Carbon-dating myself...

boz130 · #1 10-06-2005, 06:30 PM

Gents: I've had the good fortune of receiving an older AM pin from a college buddy (a GDI who dabbles in selling this sort of item on eBay).

The pledge pin (and I can say it probably is a pledge pin) doesn't have the "tie tack"-type of backing that AM pins now have. It's more like the clasp-style found on our badge.

From doing some investigating w/a couple of well-seasoned alums (one of them being Brother Hren), I've discerned that it's probably from the early 1960's @ the very least. The reason's simple: when the other alum I spoke to pledged in 1965, most of the guys in his class received the "tie tack" version. The rest got the "old" style (like mine).

I was planning on donating this to my home chapter this weekend when I go downstate for Homecoming, but knowing that this thing's a bit of a rarity is making me hang on to it.

Jono says he's unsure of when this type of pin was phased out. Anybody have an idea of A)how old this pledge pin is, and B)when they stopped using them?

In ZAX,
BF

LXAAlum · #2 10-06-2005, 06:48 PM

Can you post photos of it? That might help us in determining exactly what/when, etc...

How does one distinguish between pledge pin and AM pin, anyways?

I know there are two different pledge pins - prior to the TKN merger and after, but I don't see any design differences between the post-merger and "AM" pin - I imagine they're more subtle and affected by date of manufature than fraternal influence, as you seem to be noticing.

Interesting item - let's see it.

JonoBN41 · #3 10-06-2005, 11:47 PM

It was pretty exciting getting a call from Boz saying he'd received a vintage pin like that, and I was honored he called me.

I was in the second associate member class at my school in January 1972 (the first being in the fall of 1971) and we had the newer design with the sharp spike and military-type clutch back, just like today. The older ones, like the one Boz has, had a hinged pin and safety clasp just as you'd find on a chapter guard, and so would have been a "pledge" pin.

Pledge buttons older than that had a threaded post and screw-on back that were meant to be worn in a button hole. Some of this type were made after the merger too, but I'm not sure for how long. So I'm guessing the type Boz has was made for about 20 years, from 1945 to 1965, more or less. Very nice find!

No change was made to the pins in 1972, so only an age estimate can determine whether one is a "pledge pin" or an "am pin". The point he was making is that it would be nonsensical to call it an associate member pin if it was used before the concept of associate membership existed.

ZAX,
Jono

docroc67 · #4 10-07-2005, 09:21 AM

Greetings,

I received my "old style" hinged Pledge Pin in January, 1964. I was High Kappa in 1965. By 1965 the "new style" Pledge Pin was the only one available. Probably less expensive to manufacture and easier to use. I still have my "old style" Pledge Pin....

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, Carbon Date- 1964

Tom Earp · #5 10-07-2005, 03:23 PM

Never had on as was never a Pledge or an Associate. But do have one from IHQ that I got. Post Pin.

Clasp Pin had to be tuff to put on a shirt though? I have problems putting Badge on. Ask Matt T as He had to put Mine on In Fl. at BN Z!

Thanks Matt!!!!!!

BOZ, cool for sure.

JonoBN41 · #6 10-07-2005, 03:59 PM

I just heard back from Bob McLaughlin who said, "the PP is the hinged pin and clasp. A dickens to put on a coat lapel. The pin is vertical. This was my original so date it as 1959-60."

Now. Does anyone know a brother from 1940 - 45? He'd had to be somewhere around 80 years old.

ZAX,
Jono