| Definition |
- Badge. A medallic item intended to be worn, often of heraldic shape and emblematic design, greater than one-inch diameter. (A similar item less than one-inch is an insignia or pin.) Badges always have some means of fastening to a garment (or headgear, called a cap badge); they are always characterized by a distinctive shape, often with openwork. Badges are usually made of hard-wearing composition, and sometimes containing contrasting lettering (as with enamel or fillin). They are sometimes made with a center emblem – also called badge center – where a number of different badges can be made by combining center emblems with stock bases. They are most often uniface since the intent of a badge is to be worn giving instant recognition to the wearer, usually honoring or identifying a member of the group, or providing that instant recognition (as a policeman's or fireman's badge). A badge (of the same definition) is also the pendant item hanging from a collar or chain (see collar, 1). While it is suspended from a collar it is somewhat optional to have a reverse design and it may or may not have a pin to secure it to a garment or uniform. These badges are almost always enameled. Badges were also prevalent among societies, particularly for meetings and conventions. Popular around the beginning and throughout the 20th century, badge design became somewhat of an attempt at bosterism, touting the site of the meeting or the locale of the wearer. Badges were designed with an increasing number and variety of elements, becoming more complex and ornate with elements in addition to the pendant medal. See convention badge. History of Badges. The first badges were cloth, sewn on a garment or uniform. (These were also the forerunner of the cloth patch, which are now designed in color for most of the same governmental or military organizations, many of which have a metal badge as well. Police organizations have both, the cloth patch for identification, but the metal badge for authority.) Badges of metal were first made in the 16th century. At first they were hand engraved on metal cut to shape, often by jewelers. Later, their manufacture employed the same technology as medal making, then becoming a sideline of medallic firms until the 20th century when firms specialized in badge manufacturing alone. Badges were struck from engraved dies, trimmed to a distinctive shape, and affixed with pins and catches. Later they were fabricated of several parts (as center emblems), and electroplated to harden the surface. Created for a wide number of organizations, both municipal and nonmunicipal – not just police and fire – badges of identification were also made for guards, detectives, rescue squads, court attendants, drivers, ushers, in addition to the usual city, county and federal officials (particularly for law enforcement where every sheriff had a star badge), even waiters and taxi drivers among other groups had badges over the years. Fraternal societies used badges extensively, howev
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