Browse Items (284 total)

panamarrssline1-1.JPG
Ca. mid-1940s. Cap badge found on caps of Panama Railroad Steamship Line crewmembers.

mm-cuff-deck1-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s. As worn above rank lace, these devices denoted a deck officer;

usnr1-1.JPG
Ca. 1938-1941 (mid -1942). Removable USNR cloth badge. Until the advent of stamped-metal badges. embroidered badges with pin backs were used on both blue and white uniforms.

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uk-gpo-cable-1.JPG
Ca. 1930s-1940s. Cap badge worn by an officer aboard a United Kingdom cable ship operated by the General Post Office.The badge is woven and embroidered with a central device depicting an hourglass in the hand of Old Father Time being shattered by an…

mm-eng-01.JPG
Ca. 1930s-pre-1942. Cap badge worn by an A.B. or Engineer officer pre-war. It comprised of a wool badge sewn directly onto a mohair band. The band was removed from a cap which was unable to be conserved due to mold damage.The cap badge stitching is…

usmma-regs-1946-pp-00-cover00.JPG
1946. Manual detailing all regulations for the USMMCC at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Basic schools. Detailed here are the uniform plates.Thus far, I am only aware of two versions of "Regulations and Instructions" - the first is…

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usat-button-2nd-go6-1.JPG
Button, United States Army, Transport Service (2nd pattern), GO-6.

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mainemma-1-1.JPG
Ca. unknown. Cap badge worn by a Maine Martime Academy Cadet. Device is without a hallmark. Cap band stitching suggests 1960s.

asal-1-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s. Cap badge worn by an officer with American South African Lines; in 1948 this company was reorganized and called Farrell Lines. The entire construction has the Gemsco (General Embroidery and Military Supply Company) manufacturer tag, and…

geodeticsurvey-1940s-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s-1950s. Cap badge worn by United States Coast and Geodetic Survey commissioned officers; the Gemsco General Embroidery and Military Supply Company) tag and logo is consistent with late-1940s and 1950s manufacture. In terms of construction,…

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isthmianssco-1940s-1.JPG
Ca. early-1940s. Cap badge worn by an Isthmian Steamship Co, officer; badge is woven with embroidered details. Distributor tag is All-Bilt.

apl-1940s-1-1.JPG
Ca. early-1940s. Cap badge used by an American President Lines officer. The central flag element has a Gemsco (General Embroidery and Military Supply Company) hallmark. Distributor of the badge is Appel Co.Please see the following page for more…

IMG_4568.JPG
Ca. 1942, The United States Maritime Service briefly issued trainees and enlisted members pancake hats until forbidden by the U.S. Navy in 1943. The tally is embroidered and not stamped (as are some examples).

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aeissco-1.JPG
Ca. 1964-1973. Cap badge for a senior officer on an American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines SS Co. ship.  The flag has no hallmark but is consistent with the time period.From wikipedia: "Jakob Isbrandtsen formed the American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines in…

powersquadron-squadron_cmdr-1.JPG
ca. 1940s. Cap badge worn by a Squadron Commander within the civilian organization, United States Power Squadrons (USPS). The central device does not have a hallmark.From present regulations (2020): "Cap device. The insigne worn on the uniform cap…

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states_lines1-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s. This cap badge was worn by a ship's officer. It was acquired along with a USMS cap badge that dated from 1942-1945. I do not know which was worn first; although I suspect the States Line badge was first as officers, once they joined USMS,…

nommp-officer-1943-1.JPG
Ca. 1943-1944. The cap badge in context may be found here: http://ianewatts.org/nommp-not-ussb

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mm-sr-lt-1.jpg
Ca. 1940s. These epaulettes were worn with the white uniform.

mm-boards-purser1-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s. This epaulette was worn by an individual in the Steward's Department and has the double-quill marker of a ship's purser. Larger shipping concerns or steamship companies used colored cloth between lace on shoulder boards (epaulettes) and…

IMG_4519.JPG
Ca. 1942-1943. These shoulder boards belonged to a captain in the USMS, For the time period, a captain in USMS was either a Master or Chief Engineer of a passenger or combination vessel of over 8,500 gross tons.

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serafin-nmu-1.JPG
Ca. 1940. Certificate of Membership of Julia Serafin in National Maritime Union. Ms. Serafin was a Waitress and joined the Union in1936; it appears she left in 1940.

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grace_line2-1.JPG
Ca. 1950s. This cap badge is of the woven type popular with managing operators after the close of the Second World War. For expediency's sake, steamship companies used stamped metal and enamel flags on their cap badges; post-war saw a resurgence in…

grace_line1-1.JPG
Ca. 1920s. This cap badge was worn by a Grace Line ship's officer. The low profile and construction of the badge is consistent with cap badges from the 1920s.

stanvac-1.JPG
Ca. late-1940s. Badge for a licensed officer serving aboard a STANVAC tanker.  Flag is unable to be removed for inspection, but appears to be of NS Meyer construction; the distributor tag if Appel of New York - with design from…

admiral_line-1.JPG
Ca. 1930s. Cap badge worn by a ship's surgeon aboard a Pacific Steamship Company, The Admiral Line ship. Although the badge is without a hallmark, the keeper screw "The Victory" was a common device from the mid-1930s.Pacific Steamship Company was a…

uk-mersey-lockkeeper-1.JPG
Ca. 1940s. Cap badge worn by lock staff at Merseyside. These individuals were called "Marine Operators" or "Lock Keepers."  The cap badge is gilt-brass and is without hallmark.The design of the badge mirrors that of train and land transit…

uk-cunard-button-1.JPG
Ca, 1960s. Buttons of the United Kingdom-flagged Cunard Line officer. The company is now a subsidiary of the ill-fated Carnival Cruise Line.Cunard Line officers, since they were members of the British Merchant Navy worn Merchant Navy buttons, and not…

uk-cunard-boards-1.JPG
Ca. 1960s. Epaulets and Cuff Lace for a Junior Uncertified EngineerCap badge of the United Kingdom-flagged Cunard Line. The company is now a subsidiary of the ill-fated Carnival Cruise Line.

uk-cunard-1.JPG
Ca. 1960s. Cap badge of the United Kingdom-flagged Cunard Line. The company is now a subsidiary of the ill-fated Carnival Cruise Line.

gulf_and_south_american-ss-1.JPG
Ca. post-1952/53. Flag which comprises of central element of a licensed officer's cap badge.Hallmarked Gemsco A.G.O G2; G2 is an Army Insitute of Heraldry (IOH) manufacturer hallmark - A.G.O. "Army General Order" was found on insignia items from the…

ussr-order_of_the_patriotic_war-1.jpg
Ca. 1985. Soviet Union Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class decoration Jubilee version of 1985 (Type 3). The hallmark denotes it being manufactured at the "Moscow Coinyard." This medal was awarded to a number of U.S. Navy Armed Guard members for…

ussr-battlemerit-1.jpg
Ca. 1950. Postwar issue of the Soviet Union Medal "For Military Merit." Several medals of this sort were awarded to American Merchant seamen during the Second World War for their heroism on the Murmansk Run. A cadet-midshipman, Raymond R. Holubowicz…

2012-display.JPG
Accessioned 2012. Ribbons and USNR badge are circa 1944, medal 1946, and cap badge 1970s.  Manufacturer below is deduced from design of item.Top to bottom, left to right:USMS Cap Badge (manu: Vanguard/N.S. Meyer)USNR Badge (manu: Vanguard)Atlantic…

ammm-murmansk-medal.jpg
Ca. 1994. Soviet Union Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945" and award booklet.  The medal was instituted in 1985, but awarded to United States Merchant Mariners in 1994. It was given to those living veterans who…

ammm_usmsts_sheepshead-sailing.JPG
Ca. 1944. USMSTS Sheepshead Bay small boat handling/sailing award. Reverse has text, "Victory Crew."The training station regularly held small boat handling/sailing competitions. This medal is an award given to the best crew in one of the…

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chamberlin-mariners.jpg
Ca. 1944. Cadet-Midshipman Arthur R. Chamberlain, Jr. Gallant Ship Citation ribbon bar, and Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal and citation letter to Mrs. S. Chamberlain (mother)."Mariner's Medal given to Cadet Midshipman Arthur Richard Chamberlin, Jr.,…

ammm_medal-mm-msm.jpg
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal, ribbon, and award card.

ammm_medal-mm-victory.JPG
Ca. 1946. Merchant Marine Victory Medal and ribbon bar. Award card is not a part of the display.

ammm_ribbon-mm-pacific.JPG
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone ribbon bar and award card.

ammm_ribbon-mm-med.jpg
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone ribbon bar and award card.

ammm_ribbon-mm-atlantic.JPG
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone ribbon bar and award card.

ammm_ribbon-mm-defense.JPG
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Defense bar and award card. This ribbon award is an analog to the American Defense ribbon - and was awaded for service in the United States Merchant Marine from 1939 up until the formal entry of the United States into the…

ammm_ribbon-mm-combatbarwstar.JPG
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Combat Bar and award card.

The physical ribbon has a single silver star - a star denoted the recipient of the award was aboard an attacked ship and was forced to abandon ship as a result; there was no upper limit for…

ammm_ribbon-mm-gallantship.JPG
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation Ribbon bar and award card.

ammm_badge-mm-honorabledischarge.jpg
Ca. 1944

ammm_badge-mm-service-emblem.jpg
Ca. 1944

ammm_medal-mm-mariners.jpg
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal, ribbon bar, and award card.

ammm_medal-mm-dsm.jpg
Ca. 1944. Merchant Marine Distinguished Medal, lapel miniature, ribbon bar, and award card.

usphs-nurse-copy1-1.jpg
This is a cast copy of a Blackintron cap badge of the 1943-pattern of the USPHS Nurse cap badge.

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usn-waves1-1.jpg
Ca. 1945. A metal pin-on device worn on Enlisted WAVES garrison hat; no hallmark, only "Sterling."

At the outset of the WAVES program, in 1942 WAVES only wore a service cap with a cap band with the motto "U.S. Navy." This device was authorized in…

usmmcc-lapel-deck-1.jpg
Ca. early 1940s. Lapel dogs made of stamped, base metal. Devices worn by early Cadet Corps prior to installation at Kings Point. Devices denoted Deck program membership.

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plaque_hmnzs-otago.JPG
HMNZS Otago (F111) was a frigate in the Royal New Zealand Navy.  As part of "Operation Pilaster," this ship was involved in New Zealand's protest of France's atomic bomb testing in the Pacific in 1973 - she had specific orders to convey strength and…

usms-robin-1.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmzrk unknown as device keeper corroded firmed to screw shank. The eagle-shield device is of Hillborn-Hamburger type.

This variation of the cap badge follows the…

usms-apl-1.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmarked Hillborn-Hamburger; the reverse of the eagle-shield device has "wavey channels" albeit they are in low relief.

This variation of the cap badge follows the…

matson-woven-1.JPG
Ca. 1950s. After the Second World War, shipping companies reverted to using traditional embroidered cap badges in the place of stamped metal badges.

matson-lapel.JPG
In the 1930s and 1940s, licensed officers and stewards wore a Matson house flag on their lapels. This was a not a common uniform device and was used by a few of the larger steamship companies; e.g. Robin Line and Matson.

mm-aml-1.JPG
Ca. 1930s - 1940s. Cap badge and band. Device has no hallmark; since it is not made of a precious metal, it is probably circa 1930s, pre-1942. The cap band exhibits fading, the thread dye is probably natural and mulberry-based.

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usms-alcoa-1.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. No hallmark, but similar to Hillborn-Hamburger; the reverse of the eagle-shield device has "wavey channels."

This variation of the cap badge follows the woven badge…

usms-ah-1.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmarked H-H (Hillborn-Hamburger).

This variation of the cap badge follows the woven badge carefully - it employes cables to secure the laurels.

The house flag is…

msc-rev2-1.JPG
Ca. 1980s-2000s. Three-piece construction. No hallmark. It was distributed by Vanguard Industries and has the same design as the old Hillborn-Hamburger badge.

This is the second design of the cap badge; the cap badge was redesigned to emphasize…

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msts-rev2.JPG
Ca. 1960s. Three-piece construction. No hallmark.

This is the second design of the cap badge; the globe element harkens to the reach of the service.

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IMG_4556.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. No hallmark; however quite similar to Hillborn-Hamburger and is possibly an N.S. Meyer product.

This variation of the cap badge follows the woven badge carefully - it…

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usms-1942-45-officer_standard-vanguard-type2-obv.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmarked Vanguard, New York.

This variation of the Vanguard cap badge follows the woven badge carefully - it employes cables to secure the laurels.

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usms-1942-45-officer_standard-vanguard-type1-obv.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmarked Vanguard, New York.

This variation of the Vanguard cap badge follows the woven badge carefully - it employs a smooth grommet with beaded borders (recalling…

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usms-officer-vanguard2-1.jpg
Ca. 1942-1945. Three-piece construction, full-size for wear on combination cap. Hallmarked Vanguard, New York.

This variation of the Vanguard cap badge follows the woven badge carefully - it employes cables to secure the laurels.

Note:…

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unitedfruit-2ndoff-1940s.JPG
Ca. 1940s. United Fruit 2nd Officer - as noted on cap band. The shoulder boards are of the generial deck officer type as was common in the early 1940s.

IMG_4489.JPG
Ca. 1942-1945. "Unofficial" cap badge worn on a "barracks cap" by individuals in the War Shipping Field Service. The Field Service was comprised of inspectors who visited shipyards and manufacturing sites where ships were being built under contract…

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IMG_2712.JPG
Ca. 1943-1945. The hat badge belonged to an employee of the WSA that worked aboard a WSA-owned and operated vessel as a ship pilot.An analysis is here: http://ianewatts.org/war-shipping-administration

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usace-dredge2-1.JPG
Ca. 1967-1970s. On Denmark's Military Equipment Corporation manufacturer/distributor card.

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usace-dredge1-1.JPG
Ca. 1960s.

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usms-usmsts-patrol-1.JPG
Ca. 1944. Each USMSTS had its own version of the United States Navy Shore Patrol; these units were responsible for the safety and security of all in the training establishments.

This badge was produced by badge manufacturer, F. G. Glover…

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IMG_0322.JPG
Ca. 1940s. Central badge from a United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps guidon. The design is stamped and the fabric does not glow. The item was apparently taken as a souvenir since the owner's name is inscribed at 5:30.

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IMG_2462.JPG
Disenrollment certificate for Emaziah D. Tackett, Jr. from the Apprentice Seaman training program at USMSTS Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York for "Absence without leave." The certificate is dated 14 January 1946. Mr. Tackett joined the program on…

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usms-sheepshead-01.JPG
Informational booklet published by the United States Maritime Service in 1945 about the training program at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York.

The booklet was sent by Joseph Paul Kavasky to his father most probably just prior to his shipping out…

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usmm-hondischarge-1945.JPG
Ca. 1945.
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