Monday, July 31, 2017
LAST CALL FOR ORLANDO SHOW
Friday, July 14, 2017
TOP COP COLLECTION: ABSECON
This is a newer collection that I put together starting out a few years ago. The focus is on the top job in as many agencies as I could locate. I now have twenty, and have put them in a display box listing badges in alphabetical order.
ABSECON is the first of my TOP COP COLLECTION. I have had this badge over twenty years and just thought of it as a political boss' badges. That may be accurate but I never checked.
Absecon itself is a City, and is around six square miles in area. Some of that is under water. The population is around 8000. The population might go higher between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That is when the "Shore Season" has the city open for business.
Although this community became a City over 100 years ago it has remained off the radar for the last 30 + years. One's attention for the most part goes to the neighboring community of Atlantic City.
For some (probably political) reason the police force in Absecon requires a Superintendent. This badge was issued for that tittle many years ago. It is styled after the New York Police Captains' Badge. This writer likes the design with the five "points" and blue lettering.
Because Absecon is a City, I originally included in my City Collection. Technically it is a City, but is so small it really does not fit with my interest for large NJ Cities. That fact helped give birth to my new collection - The Top Cop Collection. This is my first display item.
Look for similar articles in the future.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
STABLE SUPERVISOR, EARLY 1900's
This unique badge has been with me over 30 years. In my little museum at home, I have placed it with other badges that are not quite "Newark Police," but are related in many ways. This relationship is unique. I have a few different shields that fit in this category, but this item is the nicest.
First lets' take a look at the center point of the badge. That is the "City Seal" of the City of Newark. If you are not familiar with Newark's Seal, you can check the ring around it. For clarification it reads: City of Newark over New Jersey. The Seal is rare and is not on true Newark items unless someone authorized use of the special City Seal.
In the primary panel the words are: Department of Public Works. On the bottom panel is the title Supervisor Stable. Well, even if you think the title on this badge to be only some horse manure, this is a very nice badge.
lets note that this early 1900 badge is gold-tone and has very nice features. Note the twin wreaths on the sides and the Castle with Twin Turrets on top. This badge appears to have been made for someone with political stature.
The job, and the Stables themselves were linked to Newark Police too. While the job relates to the City Stables in Branch Brook (A County) Park. This was the home of Newark's Mounted Squad's horses.
During my father's career he rode on the mounted squad for a couple of years. I don't think he ever saw this badge, but I have to imagine it would be a unique interest to him. That is my father on Ginger, in 1929.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
OLD HAT CIRCA 1910 ADDED TO NEWARK COLLECTION
It has been a while since I obtained a piece of history worth writing about and posting here. But a few weeks ago I made a connection that resulted in a purchase of the above police hat.
The seller is someone I have been acquainted with over the years. You can imagine how happy I was to hear that he wished to "let it go." It didn't take too long before we agreed on the specifics. Soon the hat took a 1200 mile journey to my home, where it now is part of my Newark Police Collection.
I have been in the hobby now fifty years, getting my start from my father who was on the Newark force for 37 years. He gave me some of the badges he obtained over the years. That started my hobby.
After all the time (and money my wife would add if she were here) my focus has been on metal badges. They are rare enough, but while collecting them I never obtained "head dress" from N.P.D. until a few months back when I got a Newark Derby Hat.
The above has now become my second Newark Hat and it has a nice home for sure. It sports a "Hat Badge (Number 1090)" that is in good shape. On the top of the badge are the words: "NEWARK POLICE." I have several of these old badges and this one fits right in, although it stays on the hat (it's wired to it).
Take a closer look at the hat badge. In the center is a familiar Seal. This is a N.J. State Seal. On Newark's badges, and the current Hat Badge in particular, the Seal is a "City Seal." The Hat above, with its badge, may very well have been the last usage of a NJ State Seal on Newark Uniforms.
Hope you enjoy these pictures of this old artifact and the history it brings to the table.
Monday, May 15, 2017
ORLANDO SHOW TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 2 AT ROSEN HOTEL
Friday, April 7, 2017
MARSHAL TENAFLY NJ
Okay, I got me another New Jersey Marshal Badge. Yes Sir, that is great !
This Badge is from TENAFLY, NJ. This is a community up near the Hudson River and crossings to New York City. It is a nice place and consists of residents who travel to the big city on a daily basis.
The badge comes from the day when the community was young and under the NJ Borough form of Government the job of "Marshal" was described as the means of enforcing the law. This badge comes from that era just past 1894 ( Borough Act). It is a 2 inch Eagle on top of a Shield.
The badge is marked: "MARSHAL" right at the top. On the next three panels it reads: TENAFLY and number 233.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
PROGRESS
In the old days if a gang was causing trouble a few cops on horseback dispersed the gang. They ran in all different directions, and the Cops would stop - CASE CLOSED.
Twenty-five years later if there is a gang causing trouble at the usual corner, police cars were sent. The Boys were taken downtown for a shower, a meal, had their picture taken and released - THAT USUALLY MEANT CASE CLOSED.
Twenty-five Days ago, "Anywhere USA", the Boys are back at it. Hold on, not so quick. They're not Boys anymore. Next did you see that someone in City Hall actually gave them a permit. The permit says this is their corner up to 11:00 PM.
However "That Permit" does not give the Gang the right to be belligerent trouble seekers. If they go to far, the Police can be called. The Permit does not authorize Homicide, Arson or just simple Rioting. Those that have "The Permit" need to understand that it is a "privilege", and that there are rules (some of us refer to them as "LAWS) that must be obeyed.
When the Crowd, with the permit, goes to far with their "demonstration," it's time for the "Boys in Blue" to respond.
When appropriate the Police can apply force to those that don't know how to act like human beings.
It is sad when this becomes a bad scene. This is because our 'Young Urban Permit Holders' can't read the rules, and if they could, simply wouldn't care. Yeah, plenty of potential for some real harm in these situations, except someone, with brains, gave the order to DISPERSE THE CROWD.
Enough said: DISPERSE THE CROWD
*****
