Help? US? Riders Insignia

[Jelly Terror]

Roy,

From your pictures, the badge appears to be in absolutely pristine condition; just look at the white backing mesh; it’s immaculate. And the fine, delicate spoke threads are untouched. No fraying anywhere. The edges of the khaki backing are sharp enough to cut your finger on. Hard to believe it’s been sitting around since the early C20th.

Would it be ill-mannered or impolite of me to ask where you acquired it?

[Roy]

Hi JT,

I can't disagree with that. It was an ebay find. It clearly has never been used and looks pristine, although the construction looks old to me.

I have written the seller so see if I can get more details as to origin. I have also been in contact with a website owner who specialized in early police insignia of a similar design in the hopes of finding something.

I don't personally think this is a fake, it's makes no sense to fake something that no one knows what it is.

Cheerio,

Roy

[Jelly Terror]

Thanks Roy.

Unidentified doesn’t necessarily mean unidentifiable, of course. I suppose it would be naive of us to conclude NOBODY knows what it is. Only those who have so far commented have been unable positively to ID it. It doesn’t follow that just because something hasn’t yet been IDd that it’s provenance is watertight, if you see what I mean?

That’s not to say your badge is of dubious provenance; I have no idea. The design certainly has a (for want of a better word) ‘vintage’ appearance, but it’s condition screams ‘made yesterday’ to my eye.

Originally Posted by Roy

Hi JT,

I can't disagree with that. It was an ebay find. It clearly has never been used and looks pristine, although the construction looks old to me.

I have written the seller so see if I can get more details as to origin. I have also been in contact with a website owner who specialized in early police insignia of a similar design in the hopes of finding something.

I don't personally think this is a fake, it's makes no sense to fake something that no one knows what it is.

Cheerio,

Roy

[Roy]

Thanks for your comments JT.

It's cost pennies and I like the look of it, so no harm in taking a chance.

Fingers crossed we can found out more about it.

Cheers,

Roy

[Phil2M]

A few sold on Ebay USA lately. All described the same, early police motorcycle officers.

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Roy

Thanks for your comments JT.

It's cost pennies and I like the look of it, so no harm in taking a chance.

Fingers crossed we can found out more about it.

Cheers,

Roy

Agreed. Keep us posted. I’d love to be wrong about this.

[Roy]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for that. The one on the right is the one I bought.

I heard back from the seller who said; "We picked this patch at an estate closing sale in Neosho, Missouri. The lady had been a collector for many years and there was no information as to where it came from".

So not much more info at this stage.

Cheers,

Roy

[jubilationtcornpone]

Police motorcycle units? Denver, Colorado late 1920’s

[Rob Miller]

I think its a lovely badge, I'm quite jealous.

That last picture looks like the badge is photo shopped on or perhaps it fell from a second floor window and was snapped as it went by?

Rob

[Roy]

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

I think its a lovely badge, I'm quite jealous.

That last picture looks like the badge is photo shopped on or perhaps it fell from a second floor window and was snapped as it went by?

Rob

Thanks Rob,

It really caught my eye too and for just a few dollars I was happy to take a chance. Fingers crossed the mystery can get solved.

Cheerio,

Roy

[Phill Lockett]

Hi Roy

I don't believe this is US military.

It was used by various Police Departments for the new Motor cycle dispatchers as your site g=has pointed out-very good one may I add.

Here is a simplified meaning:

The Meaning of "The Winged Wheel",
The Wing Represents Swiftness
The Arrow Precision
The Wheel Motion
A Police Motorcycle is Swift Precise Motion

You will also see a Horse head in a spoke wheel that many believe is US military but again that has been attributed to NYC Police c 1920.

From 1900 onwards a lot of Police departments local, state, federal, followed/copied US military uniform style, chevrons to metal insignia albeit with different colour schemes.

The US military had different colour chevrons for their branch ie red for artillery, blue for infantry, orange for signals etc..At the end of WWI they had so many new and different chevrons that no one could recognize all of them, however I digress.

The interesting point for me is when was this issued, note the white gauze back to date the earliest that has been noted is mid 1920's , which to be honest puts this insignia about the right time.

Phill