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Recollections of War > Records

United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch

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A.P. Co.

c. 1940

Overview

World War Two era, circular United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch. It features a gold tone metal emblem of the United States Great Seal (the American eagle holding an olive branch and arrows with a shield on its chest) mounted onto a light green ribbed plastic backing disc with a gold tone metal border. The plastic used is likely to be celluloid, Bakelite or lucite.
The disc is held in place by a metal framework on the reverse. There is a horizontal bar across the upper section of the frame which has a pin for attachment and a vertical bar to which the metal emblem on the front is joined.
The maker's details and the patent number are embossed around the outer circumference.

Historical information

This sweetheart brooch is one of many produced and sold to servicemen to give to their loved ones.

It was manufactured by the American Emblem Company, which was located in Utica, New York and operated from 1913-1963. Maker's marks for this company included A.E. Co. and A.P. Co. as on this example.
The United States patent on the reverse was granted in May 1930 to C. Belloch for a specific safety clasp/pin design. The patent details show that this sweetheart brooch was made during or after 1930, which fits well with a World War Two manufacturing date.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00953

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Decorative Objects

Ephemera

Jewellery

Personal Effects

Themes

War and Conflict

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Bakelite

Cellulose Acetate

Metal

Plastic

Width

45 mm

Height or length

45 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Around outer frame on reverse:

"A.P. CO. MADE IN U.S.A. PAT. NO. 1759639"

Keywords

UNITED STATES of AMERICA

Patriotic Souvenir

Sweetheart Brooch

Sweetheart Badge

History - Social

Place made

Utica, New York, United States

Year

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Last modified

Sunday, 26 July, 2026

Completeness

100

Recollections of War

Recollections of War

Other items from Recollections of War

United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch

United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch

Reverse of United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch

Reverse of United States Military Great Seal sweetheart brooch

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