MUNICIPALITIES "O" IS FOR ORANGE

"O" is for Orange. This is the 26th badge by municipality (and alphabet) in the collection.

Orange however is a City. I have been lucky enough to acquire two badges from this community over a century of collecting. I have elected to display one badge in both my "City" and "Municipal" Collections.. 

I have previously described the community of Orange when I address those Jersey metropolis' that have the pleasure of being incorporated as a City. If memory serves me correct  I told you that this badge represents about 4 square miles in area. 

Some 45.5 years I ago my wife and I had our wedding pictures taken in Orange Park. I am not so sure I would repeat the walk in the park today, and that has nothing to do with the wife.

Seton Hall University is a mile or two down the road, in the Village (definitely not a City) of South Orange. I remember a lifetime ago an incident at the University which required the local constabulary to call for backup. The troops came from Newark (which is a City) and Orange. As I recall Orange sent one officer who was their S.W.A.T. Team (at least in my mind) and order was quickly restored.

The badge I have is of the same vintage as my above recollection at the University. It was old then. It is not in use any more as the current badges of taken more modern design.

As you can see this is a vintage "Jersey" type shield. It is gold tone and has the following stamped into it: Lieutenant, Orange, and Police. The NJ State Seal is at center point. It has no color in it having been affixed to badge prior to the invention of enamel. It still looks good, because it's beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Today this item is under glass and as noted before wrongly placed in my Municipal Collection, simply because I can't fit it where it does belong. I hope you all can keep the secret.



 

"N" IS FOR NORTH ARLINTON

Last year I posted an article regarding the badges in my "Municipal" Collection. These are the badges that do not fit as either a "City" or the "City of Newark which is my primary interest.

I am presenting these badges in alphabetical order, by municipality. I will start 2013 with the "N's."

First up is "N"  for North Arlington. This nice antique is at home in my NJ  Municipal Collection. It is the 25th in alphabetical order.


The Community is incorporated as a Borough. It has around 15000 inhabitants. They all live in an area just under 3 square miles.  It lies on the Passaic River in Bergen County which surprises many people because the assumption is that it is in Hudson County. It is very close, and there probably was a war that resulted in a map landing this town in the more affluent county.

It is also in the NYC Metropolitan area. A quick ride to the NJ Turnpike and over the "GW" Bridge and you are in Manhattan. The kids, and a few more people, are around in the daytime.

When one is hungry the place to go is "Pizza Land." It is on Belleville Avenue. You may have seen it if you watched "The Soprano's." Tony is from the area in real life.

The Badge pictured above is a traditional shape item. It is believed to have been replaced by a newer design. This one is nicely marked with black recessed letters: North Arlington, Police. 

At the bottom of the badge is a number box where numbers were inserted. This box holds the number "4".

In the center of this badge is a State Seal which is used by a majority of towns in the Garden State. The Badge has been mine for over 20 years, and today has a fine home in my muni collection. It's under glass and in a spot where I see it everyday. I am pleased to have it !

NEWARK TREASURES 2013

The year 2012 was pretty good, although I still have not obtained the Newark Star pictured at the top of this post.

The primary collection has grown. I have nine oldies  covering the middle of the collection. They look a little tight. That is because I never expected to get as lucky as I have in tracking these guys down.

On the perimeter (left, right, top) are eight "Old  Ovals." They are in number order going from a low 93 (Right corner) to a high 700 (Left corner). I feel good about having these hat badges. They make nice trim and are very collectible.  They look nice surrounding my treasures, but  I just might have to get a bigger case in 2013. That would be nice

If I ever get the "Star" I guess I will have to get the bigger display case. Maybe it should be displayed alone. 

During the year 2012 I was able to put together a display of current badges. There are eight in total, including a matching set of breast and hat badges for  Officer.  Then going from left to right are: Officer, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief. 

This display is trimmed out with old buttons, my dads' blackjack, and a current patch. I had to get this case, and hang it, while the wife was away in NJ. When she returned she had no new badges for me, but she didn't say a word about the new case below.  I guess she likes it.

I was also able to pick up a couple of  "Unique" Badges that I have in a separate display.  Someday I'll do a the job posting them here.   I do understand that the interest is not in badges from the Dept. of Sanitation.  I ought to give that one to my wife as she does a great job keeping all my displays looking good, and going to shows with me.

Well in 2013, with your help, I will acquire that Newark Star. While I wait for it I will keep telling you about the remainder of the collection.