CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW

This badge is going in my Newark Unique Badge Collection. It is old. It is in pretty good condition. It is definitely cool. 

Leave it to Newark to have issued a badge for the "Telephone Operator." That is just what they did. From the looks of it this item dates back to the 1930's.

It is a badge that is built over a Sergeant or Lieutenants badge. The necessary changes were accomplished by adding two panels to the original version of the badge. The top new panel reads "Telephone" and the bottom "new" panel reads "Operator." The number 22 is also picked up on this panel.

The sections of the badge that read "Police" and "Newark, NJ" are part of original badge. The letters are stamped into position from the rear.

In the center of the item is a Seal from the City of Newark. It looks to be set on the badge prior to plating.

This particular shape badge was rendered obsolete in mid 1950's.

Little else is known about it, but it seems worthy of display. I think I will keep it, along with the other 28 unique items from Newark.

TITUSVILLE 2015

The wife and I did the Titusville Show on Jan. 24. It was held, once again, in the Elks Club. There was plenty of room, and some 80 tables were taken up by Displays.

After writing articles for PC News for several years now, I finally got to meet Mike Bondarenko the Publisher of the paper. We enjoyed a very nice chat near the end of the show, and the good news is, I wasn't fired. There was more good news; He will write the report for the paper. Maybe he'll pick out some of my thoughts or use a picture or two.

I like taking pictures, almost as I like collecting badges.

That me, Dennis Beyer. I am showing that I still am the best dressed guy in town with my multi colored shirt and display of old Newark NJ badges

 The young man above is Chad Harris. He has been attending shows for years, and helped me a few years ago with a nice badge from Newark. Chad works in Jacksonville which explains why he had all those badges from the UK. Naturally he won Best Badge Display.

John Holmes is pictured here with his fine collection that he has been hiding from the wife, but she has now put the law down - "Get rid of some things - talk to me". That is one thing you can always do at these shows is talk to John.

Rick Amos is another man that is always at the shows. He is standing behind his fine collection of badges from California. He also had a beautiful .44 cal magnum and ID for Dirty Harry.

This fine gentlemen is Glenn Russell who was caught at a table with some interesting law enforcement items.

This fine man is Det. Doug Sarubbi. He not only attends these shows, He usually wins. This year was no different. Doug won overall Best Overall Display.

Steve and Karen Bridges. They host the Titusville Show. Steve is retired from the Titusville P.D.

Sitting at his table, holding court, is Sam Goldstein, retired West Palm Beach Sheriff's Sergeant. He too is at all the Florida Shows, and this year negotiated a fine badge to add to one of my NJ displays.

This young lady is Renee Dixon. She was pictured with some of many patches she had at her table on display or for sale. 

ANOTHER YEAR GONE, SOME GAINS IN 2014

The year 2014 was pretty good, although I still have not obtained the Newark Star that sits on top of this post.

Pictured here is the primary collection - Newark. It certainly has grown. It was the key to two trophies in 2014. That made the year fantastic.

In the center of the Newark case I have nine treasures. They cover the middle of the collection. The old hat badge, number C-93, is just outside the main focus, on the left perimeter. It is part of a rare matching radiator set for the rank of Chanceman.

Featured in the middle are two second edition badges, four old Detective Badges, and an older Sergeant shield.

Completing the perimeter (left, right, top) are eight "Old  Ovals." They are in number order going from another number 93 (Right corner) to a high 700 (Left corner). 

I feel good about having these hat badges. They are very collectible. They look nice surrounding my treasures, but I just might have to get a bigger display case in 2015 if I get another "treasure."  That would be a nice addition this year.

If I ever get the "Star" I guess I will have to get a much bigger display case. Maybe it should be displayed alone. Hope I can figure that out in 2015. 

Well in 2015, 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.

LETS TAKE A MINUTE TO REMEMBER

Another year has come, and gone. It's time to give a moment or two to remember friends who have passed on. One way or another they are still with us.

One of my friends answered his last call a couple of years ago. His grand-daughter drew the picture below. It  makes a very nice memory. 

In addition to this Officer, there are others who have passed away in 2014. They leave us and their families behind.  Miss you guys!

NJ MUNICIPALS - SCORE ONE MORE FOR THAT COLLECTION

MUNICIPALS: "N" Is For North Bergen.

I thought I was done with my NJ Municipal collection a while ago. This badge became available so I scooped it up.

It is the design that I like, and is also obsolete so that makes it more interesting for me. My guess this was issued in early 1900's and then called out of service in late 70's or 80's.

This particular shield is a standard Jersey design. Everything is stamped into it from the rear, including the State Seal. When  a municipality purchased it, all that had to be done was stamp into the panels: North Bergen,  Police.  Then in number box place the numbers 71 and it is done

My guess is that this town was located in Bergen County. I thought it was one of those little spots where their is some money. That is not the case. This community is in the heavily populated Hudson County. 

It is densely populated, and the citizens have many different ways to go for employment. Many probably swim to work in New York City. It is on the Hudson River directly across from the upper East Side of Manhattan.

Glad to have this one. It fits nice, and is well located where I can see it every day.

ANOTHER JERSEY MARSHALL

The year is almost over and I have had some good progress with my New Jersey Marshals.

First I finished, in four parts, taking pictures of every item in my collection, and then researching them so I could write a post and present a picture. I thought I was done earlier in the year, but the darn computer crashed.

I had to retreat and update my items as I scored another "Marshal." That one was just before summer. Now here we are, almost ready to carve up some turkey, and I have snatched another.

This "Marshal" is from North Caldwell. That community is in Essex County. There are about 6500 people living there now in what is an affluent Township fairly close to the Big Apple (NYC).

It was created in the late 1800's when many New Jersey "Boroughs" were created. Because of an opportunity to cash in on Federal revenue sharing a change of government was necessary. So North Caldwell became a Township formally in 2004.

Now when I worked in Essex County there was an institution located in North Caldwell that added over 1000 citizens to the population. You guessed it. They were inmates at the Essex County Penitentiary. The institution was built in the mid 1800's and sat on a hill surrounded by fields. 

When I was in college I had a summer job that included fetching some nice corn or tomatoes from the Guards. In the evening we played softball on the grounds of the county mental hospital. Some thirty years later I walked  the stairs to the reception area on too many occasions.

Now looking back, after my escape to Florida, I see the place is closed, the 1000 citizens have moved, and the rolling hills have become a very nice development. I once joked with the Warden about buying some  jail property from a trustee working on the grounds. I could have had a ground floor opportunity in a Condo Development back in the 1990's. I thought "that will never happen." Well it did, the county jail in Caldwell closed, Condo's are present,  and it is all part of the memory I have associated with the badge now in the collection.

It is a full sized silver tone item with black recessed letters. They read: Marshall, No. Caldwell,  # 17. There is in the center a NJ State Seal. This item is in excellent condition.

I keep it under glass, and high on the wall. That way I can see it daily, and smile as those memories greet me. 

COURTESY CALL: ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

Don't ask me why, but the wife and I took a trip to Guatemala in late September (2014). By now everyone who knows me, should know, the important question is: "Did you get a Badge?"

Well of course the answer is, "Yes."

We had the good fortune of being the only people on this tour so it didn't take too much effort to have our guide take us to a police station. He found one in the City of Antigua.

Before getting to the police  station I pumped the guide for all the information I could get about this City. Let me share some facts and work  my way up to headquarters.

I learned that Antigua is the oldest City in Central America, and it served as a capital during Spanish rule. It is quite a colorful City. Unfortunately it was built on a fault line, making it a land that shakes. It also has survived these tremors in the ground.

Many of the homes and buildings were facades from older days. In many cases all that was left from earthquakes was an outside wall or two. From these ruins present day homes and businesses were built.

Some of these buildings have walls that are over a foot thick, and you should see the wood doors that they have. Guaranteed they did not come from Home-Depot. A good number of these doors are over a hundred years of age.  

The streets of Antigua were wide, and made of cobble stones. For the most part they were clean, and solid. Most vehicular traffic was small cars, motor scooters, and an  occasional horse and buggy. 

I learned that electric here is produced from hydro-electric plants. The Country is self sufficient in electrical production. Distribution, on the other hand, is a problem. 

Electric is transmitted to the town by overhead wires. If it weren't for the telephone poles, carrying these electric wires, I would have thought myself lost in time. With them, I still got the feeling of being somewhere in the twilight zone.

As I approached the police station I was wondering if we were at the right place. I quickly learned not to judge a book by its cover.

The police station was small. It was colorful. The color of choice was appropriately blue. I loved it.

It was easy to find out who was in charge. I had the guide introduce me as a retired officer. I then offered my own "Buenas Tardes." It was nicely received with a smile and handshake.

The police had their own translator. He made conversing nice and easy. His command of English was very impressive. I injected my Jersey Spanish every now and then, and we hit it off quite well.

My explanation for being there was simple. I write for Police Collectors News. I told them all I wanted was a handshake and a smile for a picture or two. I let it slip that I also collect Badges. 

From our introductory remarks, I was rewarded with great conversation, some nice pictures, and a fine badge from "El Jefe's" shirt. I have it home now where it is displayed under glass. It serves as a fine memory of a great afternoon in Antigua.

The State Police Officers who made my day were Freddy Chavez Gomez (Officer in Charge), and Inspector Carlos Villatoro,  (translator).  They were terrific Gentlemen. I made sure to get their pictures for my friends at PC News.

Outside in the small court yard area of HQ, I was introduced to a Detective, who also was very friendly, and eager  to show off the badge that he carries in his work.  

Just down the street from HQ, I ran into a man who spoke English fairly well. He told me he was a retired  Philadelphia PD Officer.  Bill Shetz now works with  the American Legion. He advised me there is a community of retired US Police Officers working with the American Legion. They help the police and the local community. I was feeling at home here.

At that point my wife reminded me of the volcano, that was puffing, and our need to go shopping, so I gave Freddy and Carlos a nice Jersey Hug and a handshake. They showed me a great time, and their hospitality was truly enjoyed. Gracias, mi Amigos. Hasta Luego, and Thanks for a great memory.