Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police M.P.D.
Traditional Badges
1937 -
1941 -
1945 -
1949 -
1953 -
1957 -
1961 -
1965 -
1969 -
1973 -
1977 -
1981 -
1985 -
1989 -
1993 -
1997 -
2001
2005 -
2009 -
2013 -
1949 - GOLD
In 1993 two different companies made badges, the badge to the right was made by Blackington of North Attleboro Ma. the one on the left being a Bastians.
Traditional Badges
BlackSheep Productions 2009
It was suggested to me that I place this badge as a Novelty Badge, I am leaving it here to keep it in numerical order to the others. It was not actually made until the 80-'s When George Wilson had them made with the permission of the M.P.D. Chief of Police.
Traditional Inaugural Badge
If you have any photographs, stories or historical information about Traditional Badges please contact Jim Blickensdorf at: blickster061@att.net
Lamb S & S : Rhodium
Blackingon : Rhodium
Gold Plated
Rose Gold
Bronze
Sterling Silver
Bastian : Rose Gold
Collinson : Bronze
1977 -
Most collectors do so out of Pride and Honor of the Law Enforcement Profession. As a novice collector I have had the unfortunate opportunity to of been robbed at the hands of fellow collectors. I have no problem with duplicate badges, so long as they are sold as duplicate badges. Not all collectors have the big bucks for a $500 or more badge. Also as a novice collector I do have first hand knowledge on how these badges are made and what the true cost is when they come out of the factory. So to pay $300 for a brand new badge is nothing more then a business, not a hobby. The only time I can understand paying a large amount of money for a badge is if it is OLD, one of a kind type where there is true historical value to it.
Now that I have spoken my peace about fake badges, here are some pictures of fake Washington D.C. Traditional badges. For some of these you almost have to be a jeweler.
This is a 1941 Traditional that was recasted, which means someone took an original and made a new casting for it. then these were made. The quality isn't as good and they are often pitted
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This 1953 Traditional has no number in the circle at the top right side of the badge. there is no reason for it to be like this unless it is a fake or a prototype
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The 1969 Traditional you see here was stamped and has a flat backing. A real 1969 was a shell backed badge
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This 1977 is another flat back fake. Flat backs are cheaper to make so many fake badges are made that way. This doesn't mean all badges with flat backs are fake though..
A shell backed badge looks like this.
This is a flat back.
MOST badges will have the company name stamped into the back of it. Some special badges like the newer Traditionals will have a Chiefs signature or additional information about the badge
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Badges are far from my best M.P.D. subject. I have very little knowledge about the markings, styles, or methods of customizing badges. What I have on this page has been sent to me by others. I will try to pass along what I can to help you understand the M.P.D. traditional badges...
The 1957 Eisenhower traditional badges was the last traditional badge to have a number placed on the front of it.
There were no trade marks of any kind on any of the traditional badges from 1937 up to and including the 1977 traditional badge.
From 1937 up to 1977 traditional badges were made with a shell back.
From 1981 to the present traditional badges have been solid backed.
From 1981 to the present there is a hallmark for each year badge that was produced for the series.
The 1993 traditional had two badges issued by 2 different manufacturers, they were Blackinton and Bastian.
In 2005 there were two traditional badges made. There was the standard bronze one and there were also 100 Sterling Silver badges made for members of congress and members of the Supreme Court.
In 2009 Blackinton lost the contract for the traditional badge and it was rewarded to Collinson. The hallmark on the 2009 traditional is the signature of M.P.D. Chief Kathy Lanier as well as a control number.
LAMB SEAL & STENCIL COMPANY, Inc.
1515 14th Street, Northwest
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202.462.5262
V.H. BLANCINTON & CO.,Inc.,
221 John L. Dietsch Boulevard / P.O. Box 1300
Attleboro Falls, MA. 02763
Phone: 800.699.4436
Fax; 508.695.5349
BASTIAN COMPANY, Inc.
1 American Center
Geneva, New York 14456
Toll Phone: 800.609.0097
House Phone: 315.789.8000
I recently saw this badge for sale on eBay. Aside from it being a badge I know I will never have (lol), it is one of the most desired. What caught my eye was the unusual presentation box it came in. The eBay seller was kind enough to send me these photos for the site.
The Inaugural badge tradition started in 1937 with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Washington D. C. Metropolitan Police authorities and the commissioners issued Inaugural Badges to selected individuals for identification purposes and access to the inaugural events. Each badge was silver in appearance and numbered on the face of the badge. They were then, and are now made of metal and were of a custom die design, an eagle-topped shield with the U.S. Capitol shown and the words Metropolitan Police and the initials D. C. on each side. Each badge has the name of the President-elect and Vice President on it as well as the year of the Inauguration. Very few badges were ever made, especially in the early days of their use. They were much sought after, and to be given one was a great privilege. They were also worn by Officials assigned to the Inaugural events. The tradition, thus born continued in 1941. There were no formal Inaugural Ceremonies in 1945, World War II was stilled being waged, so there was no badge made for the Inauguration. Authorities however allowed a commemorative Sterling Silver badge to be done years later.
In 1949 the tradition continued again with a badge which was silver in color and was a numbered badge as done in the earlier inaugurations. In 1953, there were two badges made for the inauguration, one silver badge and one brass badge and each was numbered on the face. The silver badge was worn by the Washington D.C. Police Department representatives and the brass one was worn by the Inaugural Officials. In 1957, the process was repeated of issuing two badges for the Inaugural event. In 1961, there were 2 minor significant changes made for the Inaugural badge. The Officials went back to one brass badge and the numbering stopped on the facing, this practice has continued to the present date.
Beginning in 1981, two badges were issued for each Inauguration; a “Traditional” design which was issued by the Chief of Police of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police. This badge follows the same design as the original one issued in 1937, and has the President and Vice President names and year of the Inauguration. . And the 2nd badge known as the “Street Badge Traditional” which was issued to uniform law enforcement officers working and assisting with the Inauguration. The “Street” badges designs differ from year to year, they featured high quality, intricate and colorful designs with the year of the Inauguration.
In 1981, the Officials again made additional minor significant changes for the Inaugural Badge. They continued to use the same custom die, only with a solid back badge that contained a Hallmark on the reverse side for the Chiefs Traditional Badge. The Street Traditional Badge was a solid back badge with a Hallmark and a control number on the reserve side. Previously, all the badges between 1937 and 1977 were shell back badges without a Hallmark.
In 1993, there were 2 different styles of the official “Traditional” badge and also 2 different styles of the official “Street” badge. This was due to Blackinton and Bastian Mfg. firms both producing badges for the inauguration of 1993. This was the only year that this occurred.
In the past there have been 4 manufacturers associated with these badges, Lamb, Seal & Stencil, Blackington, Bastian, and Collinson. With the exception of 4 Inaugurations Blackinton has been producing these quality badge for over 60 years.
These badges are much sought after not only by collectors of police insignia, but also collectors of Presidential memorabilia and those who collect Inaugural items of every description.
COLLINSON ENTERPRISES
2127 Espey Court
Crofton, MD 21114
Toll Free 800.622.9619
Fax 401.451.7292
Could this 1917 Inaugural pin, (left) have been the start of what would in time evolve into the Traditional Badge? Or maybe this 1895 Masons pin. Both are from the James Blickensdorf Collection of 2012, as are the Shriners badges..... So many questions, so few answers.
The FIRST traditional badge issued...
Sterling Silver traditional 1 of 100; Compliments of Jim Blickensdorf
Sterling Silver Traditional Badge: Compliments of Jim Blickensdorf
Pictures, and historically correct information is always wanted.
SHOW US YOUR TRADITIONAL COLLECTION
Traditional badge collection of William West
