Remembering 9-11-01.
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The Safe & Loft Squad



The second story guys 


Squad Sergeant Jackie O'Jamison is crackin' a case right now, but check out the Generics...

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A common generic was the star with simply "Police" stamped into the face. This was an inexpensive way for small towns to "badge" their officers, oftentimes for less than fifty cents.

The octagon shield was more common in the east, but often contained much scrollwork for that "sophisticated" look.

This small circle is stamped with flower-like adornment above and below "Police".  It has an interesting coin-like ticking around the outer edge.

The shell back of the above badge.  Note the small strip of metal holding the pin as a saddle.

One of the most beautiful generics is the oval, with it's ornamental stamping above and below "Police".  Hallmarked by an 1880s Boston manufacturer.

This Sergeant's badge is a little more "modern" than other generics, probably circa 1930s.

Another more "modern" generic, probably circa 1940s, carries an Illinois seal. 

This crude star is awesome in its simplicity and boldness.  Stamped by a Cincinnati badge maker.

This detective's generic not only contained a bit of scrollwork, but the rank was emblazoned diagonally across the face.

This six-point ball-tipped detective star has a wire pin on the back held in place with a round saddle.

Small town constables also wore generics, like this simple round "plain-jane". Sometimes, the simplicity of these badges is the beauty in them.

A filigree-adorned Constable's shield, probably circa 1880s

This generic Constable's badge is hand-etched on the back "1893 B'ville , OK, IT".  The "IT" is for "Indian Territory". The B'ville is for Bartlesville.

This Deputy Sheriff star measures about 2.5 inches with stamped ball-tips.

This tiny star measures about 1 inch and is loaded with ornamentation.  The ball-tips look huge on it but are regular size.

More often than not, small towns opted to give their part-time, or special occasion officers generics. This shield includes a cut-out 5 point star.

Another common generic style is the oval, as seen in this special's badge.

Another typical style for generics, the circle star cut-out.  This one for "Special Police".

Six-point star with stamped ball-tips.

Yet another ball-tipped star, this one had filigree in the center.  This star was made by WS Darley, Melrose Park, Illinois.

This generic probably dates to the 1940-50s, a "cheap way" to pin a badge on a special officer.

This "button badge" was probably a cheaper way to deputize many citizens for a special event or possibly during war time when metal was scarce.

This style is known as the "Radiator badge", common in the Northeast.  It carries the hallmark "Boston Badge Co."

The common pinched shield in Special Police title.

Another pinched shield but with the cut-out five-point star

A five-point, plain-armed star.

Something big must've been happening when this unknown department decided to order up a bunch of "Emergency Police" badges. The badge maker was probably rushed, which is why he couldn't even center the wording properly. Surprising that, even though this badge was ordered with a number, the town or city didn't put its name on it.

A more recent (probably 1950's) generic, this unknown Illinois agency supplied its reserve traffic officers with this 5 point star. With the presence of the State Seal, can this truly be classified as a generic? Depends on who makes up the rules I guess.

This Town Deputy Forest Warden badge carries a Boston makers mark.

This Deputy Game Warden's six point star with ball-tips includes a Sachs-Lawlor hallmark.


This junior police badge was probably made in the 1910s-1920s and has a very unique saddle pin.

Note: Be careful when acquiring generics.  There are many, many fakes out there.

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