Interesting looking pledge pin on Ebay
 

I've never seen one that looked like this. Mine sure didn't! Does anyone (naraht?) know when this style was used or discontinued?

Check it out.

I hope this winds up with a Brother!

Re: Interesting looking pledge pin on Ebay
 

Yes.

That is one of the original screw-back pledge pins. It doesn't have a real 'pin' on the back, but a screw-post that would have to go thru a button hole. It existed from the time we rolled it out in 1939 until the screw-back was replaced with a more usuable 'push pin' back.

At some point, both the service pin & pledge pin were enlarged, probably in the 50s/60s.

I have a near complete collection of service pins/pledge pins. I think the only major item missing from my collection is the push-pin version of that style pledge pin.

If you come to the National Convention, you can check out the APO archive collection, which includes all the various pins we've used.

Hope that helps

Michael Brown
APO LM & TB
Member, National History & Archive Committee

From the December, 1939 Torch and Trefoil (Vol XIV, No. 4).

New Pledge Button Now in Use

Last month a new pledge insignia for Alpha Phi Omega was appoved by the National Insignia Committee and was immediately put into production by our official jewelers, the L.G. Balfour Company. The new style button is of trefoil design in keeping with the style of pins and keys worn by active members; it bears the Greek symbols of Alpha Phi Omega and has a letter "P" in the center standing for Pledge. The new button is finished in Roman gold plate and blue enamel and is an attractive insignia which every pledge of our fraternity should be proud to wear on his coat lapel throughout his period of pledgeship. (A replica of the new button appears at the head of this column).

This dignified pledge recognition is now wihin the means of all chapters. The new pledge button costs only 25c each and may be ordered singly or in quanities from our jewelers. A complimentary sample has been sent to the Vice-President (pledge master) of every chapter with the request that he display it at a chapter meeting and announce the change in pledge insignia.

In view of the low cost of the new button, all chapters are urged to make immediate use of the new official pledge insignia and discard all unoficial emblems which have been in use in the past. This is a means toward greater national unity in Alpha Phi Omega and is a real step forward in the development of the fraternity. It will undoubtedly be a boon to the effectiveness of pledging efforts throughout the fraternity and all chpaters will want to use it to the best advantage in building their man-power to new heights during this school year.

Some quick comments on that...

I also own a screwback pledge pin, I don't have a screwback service pin, so I would bid on that. For the age, $20 isn't unreasonable at all for a service or pledge pin. The screwback was used at least through 1952, since a brother who was a founder of the chapter at Catholic U. (Zeta Mu) in 1948 and he only remembers them looking like that.

Second. I know a number of fraternity/sorority pin collectors, some are even members of Fraternities or Sororities. I have no problem with one of them purchasing these pins, but still would prefer if a brother got them. Its not like a 20 year old is going to be walking around campus claiming to be a problem using this pin. :)

Not totally sure if it started out screwback or not, but given that it was a label pin from the beginning, that is reasonable.

Prior to 1939, I *think* the fraternity used as a pledge button, a shield divided into a blue left half and a gold right half. At least that's what is in the Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities in the 1930s. But I'm not sure how widespread that usage was.

Randy

If you have a copy of the APO History CD, you can see scans of the original service pins & pledge pins.

Prior to 1939, APO used a shield shaped pledge pin. This is shown in the History CD.

There was talk prior to 1939 of having pledges wear a ribbon instead of a pin, but I guess nothing came of it.

I'll look Monday, I've got the 75th anniversary CD at work. Any way we can transfer the images to someplace easily accessible by the greekchatters?

Randy

Still no bids on the pin if anyone wants it.

(If I wasn't broke I'd bid on it myself!)