The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-29
THE GRAND ARMY.
History Of the Badge---NeWS From
the Departments.
speelal corresponaence NatIonal rrIbune.

s,,eciai Correspondence National Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA. May q.
The manufacture of Grand Army badges
has assumed very large proportions, and
believing your readers would be interested in
q more detailed description than has ever be-
fore been given OF where, how, and of what
they are made, your correspondent has taken
the pains to inquire fully into the subject, the
result Of which is herewith given.
The design Of the badge that is now so
proudly worn oa the left breast Of a quarter of
million Of comrades, as the emblem OF Frater-
nifty, Charity and Loyalty, was adopted at
meeting Of the National Council of admins
trasion, held in New York city in October,
1870 Several designs had previously been
worn. none Of which, however, had become
popular or had received official recognition.
The badges are made in this city by ComTade
Jos. K Dawson. OF Post ,, his present contract
being for one hundred thousand. Comrade
Dawson commenced their manufacture in the
fall Of 1880 during the administration OF Com
maader-in-C Chief EaCnshaw. and he has con-
tiHued since that time, this being his fifth
wear in the business, which has grown at an
extraordinary rate in a comparatively short
time. During the first year about 1900
were made. which number had increased in
the second year 10 20.009. in the third year
to s. 600 in the fourth year TO =, 600, and thus
far this wear something over S0GG0 have been
furnished. The increase in the number of
badges called for each year is, Of course, an
index ef the rapid growth Of the Order during
the same period.
THE GUE METAL.
Tie material used by Comrade Dawson dur
ing bis first years operation, was obtained
from a gun procured frem the Government
through President Hayes and shipped from
Governors Island, New York harbor, direct 10
C0mrade Dawson. This gun is described in
the bin Of ladiDg accompanying il as One
condemned cannon-pebel." This Is signed by
the then ordnance officer stationed at the
Island.
Ia the next year the metal was obtained
from some I2-pOanders purchased from the
Paramount Park Association, being part Of six
guns donated by the Government. These guns
were 10 all appearances, Of English make, and
were spiked with Tat-tail files. One had a
piece Of the muzzle broken OF by a shot, and
the other had one Of the trunnions damaged,
there being an indentation by shot or shell.
The material for the badges for the following
year was from four guns given b. the Govern
ment 70 the State tencibies, military oreanl-
zstion Of this city, 10 be used by them IN the
construction OF q monument 70 the memory OF
deceased members Of the battalion. The Fen
cibles We're advised by experts 10 sell the guns
as the metal Of which they were composed was
not suitable for their purpose, being alloyed
with iron instead OF tin. The guns were
stamped on the trgBnions with The inscription
a Noble Brothers, Rome Ca" One Of the same
style OF guns Is now in position in the National
cemetery q Gettysburg, IN front Of the house
of the superintendent. and Others are at the
arsenal at Natervliet, \. Y, which shows that
the Government still has some captured can
non on hand
For the next years manufacture arrange
Ients had been made for the purchase Of some
guns donated by the Government 10 the I'd
regiment. Pennsylvania National Guards,
which had been stored ia the cellar Of the regi-
mental armoTy, whence, when needed, il was
found they had nysteriously disappeared. In
the meantime Gomrade Dawson had on hand
between 400 and 600 pounds Of scraps and f.
ings left over from the Rome guns, and about
81 equal amount Of gun-metal purchased from
PGrves az sons Of this city, which they had
procured in the South shortly after the close Of
the War- The material now being used is part
Of 8 lot purchased from the Ames Manufacture
ing Company, ChicOpee Fails. Mass.
Qnartermastcr-General TAYLOR has in his
possession ifcate from The president Of the
con- pany, which states that tais lot Of metal IS
the balance LEX from thirty guns donated by the
Government and used by the company in the
construction OF the Lincoln Monument at
Springfield, III. Two Of these guns your cor
respondent saw lying on the floor Of COarade
Dawson factory during his recent visit.
IL the production OF the many Thousand
badges required yearly, C0mrade Dawson has
been 70 the expense Of much valuable ma
chinery. Ssce the date of his last contract be
has CONSTRUCTED a large steam press for stamp
ing the blanks, the machine being specially
designed Tor tie purpose This work had ali
previously been done by hand. The press
weighs $500 pounds. and has a pressure Of 200
tons Although not worked up to that pressure
sufficient is required in stamping the badges 70
put q heavy, continual strain on the press
which has caused a bre2gage FIVE times since
last Deeecember and rendered worthless a large
number Of valuable dies. In addition TO this
press there are two other smaller ones aad an
engine lathe, together with other necessary
tools.
HOW THEY ARE MADE.
The process Of making the badges is an in
teresting one. The guns are first cut into
three pieces and melted into large crucibics,
being alleged with twenty per cent. Of copper,
which makes a better finish 70 the badges, and
arc poured into pigs" Of from seven to ten
pounds each. As fast as needed FOR use, these
pigs arc again melted and cast, in fine sand and
bone Gust, into pieces the size and shape Of the
badge perfectly plain on the back, with the
simple outlines OF the raised figures Ia the front
These castings are then put into a revolving
box 70 remove all sand and dirt, after which
they are annealed, cleaned with acid and sent
10 the pEess, where they are struck between two
steel dies, from four to five times, which pro-
cess gives the necessary impressi on TO the back
and brines out 10 perfection the figures on the
'front.' They are again annealed after each
impression IN order 70 soften the metal, which
hardens under each blow
The star and eagle are each treated IN the
same manner, except that the latter requires
bur two or three blows Of the press. These
separated strokes Of the press spread the metal
somewhat. causing thin edge extending about
one-eghth Of al inch beyond the regulation
size OF the badge. To remove this edge the
badges are trimmed by revolving file or burr
that makes $500 revolutions per minute. They
are then sent 70 the jewelry factory Of Coiarade
Dawson, 93l Chestnut street. where they are
finished by hand, numbered, the eagle and star
connected by the regulation flag ribbon, which
Is woven on Jacquard loom, and are then
ready tor issue 70 the Departments. The only
parts O the badge not made Of gun metal are
inc Joints. catches, pins, and wires which are
o. brass. IN making the badges quite large
per eentage Of the castings are spoiled frona
cracking while being stamped, owing 10 the
extreme hardness OF the metal. These together
with al the cuttings and filings, are carefully
saved and relnelied. Al the work. except the
hnlshing touches, is done IN a building on
small street running cii Tenth, above Chestnut
street. Comrade Dawson kindly ACCOMPANIED
me 70 the place, explained the whole business
and chppFflsiiV atfrfaiffoS mo IA ouce4so,,