A SUPER RARE "NEWARK" BADGE

This is my "Special Newark Badge. Number 33"

Once Springfield took ownership of the badge they ordered a name plate, with their name on it, to be placed over the original letters - N E W A R K. Take a look at the picture of the back of this item. In the top "name panel" the stamped letters show the original lettering.

Newark you say. It reads SPRINGFIELD. But it was NEWARK first. That's what makes this fine badge - Unique, Rare and Mine. 

Give the face of the Badge a close look. In the center you will see the famous Eagle that centers on the Newark Shield. He is just above the number box, which has two pillars framing number 33 inside the Box. 

It's doubtful that those are original numbers. They were probably changed to suit the Township of Springfield's needs.

The information that was given to me, is that Newark helped Springfield, by selling the small Township some of the City's Badges to be worn by Township Officers. This took place reportedly in the early 1960's.

Today Newark still uses the same shape for their badges. They have done so since 1914. Springfield has moved on having a badge of its' own design, one that is more suitable to its' status as a very nice suburban community just a few miles West of the big city - Newark.

SALE ITEMS; ARE YOU INTERESTED ???

I have had these badges etc. for too many years and my wife insists I "Get Rid Of Them !"  OK, she said it nicer, pointing out that they don't really fit with my primary focus. So take a look at these badges and asking price. If you are interested drop me a line at:   jerseychief.gmail.com

1.  New York City  1900 Belt Buckle, pewter...........$35.00
                                                                             NOTE ITEM SOLD

2.  Set of New Jersey Borough's ( TENAFLY & CARLSTADT) "Marshal's."............. for pair .......    $120.00    

3.  HISTORIC N.M. BADGE:

 Sterling Silver, Presentation Badge. From New Mexico Territory given to Chief U.S. Marshal Horace W Loomis. This Marshal worked in the Albuquerque area, and thwarted, according to Wells Fargo Chronicles, a Train Robbery at the Water Station in Rio Puerco, N.M. .............................$4499.

                                                                           

  

Below, the rear of this badge is shown magnified, to reveal makers letters, Silver Marking, and Loomis' Name in lower panel.

          

4. NEWARK  Police Shoulder Patch. Good condition...          ..........................................................................             $4.25

5. HISTORIC ENVELOPE FRONT:  Addressed to Charles A LINDBERGH. Mail was processed shortly after the famed aviator's son was kidnapped by Bruno Hauptmann. Envelope had been kept as a souvenir by a Newark Detective, who assisted on the case. It possibly carried one of over a dozen different Ransom demands, and was in the mail received by the family right after the event.          .........................$175.00 

6. New England Area Radiator Badge.  This is a light weight badge, possibly a toy. It could have been used by an officer with a "Juvenile Assignment."  It has nice detail.   ................................................................................    $35.00

7. Pewter FIRE FIGHTER limited edition Belt Buckle.  .............................................................................   $10.00

8.  Gag Badge "Brothel Inspector."  ..............  $7.50               

9. ANTIQUE BADGE SET FROM WEST NEW YORK,       N.J.  No longer the shield in use and out of service over           50  years. In very good condition. Set of 2  ........ $89.00

NEWARK  RECRUIT Police Shoulder Patch. Good condition...          ..........................................................................             $4.25

SAVED FROM THE GARBAGE: A NEWARK DETECTIVES' NOTES FROM THE LINDBERGH KIDNAPPING

An old Newark Police, Desk Log Book, with roots dating back to the 1930's found itself  serving multiple purposes in its lifetime. At some point in time the book became Det. Morris Kirwin's personal scrapbook. I believe he took the book into retirement, handed it down to family members, and it eventually find itself being thrown out as garbage. Fortunately it was rescued from the trash in Massachusetts. 

Kirwan pasted news clippings of his involvement in numerous cases, into "his" scrapbook. The collection started in 1929. Looking at these notes, I turned page after page, until I saw multiple articles relating to the kidnapping of Aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. This was an event that shocked the Nation, and held its' interest until the execution of Bruno Hauptmann, at Trenton State Prison, April 3, 1936.

Detective  Kirwan was one of several Newark Police that were assigned to assist with the investigation into the Lindbergh Kidnapping. Charles A. Lindbergh Jr. had been taken from his nursery on Tuesday, March 1st 1932. The home was on an estate owned by the family in Hopewell N.J.

A ransom of $50,000 was asked, in what was the first of 15 ransom notes. In his notes Detective Kirwan recorded the names of those Newark Officers, including Chief James McRell, that had responded to the Lindbergh Estate in Hopewell, N.J.  See pictures below.

A Photo of the Lindbergh House

Det. Kirwan's Note "Newark Police at Lindy's"

Chief McRell Newark Police, Col. Schwarzkopf (NJ State Police), and Chief Thomas Wolfe (Jersey City)

Col. Lindbergh eventually paid the ransom. The famed aviator believed this was the only way to rescue his baby. The money was delivered by John Conlin, an intermediary, to the kidnappers on April 2, 1932 in a Bronx, NY Cemetery.

After the payment of the ransom the Lindbergh's were given instructions on how to locate their child. These instructions did not produce the missing baby. Searches continued around the Lindbergh Estate with no success

Pictured below is Col. Lindbergh, and to his right Mrs. Lindbergh, and several pictures of their son. These photos are part of Detective Kirwan's notes.

Kidnapped Baby, Charles Lindbergh Jr,

and Mr. and Mrs Lindbergh 

A Detective examines Ladder used to remove Baby from Second Floor Nursery

On May 12, 1932, over a month after the delivery of the ransom money, Truck Drivers found the body of the missing child. The case now became a homicide investigation.

For a solid year there were no arrests in the case. Then a series of events seemed to just fall in place. The first was actually in May of 1932 when the United States went off the Gold Standard. Our present day currency quietly came into existence. With Gold Certificates no longer legal tender, it was possible for these certificates to be rejected by Banks.

Eighteen months following the discovery of the baby's body an individual went into a gasoline station in the Bronx. He paid for his gas using a Gold Certificate. The Station Attendant feared not being able to collect on this certificate wrote the cars license plate number. The plate belonged to Bruno Richard Hauptmann. He was arrested September 19, 1934. 

The last item to note, found in Detective Kirwan's scrap book, is an "Envelope Front" with canceled stamp, and addressee's name showing. The letter went through the U.S. Post Office in Norristown,  P.A.  It was stamped 12:00 PM - March 2nd - the day after the kidnapping.  It was addressed to "Mr. or Mrs Charles Lindbergh, Hopwell, N.J. 

Many thoughts go through my mind concerning this "Envelope." Was it evidence from the case?  Did it contain one of the 15 ransom notes?  Why did Detective Kirwan keep it all these years?  Yes, it was part of his memorabilia, but what did it signify to him.

Front of Envelope Found in Detective Kirwan's Scrap Book

I have been told that there are many unanswered questions about this case, and subsequent trial. Now I have a few of my own that I'll just add to the pile of memories that I collect.

NEW YORK TRINKET FOR SALE

Wow it's March already, and I have not been giving this blog the attention it deserves.

I am trying to downsize my collection, and I do have a few items to move along. It just has not been easy identifying those things that I can let go of. That, and cataracts, have slowed my "posts" on this site. I'll try to do better.

Anyway, I found the above Belt Buckle from New York City. It is from the late 1800s to early 1900's. 

If anyone has an interest contact Dennis at:

   jerseychief@gmail.com

Asking $50 or B/O       ITEM HAS SOLD

TOP COP: WEST ORANGE

This is the last (for now) of my TOP COP COLLECTION.

I have had this badge over 20 years or longer. I got lucky obtaining it back in the day. It was made for the "Chief", except he never accepted delivery of for one reason or the other. So the maker allowed me to purchase it. I took real good care of this beauty wondering if "He" would come looking for it. He didn't, and others ascended to the office of the Chief. Guess they ordered their own badge.

As you look at it,  you will note it is a "named" badge. It turns out the man was a neighbor of my in-laws when they lived "Down in the Valley." We met a couple of times. I don't think he has any idea that I have "his" badge. That's what is cool about collecting these treasures - You often obtain a story with the badge.

The shield is a "Sunburst" with an Eagle on the top. Their is a name panel at the top also.

The bottom has a reversed blue/gold lettering pattern spelling out the word "Chief."   The ring around the State Seal reads West Orange Police Dept. 

It is an impressive old style badge that I have kept under glass, so it remains in pristine condition. With all my items, I see them daily and enjoy the memories that they bring to my aging old mind. That I can still remember, makes me quite happy, and proud to have this "CHIEF" in my collection. 

CHIEF READY TO TRAVEL

Fellow Collectors this grouping is offered for purchase. It is offered as a "set," and will not be sold piece meal, as that would diminish its' value. 

Take a look. The man standing has been in my den for a couple of years guarding my Jersey Collection. He stands by the window looking down at one of my displays. The problem is He is from CLEVELAND, OHIO. He does look good, but He really wants to go home.

The pictures above show the Chief's uniform Dress Coat and Hat with white top. Matching breast and hat badges are attached at the appropriate locations.

Below is a close up of the "Cleveland Police Chief" Badge. Also shown are a name plate and pistol award. 

The last picture is of the shoulder patch that was in use at the time this uniform was actually in use.

Asking $375. Contact:  jerseychief@gmail.com

"A STAR HAS ARRIVED"

Do you remember that kid's story where someone yelled out "The Sky is Falling, The Sky is falling!" Well the Kid, in the book, could have been me a few weeks ago. The sky didn't fall, but something spectacular happened.

Let me be clear: "I got a Newark Star!"

You may recall every year, in January, I would do a post, on my blog,  with a plea for someone to help me find the ultimate Newark Badge to add to my collection. 

I have been collecting over fifty years. How many years over fifty is not important. What is important, is that after collecting anything from anywhere, I finally had to downsize. That shift put my focus strictly on anything from New Jersey, especially NEWARK.

I was thinking maybe the Top Ten Cities in the Garden State, or the Newark/Essex County (where I worked). I knew officers in almost every police department in the county. It took time, but I was able to build a network of Officers helping me create what I believe is a fabulous "Jersey Collection."  

Eventually I found my Top Ten, and I accumulated Badges from Communities all around the Garden State. This gave me an opportunity to build other collections and to still keep my eye focused on Newark.

I grew up in the City, as did my wife. We graduated the same school - "West Side H.S."  My Dad was a Detective there, and retired only after a Thirty-Seven year career. He gave me my first few badges fifty years ago, and that sorta got my full collection on its' way. 

As I looked for Newark's "Star," I was able to acquire some beautiful, and rare, badges from the N.P.D.  I got them, but "No Star."  I tried hard, but to no avail. I looked at shows, I sent letters to other collectors, and I searched on- line auctions, including Ebay. No Luck.

Finally, with 50 years invested in the hobby, I had a conversation with Mike Bondarenko (Publisher of PC News). This was a year or two ago at The Show in, Titusville, Florida. Mike gave me a lead. Well, I was a like a Boy Scout on the hunt for an Eagle Badge. That lead became "Contact." It took a while, but eventually an arrangement was made for me to purchase the above Newark Star. 

The seller and I are keeping the terms of the deal private; However It is safe to say, "There are two happy people in the Hobby today!"  My Quest, to obtain The Star, has also given me the finest of memories, and those memories also stand as important parts of my Collection.

Pictured also are a few rare Newark Badges that I have had for some time. As of now they sit as the foundation for the Badge I treasure most.

These two badges date back to circa 1860. They were the next Edition, after the Star. Both are in good condition. They  show a nice view of the City Seal and number panel with #52 and #1640 respectfully.

Pictured below are two "sets" of Newark Radiator Badges that preceded the current edition. They were in use circa 1900. The "set" marked #C93 is a very rare piece. It is a "Chanceman' Badge" or probationary officer in today's jargon. 

This is the heart of my hobby. All of these badges are the "Stars" of my collection, but with out a doubt, the Eight Pointed Newark Star, at the top of this post is the ultimate prize.