Images(7)

Badge, Fire

Object number2012.75.8 a-d

Manufacturer V.H. Blackinton and Company, Inc.

Datec. 1985

OriginAttleboro Falls, MA

Mediumfabric; metal; cardboard; paper; ink; paint

Credit LineGift of Bernard A. Burns

DescriptionGold retired firefighter's badge with certification card, blue velvet clamshell box, and white cardboard box.Dimensions1.75 x 0.109 x 1.75 in. (4.4 x 0.3 x 4.4 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
The top arm has engraved and painted black, "RETIRED".

The bottom arm has engraved and painted black "PFF LOCAL 1".

Around the center circle, engraved and painted black, is "PITTSBURGH FIRE DEPARTMENT / PITTSBURGH, PA."

(b)
At the top of the rectangle is printed in cursive "This is to Certify".

Below a blank line is printed in cursive "is a Retired Member of".

Beneath this is printed "LOCAL NO." and "CITY" both followed by a blank line.

Below is printed, in cursive, "International Association of Fire Fighters", beneath is printed "AFFILIATED WITH THE AFL-CIO & CLC".

At the bottom of the rectangle is printed "PRESIDENT" and "SECRETARY-TREASURER" both under a black line and "DATE RETIRED" followed by a blank line.

In upper left hand corner of card is the crest for the International Association of Firefighters; the central circle has "F" printed in brown. Around the circle is a white border, printed in black at top of border is "ORGANIZED" on right side of border "1918" the bottom and left of border also have black markings but they are unable to be read. The left arm has a black printed "I" the top arm"A", the right arm "F", and the bottom arm "AFL-CIO / CLC". Along bottom left side of the inset rectangle, printed in black, is "PRINTED IN U.S.A".

Accompanied by a pink memo note with "APT 12-20-57 / RET 5-31-85" handwritten in black ink.

(d)
Handwritten in upper left corner in cursive and black ink "Jack Roche".

Printed below is "12-20-57 / 5-31-85".
Marks(a)
On the back is "Blackinton" carved in cursive.

(c)
Inside of top is printed gold cursive text "by Blackinton".

Below, printed in gold "ATTLEBORO FALLS, MASS."
Historical NotesThe Burns family had this badge because John Roche never attended the ceremony to pick up his badge. Part of a collection belonging to Bernie Burns. The collection documents Firefighters Local No. 1, the firefighting union of which Bernie Burns was the president; his life as a firefighter; and additional items that document growing up in Lawrenceville in the 1960s and 1970s.

Related person John Roche

Previous owner Bernard A. Burns

Related institution Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire

Related institution Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No. 1 (founded 1903)

Related institution International Association of Fire Fighters (founded 1918)

Subjects