Posted 12 years ago
Militarist
(288 items)
Wisconsin Military and Civil Medals and Decorations Book.
I originally published my book back in 1986. The purpose of the book was to catalog all the military related medals issued by the state of Wisconsin and those issued within the borders of the state by local and private issuers. Also included in the “Civil” section were nonmilitary awards for valor, life saving efforts, long government service and retirement. Now that a quarter of a century has passed I have started work on a second expanded and improved edition. I figure that it will be a full year before I am done with my additions and corrections and will be able to go to press. If anyone here has any medals that should be included in the book please post them here on this site. I will contact anyone who posts an unknown (to me) item. This way every one benefits from our efforts! Thanks, Fred
Most of the WWI medals are by Whitehead and Hoag. Some of the early Natonal Guard items were made by Louis Esser Jewelers. Schwaab Stamp and Seal made most of the local Mex. Border medals. Bunde and Upmeyer also made some of the later national guard medals as did Erffmeyer & Son who bought them out in 1934. Some of the most recent were made by Grayco. I mention the maker in every listing when known.
Thanks AR. "Fobs" are tricky things. Over the years I have seen many so called fobs that were originally issued as medals on ribbons with brooches. In any event I consider fobs to be medals especially when they were isued as an award for service. I am going to have to search through your postings; wow, talk about a major project!
Agree militarist-- often unscrupulus sellers will label medals without a ribbon as a "fob" to attract attention and make the buyer believe it is a complete item.
You will see it often with the suspension of Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) suspensions from the membership medal.
Scott
Thanks Scott, many antique dealers assume that the fob style loop means fob. Can't blame them too much when you see an original medal with a fob loop that was issued on a ribbon and brooch like the Green Bay "Called to the Colors" medals which are also shield shaped, used as fobs by the original owners. In this case the loops are very sharp edged and would cut through the ribbons quickly. When this happened many times the ribbon was replaced with a more durable leather strap. Another problem is replaced ribbons on medals that are total fantasy combinations or even close enough to be misleading if it is the only one that a collector has ever seen. I have one were the replacement was probably well intentioned and probably close enough for the veteran to wear with pride but it is still very wrong to someone who knows.
Great "Believe-it-or-Not" type of example AR! By the way in my second edition I intend to show the Green Bay medal both ways; the way it was issued and the way many were actually used. There were also nonportable pocket medals like the 32nd Division Mothers Medal that were privately looped and suspended from a ribbon. I consider these types of alterations if done by the original recipents or for them by friends and family as valid variations.
This is another example of "caveat emptor".
I have seen GAR medal suspensions advertised as a "GAR watch fob" bring 2-3 times what it will bring as "part of GAR medal".
As with anything antique and collectible it pays to know what you are buying and how it started out.
Scott
Nice group AR. Starting top left to bottom right I numbered them 1 - 6. #3 is for the 32nd Div reunion in Madison Wisc. This piece was issued on a convention ribbon and brooch. If my memory is correct the ribbon is a one sided flimsy affair that just made it through the fob style loop and was crimped. #6 is a WWI service medal from McLean County Illinois. It was issued on a red,white and blue ribbon with an internal pin brooch. Interesting medal in that it was issued to troops just going "over there" instead of the more usual way, to troops after they came home. Your description of the rest of these medals is right on the money. They are all veterans pieces issued at reunions and as such I would bet that all were issued on flimsy reunion ribbons which is why it is hard to find them as issued. I can not remember ever seeing these types of medals on fobs. I have never heard of fobs being issued as convention badges (just isn't military) and if they would have been I am sure we would still find most of them on fob straps since they are so much more durable than the ribbons. By the way veterans reunion convention medals will not be listed in my Wisconsin Book.
Right on Scott, knowledge is power.
I didn't state or imply that everyone that has a GAR medal drop and calls it a fob is unscrupulous.
My focus was on DECEPTIVE Sellers WHO try and pass off PART of a badge as a COMPLETE badge:
"often unscrupulus sellers will label medals without a ribbon as a "fob" to attract attention and make the buyer believe it is a complete item."
Scott
Thanks guys, as a result of our discussion here I think I will also include listings of some Wisconsin National Guard summer camp souvenir watch fobs that were sold at Camp Douglas in the early 1900's.
Good luck with the book!
Scott
Thanks Scott.
Wisconsin Medals Book: medals already in data base:
National Guard:
Long Service
King & Write Medals
Meritorious Service
Commendation Medal
Distinguished Marksman both types; 2 & 3 shooters
National Match, Wisc. Team
Span-Am War
Mex Border Svc.
Civil War
Minute Men
Iron Brigade
Berdan’s Sharp Shooters
6th Wisc.
11th Wisc.
Mexican Border Svc Locals
Appleton
Beaver Dam
Eau Claire
Menasha-Neenah
Milwaukee
Neenah-Menasha
Oshkosh
Ripon
Sheboygan
Wausau
WWI
Ashland
Bayfield County
Beaver Dam
Cadott
Florence County
Fond Du Lac County
Grand Rapids
Grant County
Green Bay, both types
Iron County & Hurley
Jefferson
Kenosha County
Kewaunee County
Kimberly
Excelsior Lodge Milw.
Tripoli Shrine, Milw.
New London
Oconomowoc
Racine
Sauk County
Stanley
Trempealeau County
Wisconsin Retail Lumbermans Assoc.
32nd Division Mothers Medal
Knights of Pythias Lodges 47, 81, 177
WWI Welcome Home Celebration and Monument medals
Ashland
Cudahy
Iron County
Mellen
Excelsior Lodge, Milw.
Milwaukee
New Richmond & St. Croix
WWII
Kenosha County
Manitowoc County
Knights of Pythias Lodge 41
Update; the book is progressing faster than expected and I now have a publisher lined up. Details will be worked out in a week or so and the way things are going the book could be available in soft cover and CD form by Thanksgiving. There will be over 300 listings with full color scans.
Update: the book is now in the hands of my publisher and should be ready for the printer by Christmas.
Was Wisconsin the only state that had troops there?
Where? If the national guard went anywhere out of the state it would only have been under federal orders, unless it was to an inter-state training exercise or marksmanship competition.