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30 Year ?? Retirement Pin ?? AT&T / Bell System, Before Divestiture

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    Posted 10 years ago

    l1k2gadd
    (1 item)

    Although I only worked there for around 3.5 years, being a Pre-Divestiture Bell System employee I can never pass up the purchase of an item that I believe could be from a period in time that pre-dates the break-up of AT&T and the Bell Operating Companies. I found this for sale on 11/17/2013 at a local flea market. The asking price that I hapily paid for this was 2.5 times the coin shown in the photo next to the pin. Yes, it is a 14K pin too. The backing has no precious metals markings on it so I doubt it is 14K too, but the pin itself weighs near 2 grams according to my digital scale. I am not sure if the stones are real diamonds because I do not own a diamond tester.

    So, can anybody tell me if this is a 30 year pin, or some other award given to an employee for something else?

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    Comments

    1. tom61375, 10 years ago
      I once knew someone who got the watch for 30+ years with Southern Bell or South Bell of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
      I wouldn't be surprised if those a real diamonds, companies used to really make their employees feel appreciated back in the day for their hard work & service. Great piece!
    2. ttomtucker ttomtucker, 10 years ago
      It's a Bell System 30 year service pin. At one time diamonds were used only after you had 25 years of service. The most I have seen is eight diamonds.
    3. l1k2gadd, 10 years ago
      Thanks to ttomtucker and to tom61375 for the information on the pin. I guess 8 diamonds would be a 40 year pin. 40 years would be a long time to work at one company. I enjoy finding treasures at thrift stores and flea markets, this is the most recent flea market treasure that I have been blessed with adding to my collection. Last week the find of the weekend was a Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Spirit of '76 locomotive belt buckle.
    4. Bellcat, 10 years ago
      They would award one diamond for every 5 years.
    5. Arby, 6 years ago
      Its been a while since this was posted, curious if you still have this item. I have a friend that is a soon to be retiree and is in search for one of these pins to make a ring with. I have one as a ring and makes a nice piece. Any info is appriacated.
    6. southernbell, 6 years ago
      My mother's 20-year pin has four diamonds, so a diamond representing five years sounds right. It's clearly marked 14 kt. It has never been worn and is in the original box if anyone is interested.
    7. GERRYC, 3 years ago
      This is a retirement pin, not a service pin. At time of retirement from Southern Bell you could pick this pin and a gift, or a very nice gold ring with the same pin. Each diamond represent at least 5 years of service prior to retirement, so the employee that got this pin had 30 years or more, but less than 35 years of service.
    8. Rb124, 2 years ago
      I have my grandfathers pin and turned it into a pendant. He was with Bellsouth for 45 years. It is 14kt and has 9 real diamonds. If I can figure out how to add a photo, I will.

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