Antique police badge - help with listing please

Hi Book,
Three years ago I posted an old police badge from a town that no longer exsisted
and it was pulled due to Homeland Security. The same reason outdated railroad keys and such have been pulled. I hope you do not have that problem. I would find out which Lynn police force was it from. The item seems so familiar to me, did you post a question about on the e*** board?
greg

 

I tried posting a Civil Defense badge from WWII. Because it said issued by Boston Police in tiny letters on the bottom, Ebay bounced it.

 

Lynn, Massachusetts?

 

I sold a Police badge several years ago on ebay without a problem. I do recall, though, that there had to be certain terminology used and I don't remember the details.

I notice many currently listed use the word obsolete and that very well may be what I had to say at the time.

 

I didn't use the word police at all. It may have been reported

 

Here is a link to ebay's restrictions regarding Police items.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/police.html

I recall, now, that I had to do quite a bit of research about badges to make sure I met the criteria they required. Obsolete seem to be the correct terminology, if it meets the below requirements.

This is what they mention in that link:

US historical badges that meet both of these requirements:

The listing description clearly says that the badge is a historical piece that's at least 75 years old or was issued by an organization that no longer exists.

The item doesn't look like a current-issue law enforcement badge (for example, an antique sheriff's badge from 19th century Tombstone). If we have reason to believe that the item looks like a current- issue badge, we may remove the listing for public safety reasons.

Google "Vintage Police Badges" and there are some informational sites.

 

The font on that looks like it's circa WWI; it's too pretty to be much newer. I'd list it as an Antique badge and they probably won't give you any grief.

 

I wonder what eBay means by "US historical badges" -- ? Just that they are old, or do they mean they have to have a proven historical significance?

Do you know the age of this badge? It does appear to be pre-1940 (which would make it older than the 75 years in the rules).

 

Looks like pewter.

 

If I were hazarding a guess, I'd think the pin and clasp were added after the badge was made. I've seen those clasps used in the 40s but the badge looks much older. The back looks like aluminum but the front looks like pewter. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

If this is from the early 20th century, I would not expect it to be pewter. It is possibly silver or just as likely nickel silver if it doesn't tarnish much or at all. Suppose it could be nickel plated brass as well but the pics make me think it is solid.

 

I'd be tempted to offer it to the Lynn Historical Society. They probably have records of the family.