Virginia:

 

 

I’ve also seen a similar badge with “State Prohibition Inspector”, also from Virginia.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Another Forum member, illinigander, recently posted these Federal Prison cap badges:

In case you missed them, here they are:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Ken!

[illinigander]

Thanks for making those posts for me Elizabeth,

illinigander

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Any badges from New York City are highly collectible, even non-law enforcement and non-fire service ones:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Referring back to Post #413: I thought I had one of those badges, too: 

 

[jmd62]

1 hour ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

Referring back to Post #413: I thought I had one of those badges, too: 

 

I love the look (font) of those old badges, thanks Cobra 6!

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Thanks, jmd62. I have to agree with you. It’s interesting that the wording of all three badges in Post # 413 changed, but the font and the basic design remained the same.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I don’t think we’ve had any health department badges on here yet. Most of these are pretty plain, but there are exceptions. Here’s one:

 

 

This is a hand engraved 10kt gold badge with an applied city seal in the center. The badge’s owner was A. J. Hawks, M.D., who is listed in the City’s annual reports during 1914-1917. The style of the lettering engraving, filled in with dark blue cloisonné enamel, is particularly nicely done.

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Originally this was gold-plated, but some has worn off now:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I’m not sure if this badge is for a State Board of Health employee that worked as a movie operator or if in Florida the State Board of Health regulated those movie operators that worked in theaters:

 

[jmd62]

2 hours ago, Cobra 6 Actual said:

I’m not sure if this badge is for a State Board of Health employee that worked as a movie operator or if in Florida the State Board of Health regulated those movie operators that worked in theaters:

 

Very interesting Cobra 6, a Movie Operator badge?! Are these uncommon to find?

[Cobra 6 Actual]

I’ve never seen another one, jmd62. On the other hand I’ve seen several “Plumber” badges issued by Health Departments. Here’s an example:

 

[Cobra 6 Actual]

Going back to Posts #389, #393, and #394; Rusty and I were discussing US Secret Service badges and the fact that many of those badges were made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). I recently found a document that illustrates that fact:

 

It is an official BEP listing of dies used to produce some of these badges. Unfortunately I do not have the original of this document and this is the best screen shot I have.

[Cobra 6 Actual]