VINTAGE 10K GOLD SERVICE PINS IN ORIGINAL MFR'S CASE (02/13/2011)

Home > Worthopedia – Price Guide > Advertising >

VINTAGE 10K GOLD SERVICE PINS IN ORIGINAL MFR'S CASE

Terms and Conditions for using our site

VINTAGE 10K GOLD SERVICE PINS IN ORIGINAL MFR'S CASE

Sold For:

or Sign In to see what it's worth.

Sold Date: 02/13/2011
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Advertising

VINTAGE 1940’s – 1950’s 10K GOLD YEAR SERVICE PIN COLLECTION MADE BY GORDON B. MILLER & COMPANY IN ORIGINAL SALESMAN’S (?) DISPLAY CASE

Presented for your bidding consideration is a very rare offering – a collection of assorted vintage 10K gold recognition and service pins from the late 1940’s or early 1950’s in the original manufacturer’s or salesman’s display case. The manufacturer is the Gordon B. Miller & Company of Cincinnati, Ohio – formerly, the oldest recognition products company in North America until it was bought-out by Jostens, Inc. in 1990.

There are twenty-six (26) various 10K service pins made for various companies which represent corporate giants “back in the day” and many “name” companies still around today (i.e. – Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Fruehauf, Glidden, Proctor & Gamble, etc.). There are also some rare examples from very obscure companies as well. A comprehensive list of the companies represented along with the gram weight for each pin can be found below.

This is a rare treasure trove for the collector of vintage 10K gold recognition and service pins. An opportunity such as this never comes along. The pins come with their original display case with black and red velvet insert cards. From what I can discover, many of the pins appear to be rare examples and very seldom seen. Sadly, two (2) pins are missing as can be seen in the photos. The case originally held twenty-eight (28) pins and there are two (2) empty spaces. The consignor has no idea what happened to them. The case was found in the attic of his now-deceased parents home.

Gordon B. Miller & Company is no longer in business. As mentioned earlier, it was acquired in 1990 by Jostens, Inc. “Back in the day”, it was famous its specialty jewelry, quality, high-end specialty medals, recognition and service pins, and the like. This would be a great coup for the collector of vintage service pins and collectors of Gordon B. Miller & Company specialty items.

CONDITION

The pins are in original unused condition. No “wear and tear”, no scratches, no dents, no dings, no bending. They are in excellent shape, however, there is some light oxidation on some of the brass clasps and hardware on the back of some of the pins. I catagorized them as "new" for the simple reason that they were never used and in their original case for sixty (60) years. The case is original and in fine shape with some light wear from storage and age. The silk (?) lining with the logo and wording has some light stains and discoloration from age. Please see the photos for details.

DESCRIPTION

There are twenty-six (26) various service and recognition pins from corporate giants of the day (and today) as well as very obscure companies. The design of the case and the pins is very “deco” or “moderne” which places the year of production to sometime in the late 1940’s or early 1950’s. The attention to detail and quality of each of the pins is quite outstanding. Many are literally works of art – which is why thay are collectible. Each pin is marked on the back as follows:

“G.B.M. & CO.”

“10K”

“CINTI, O.”

Four (4) of the pins include diamond settings (identified below). I weighed each of the pins on a scientific laboratory scale where I work and it is extremely accurate. However, when considering the weight, please know it was impossible to account for the colored enamel inlays and attachment hardware affixed on the backs of each pin. Obviously, they could not be removed without destroying the pins. Please keep this in mind. The weights are represented in grams as shown below. The companies represented by the pins are listed below by row from left to right as follows:

ROW 1 (Black felt display cards)

· GLOBE BRICK COMPANY – “RETIRED”, 1.83 grams

· ARMCO - 25 LOYAL SERVICE, 2.21 grams

· GM - INLAND XXV (includes diamond setting), 2.087 grams

· CHRYSLER – XXV, 1.42 grams

· CM MC, 1.89 grams

...