Thanks Honeychile. I'll most likely be back some time soon to post some badges that I'm about to rescue. Also, does anyone have good tips on how to take pictures of badges so that you can see the most detail and the shininess doesn't wash out the image?

So as promised, here are pictures of the first two members badges that I have saved. (Apologies for the photos, I'm very new to photographing badges.)



Pictured from left to right is our fraternity's gear pin designated to give to family members of significant others, the badge of Robert H. Von Stein from Cedar Rapids who went to Omicron chapter at the University of Iowa. He graduated in 1954 and served in WWII, so he must have been going to school using the GI bill. I saved his badge from fratpin. Next is the badge of William Edwin Bowers whose badge I saved from that website. He graduated in 1948 from Upsilon chapter at the University of Arkansas and he was the artist for the school's engineering magazine. Last is my personal badge.

https://i.ibb.co/kHcrXX8/IMG-8406.jpg

Here are the backs of each badge. Notice how the placement of the loop that your badge guard would attach to is different on Brother Bowers' badge, which is the oldest. on his badge it is on the back of the gear while on mine and Brother Von Stein's the loop is on the handle of the tongs. The back of each badge contains a brother's name, roll book number, and the year of their graduation. (My badge says I graduate this year which is inaccurate, I still have at least a year left. :p). Unfortunately, it seems as if brothers ordering their badges had the option to get their full name engraved on their badge, whereas if I wanted to order myself a new badge today, it only gives me the option to put my last name.

https://i.ibb.co/9303XFf/IMG-8408.jpg

Pictured here is the bird's eye view of the badges. Something interesting that I didn't even think about until I had the older badges in my hand is how much the thickness of the gear on the badge varies. Thinking about it, I can understand why my badge is thicker than the two older ones as mine is just stainless steel plated in gold, but I have no clue why or how the two old badges have different thicknesses. Perhaps it is due to different manufacturers or the type of gold used. Also odd is that only the gear and Greek letters vary in thickness, as the hammer and tongs have a consistent depth on each badge.

https://i.ibb.co/z4tTyfX/IMG-8410.jpg

Lastly, just for fun, here is all of the badges pictured pinned upon my shirt :D

https://i.ibb.co/CvfxqK7/IMG-8415.jpg

Of the two badges that I rescued, I absolutely love how Brother Bowers' badge looks. The pictures don't do it justice but it has an amount of aging that just makes the individual parts of the badge stand out more. I'm glad I could finally contribute to this thread and help keep it alive. :)

Yes, I noticed that too. Mr. Bowers' badge has a nice patina to it.

So I know this thread is long dead, but it’s full of very good info. I was wondering if anyone could help me with some history.

I spotted this miniature badge on EBay (which has sold, unfortunately) and I was very curious as to it’s history. https://i.imgur.com/DbIkBSl.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/b56YNYs.jpg https://i.imgur.com/uvmsxIt.jpg


I’d never seen miniature badges other than a stray mini Kappa key that isn’t a standard badge, rather more of an accessory I think. Did Kappa Delta have mini pins? Are they indicative of anything in particular? The badge has initials and chapter engraved on the back, along with a badge number. Not sure if that info is able to be looked up by any KDs? I had heard that miniature badges were stylish for a while, but what time period was that? Badge history fascinates me!

Interesting! When I was an active, we had the choice between ordering the standard size and the miniature size badge. I ordered the miniature. I don't thnk they currently have a choice, though. The miniature has three pearls/stones between each point, but the standard at the time had four. Neither of the photos are my pins, although I have a small collection.

The former standard: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/22...G?v=1507079014


The new standard/miniatrue: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/i...4FgsA&usqp=CAU

Alpha Chi has had some unique badge designs offered for sale, based on vintage badges created before the design was standardized. But I’m not aware of any miniature badges being sold in recent decades. I’d love to see one if I’m wrong, though!

KD doesn't have mini badges, but earlier badges were a lot smaller than current badges.

I can't look up the owner up by that information, but the National office could.

KD gives every member a member number that is your chapter's letters and your initiation number in consecutive order. (Eg. "ZB 101" would be the 101st member of the Zeta Beta chapter of Kappa Delta.) Member numbers are carved on the back of your badge with your initials. I can't tell read the number well enough to tell you a chapter, but if you can you can find a list of active chapters here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...Delta_chapters

Single letter chapters are older than double letter chapters. Lower numbers are earlier members.

The back of that KD badge has the initials "P.E.P." at the top. Then Sigma and 589 below.

There could be another Greek letter in front of the Sigma; but, it does not appear in a crisp imprint like the Sigma. So that could just be a stray mark on the back of the badge or trick of the camera. Looking at the list of chapters you gave, there is no Sigma single-letter chapter and there isn't a "____ Sigma" chapter that would immediately appear to fit the bill. Possibly Beta Sigma chapter from Univ. of So. Miss.?

At any rate, that's what I got from staring at the photo for a minute.

^^^ Wouldn't it be great if Gamma Phi did some kind of special 150th anniversary badge. I would love that!

eBay rescues
 

https://uc29235838115d474630af7f61fc...sqhOk4w/p.jpeg

I’m sorry about the large file!! Inversely, I hope the details and craftsmanship show through because I personally don’t care for the brand new HJ work.

I lost the first badge that I ordered over multiple state moves, but it was electroplated and the cheapest option, and did not weigh nearly to these vintage finds!

I have always admired the chased Alpha Omicron Pi badge. it's gorgeous.

Yes, me, too! It's so beautiful!

My personal badge trend!
 

I read the title of this thread quickly and thought something different was being discussed other than what new members were buying. I thought it would be a discussion on what folks were doing with their badges nowadays. I believe I broke a rule, but I recently had a jeweler attach a bail to my key so that I could wear it as a necklace without worrying about the old clasp opening ... it is loose. I like the way occasionally someone will notice the key hanging around my neck and say, "Oh, you're a Kappa!" I have a badge disposition form with my final papers, so it is going back to national at some point. Both of my daughters ended up being a Tridelta so they have no interest in saving it as a forever piece.

Please don't bring me up before the standards committee ... at least I am wearing it proudly!

Your secret is safe with me, sister!! I also think they sell pendants that we can attach our keys to that allows us to wear them as a necklace. The older I get, the more challenging it gets to fiddle with the clasp.

Your secret is safe with me, sister!! I also think they sell pendants that we can attach our keys to that allows us to wear them as a necklace. The older I get, the more challenging it gets to fiddle with the clasp.