HORSE TO RADIO

The "Guy" on the horse is my Dad. It was taken in the 1920'.



The picture is a "modern day" reprint and looks good.

Of course the author is a tad biased on that point.

From the stories I recall hearing as a boy, my father had a "radio license." In 1934 the Newark Police initiated "radio transmissions" between a dispatcher and the old "Black and Whites" a transfer was made. I am not sure if this was a requested transfer, or one "in the best interests of the Department." A millennium later that artful language is something that still rings a bell.

The insignia "R-T" is around 70 years of age, and was worn by the guys assigned to the "radio unit." A local bank, The National Newark and Essex Bank, owned the tallest building in Newark, and that building is where the broadcasting antenna was originally located. The current location is not known. Maybe N.P.D. is using "text messages" to contact the troops. You never know.

The badge is said to be a more modern issue of those given to "civilian" dispatchers. It is inscribed: "Communication Officer, Newark, NJ #10." I am not sure that this item was actually issued by N.P.D. My source was a "wild child," if you will, who could have had the badge made up for himself. The authenticity is somewhat shaky from this vantage point, but the badge does use the "City Seal" suggesting it just might be legitimate.

The number "7" is insignia from what was referred to as the "Seventh Precinct". I believe it was also known as the "Sixth Precinct," and now the "South District". When I was a boy I visited this station many times. It was located at 714 Hunterdon Street, which was easy to remember if you watched Jack Webb's "Dragnet," or re-runs on "Badge 714." This location provided a home for those officers assigned to "Radio Repair." From what I heard this was a good assignment. Unfortunately Motorola Corp. started making better radios, and doing their own repairs. That's life.

The number "2" is insignia from the "Second Precinct." Today it is the "North District." I believe that was where the "Mounted Squad " was located when the above picture was snapped. I know this section of the City was well protected during the 67 riots. It was where my father grew up when he was a boy, and the location of his retirement home on Mt. Prospect Ave. Well it's been years since I have seen any of this. One of these days I will journey North, and do what was referred to in the Probation Dept. as an "Area Cruise." It meant "drive around and see what is happening." It was also good for the expense account. For now the author will just enjoy the memories.

NEWARK "LIEUTENANT" & "SERGEANT" BADGES

The focus of my collection has been municipalities that qualify as "CITY'S." I have seen some displays of various Top Tens. They were inspiring, but I am a realist. I just knew this would be an impossible task.

I set my goal at obtaining the "Top Three Cities." They were: Newark, Jersey City, and Trenton (State Capital). I had some luck over the over the years, and I did get the "Top Three," plus a couple more.

The goal had to change, and it did. The goal became to collecting something from the "Top Ten." There I haven't been as lucky. I have eight of ten. The Cities of Camden and Clifton have eluded me.

While I looked for "CITY'S" I also ran a parallel collection on badges from the City of Newark. This focus made sense. After all I grew up in the City, and had many contacts in and around Newark. My Dad was with N.P.D. for 37 years, and I was well aquainted with his friends. Collecting here was going to be easy. It only took 40 years to acquire twenty "City" badges worthy of displaying. In the quest for City badges I was fortunate to acquire fifty badges from "non city" municipalities. They turned out to be very worthy of displaying.

This article will present three badges in that Newark Collection that warranted being "put under glass. " There are "twenty" that catch my eye every day. They stand proud in a nice oak case, that hangs neatly on the wall. That's so my wife won't complain. Anybody have a problem like that?

The First Item is a Sergeant's Badge that was issued around World War I. It stayed around about 45 years, and was retired in 1957. It is in good condition showing some signs of its' age. The City Seal is used on Newark badges, and should show clearly in the picture. The seal is similar to the N.J. State Seal, which is used by most municipalities.

The Second Item is also a Sergeant's Badge. This one is in excellent condition. Again note the city seal, and the reverse blue lettering.

The Third Item is a Newark Lieutenant' Badge. This one could be in better condition, but it is not terrible by any means. This badge is believed to have been introduced in the late 1950's.

These three items contribute to making the entire collection of twenty well worth their neat little spot on the wall.

H. W. "Will" LOOMIS - WHO WAS HE?

Once in the while an item, or two, of major interest finds its' way into a collectors hands. That's the case with the above gun and badge. This collector acquired these items a few months ago. They hang in my retirement "museum" with the countless "things " I have obtained over the last few (40) years.

The gun is a reminder of my days as a young boy. I watched, on that new thing called television, my favorite cowboy shows. Of course my homework had to be done or I might get a whack from my Dad with his nightstick. The heroes back then were: Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Hopalong Cassidy. They were always after some cattle rustler or a train robber. The good guys had white hats, and always won.

Most of these guys carried silver revolvers. The Lone Ranger even shot silver bullets. If I remember correctly, these "cowboys" shot about 30 rounds without reloading. I guess they were carrying the first "automatics."

The gun above is certainly not made of silver. It only holds six rounds, and they were not made of silver. The gun is just a .36 caliber relic from the real West. It is believed to have been used in the Arizona-New Mexico territories during the 1890's. On its own it is not a collectors treasure. But this gun also carries a name engraved on the back strap: "H. W. Loomis "Deputy U.S. Marshal." This may enhance the value of this old "Six Shooter."

The badge, pictured above, is really sterling silver, or at least it has the word "sterling" stamped on the back left side. On the back right side is what appears to be a hallmark: "A&G". In the lower rear panel there is a name: "H. W. Loomis." These matching engravings of the Loomis name make the gun and badge at least interesting.

Since obtaining these items I learned "Will Loomis" was in fact a U.S.Marshal. He served in New Mexico, for ten years, prior to Statehood. My favorite source of information, "The New York Times," reported (Oct.3, 1896) in an article titled "Noted Train Robber Killed," that the "High Five Gang" attempted to rob an Atlantic & Pacific Train, about 4 miles outside Albuquerque. New Mexico. They "hit" the train at a water station called Rio Puerto. "Will" Loomis just happened to be on that train. There was a gun battle and an outlaw, Cole Young, "bought the ranch" that day. According to the Times the outlaw was shot by Loomis using his revolver. Better sources say Loomis used a shotgun, hitting Young with two blasts to the chest area. Either way Mr. Young, a.k.a, Cole Estes died that day. He was buried in Albuquerque's Fairview Cemetery Oct 5, 1896.

If Loomis was working today he would be one of my heroes. He too had fondness of the government expense account. Loomis, I have learned, was the first U.S. Marshall to be allowed to submit his expenses without a receipt. It was argued that he would be ineffective as an "undercover officer" if he had to ask Saloon keepers for receipts. Of course in granting him this status, the "wise ones" in Washington D.C. decreed that he could not arrest anyone. Some thinking never seems to change.

Beyond the above reported facts this writer knows little about H.W.Loomis. There are a few career tidbits, but nothing regarding his personal life: Was he married? Did he have kids? When did he die? The questions go on, and on.

This collector believes Loomis owned this gun at one time essentially because of the engraving. Why put someone Else's name on a gun that was old even back in the 1890's. The badge, however, does not appear to be of the same time frame. It is newer. The theory is it was a "later life gift" that a now older Loomis, or family member, obtained to put on display with the above gun.

Any information on this gun, or badge, or H.W.Loomis, as they said in that old TV cowboy show, is: WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE. (denb22@gmail.com)