MUNICIPALS - "E" IS FOR ENGLEWOOD

E is for Englewood. This is the eleventh badge following the alphabet rule, however it is here in my Municipal Collection, because of a lack of space in my "City" display.

This particular badge is for a "Special" officer and that title appears at the very top of the badge. It is a banner carried by an eagle.

In the main body of this shield there is an applied multi colored State of N.J. Seal. I guess this really makes it official, but I always prefer the older seals that are plated.

There are three panels on this item. They mark  the words: Police,   Officer, Englewood.

This is a fine looking item, and it will continue to reside under glass in my displays. Even if it isn't quite in the right location I'll keep it.

MUNICIPALS - "E" IS FOR ELIZABETH

"E" is for Elizabeth. In sequence this would be the tenth in alphabetical order. That is how they are displayed.

Initially I must admit there is a problem with this one. Elizabeth is a City. It is in here because I didn't have room for it anywhere else.

I was able to obtained a couple of nice items from this location, but only displayed one in my City Collection. I covered that badge in a post dated January 19, 2010. Boy time is flying. 

This particular badge is one that I have had for a long time. It is in great shape, and of a traditional design. It is gold tone with blue letters. There is a pin and clasp on the rear.

It is marked: Elizabeth Police, with the Sergeant title in the bottom number box. In the top section is an applied Seal from the City which adds a very nice touch and makes the badge unique to this community.

Having a second item from this location has forced me to place it where it is. That is OK. I am proud to have it and to display it, knowing their is another one over my shoulder in the correct location.

NEW ADDITION: ATLANTIC CITY DETECTIVE

 
After several weeks of hunting for either a trade or an acquisition I finally closed a deal for a new edition to my City Collection. It will fit very nice with a couple of other items from the City by the Sea.


I found this badge on Ebay and made the purchase. I usually stay away from that source, but this one looked pretty good. It is from Atlantic City, N.J.


It was issued to "Special Detectives."  It is very nice crafted badge using a blue and white enamel over gold tone finish. 


The tittle is at the top of a ring that surrounds the "City Seal." The name of the City is at the bottom. I believe this badge was used in early 1900's through 1930. The manufactures mark is present on the rear,  which also names Attelboro, Mass. as the manufacturing location.


It all depends on where one sits when looking at an item such as this, but from this perspective it looks great, and will be welcome in my collection.

MUNICIPALS - "D" IS FOR DUMONT

D is for DUMONT.  In alphabetical sequence this is the ninth badge in my Municipal Collection.


This badge is the old traditional design that I like so much. I have had it a good 20 years in one display or another.  It is a keeper.


The Borough of Dumont is in Northern N.J.  in the County of Bergen. This is a very nice area to reside. Roughly 17,000 people call it home. It took its' name from the first Mayor - Dumont Clarke.


The silver tone badge is simply marked: DUMONT POLICE. It also carries the number # 11 in an open number box. Stamped into the body of the badge is the N.J. State Seal.


The rear of the badge has a functioning pin and clasp.

This is another badge that I think looks good, and one that I am pleased to put on display.

MUNICIPALS - "D" IS FOR DEPTFORD

"D" is for Deptford. This item represents the eighth distinct community in alphabetical order in my Municipal Collection.


This place is in South Jersey.  I must admit I have only heard about it. I knew it was in Gloucester County, but most of my conversations, with people living there, were regarding how I did not pronounce Gloucester correctly.  I still get it wrong.


I know now to refer to it as Exit 3 off the N.J. Turnpike. I used that exit a couple of times when visiting the metropolis of nearby Woodbury, which is the County Seat. During those job related trips to the Court House I never gave Deptford a thought.


Since acquiring this badge, from a collector in the Deep South who had different interests, I spent a moment to do a little research on Deptford. I was surprised to see that it is more then a dot on the map. It has about 30,000 people living there,  so I guess it too is a metropolis.


It seems this community has a decent size Police Department, but sad to say,  I could not verify the rank of  Deputy Chief.  That is the rank in the panel at the top of the badge in my display case. Maybe this rank has been eliminated. I really don't know.


The main section of this gold tone shield reads: Police,  Deptford Twp. While this item looks great I am somewhat concerned about its' legitimacy. It didn't cost much. The collector who sold it was reliable. So in the end I will be happy to display it, and let it remind me at least of Gloucester County,  New Jersey, and  Turnpike Exit 3.

MUNICIPALS - "C" IS FOR CRANFORD

"C" is for CRANFORD.  This is the 7th town in sequence in my Municipal Collection.

This is an old badge that has been part of my displays since the early 1980's. It is an unusual shape for a police badge, although I have seen this design in use in a few other departments.


I do not believe this style is in use anymore. I think they now use an oval shield.

The Town is located in Union County. It is a nice residential community having been created back in 1871. I wasn't there at the time.  


I didn't live far from this community when I resided in The Garden State. I often drove through Cranford and recall seeing residents using their canoes on the Rahway River. This is still an attraction for the 20,000+ residents.


The badge that I have in my display was for a SERGEANT. That title is in the panel just under the Eagle on the top of the shield. Surrounding the multi colored State seal are the words: CRANFORD, NJ - POLICE.

I like this old badge and appreciate having it in my Municipal Collection.

2012, AND A LOOK BACK AT HOW THE COLLECTION HAS GROWN

 

 

I haven't finished writing about my MUNICIPAL COLLECTION yet. The way I am going it is going to take another year to finish. That will be just the right thing to keep me busy.


During the year (2011) I had the good fortune of adding a few badges to my primary interests: CITIES IN N.J., and the CITY OF NEWARK. I have displayed most of the additions as they come along, but to start the year I thought I would show how the Major Displays look at the moment.


In my CITY COLLECTION there are now 31 badges. They are from N.J.'s major cities plus a couple lesser spots on the Jersey Map. 

The best addition  last year was a Camden, NJ Police Badge (#97). It is huge. I think Gen. George Washington gave this shield to the PD in Camden right after "he" crossed the Delaware. The Camden Cops probably saved "Georgie" from a mugging following the big victory up in Trenton.  OK, the Badge is not that old,  but I'd say it is at least 100 years of age, and one that I am very happy to own.


In my  CITY OF NEWARK COLLECTION  I picked up two nice pieces to add to the specific display I have on N.P.D. antiques badges. One badge acquired during 2011 is a Chancemen Badge # C-93 with matching Hat shield. 

The Chanceman was the rank given to new officers in the department.  This badge is distinguishable from the regular badge by only the letter "C" in  the number  box.  It is a rarer badge then others in Newark's  radiator edition. 


Another fine addition is a Second Edition Badge marked only with the word "POLICE."   It has the number 50 stamped in the number box. The City Seal is the only marking on this badge to let one know it is from Newark, NJ  It is a beauty, and now rests with a twin in my display.

Pictured above are the display cases and the individual items described in this post.