JULY

INSANE Collecting

Over the past few months the AAA Safety Patrol Badge collecting on ebay has gone insane. People are paying 200-300 and even 400% over the actual collecting value of the badge. I've watched a 1980's China -Made badge sell for $48 when the collecting value for resale is only $15-20. Then we have people wanting to sell  their China Made square backed Sergeant badges for $300. As I've said in the past, I will help anyone who asks for advice. You may not like the answers if you paid too much for something and find out it's worth much, much less. This month , there is a great collection being sold individually with some great deals on 1920's, 1930's and 40-50's badges. Get them while they're selling. Here is the May REF and Price Guide. 

COUNTERFEIT BADGES FOUND ON EBAY

BEWARE

Phony badges supposingly from the 1930's , oval backing WITHOUT GRAMMES, ALLENTOWN PA stamped on them. These are brand new badges and have no collectors value except as a copy of an original. Unless they say GRAMMES, ALLENTOWN PA they are counterfeit. The luster suggest they are being counterfeited overseas, China or Taiwan. 

DECEMBER PRICE REF  GUIDE

Ref & Guide Explanation

Many have asked HOW pricing is determined. Condition of badge and what similar badges sold for previously. When you see a price range such as " $90-$125, it indicates the prices paid for that particular style badge in the past. When you see a single price, that would be the price for a NearMint/Mint Badge. For example; a Captain badge marked $125 MNM might only sell for $85 because the blue paint is chipped in places or  the chrome plating/dip is excessively worn away. Slight wearing does not reduce the value too much. Bent, scuffed, marred, deep scratches or rust greatly reduces the value. A "China" made badge from the 80's or 90's is only worth $20 max to begin with If it has been bent, scuffed, marred, has deep scratches or rust., it's almost worthless. 

An effort is being made by some collectors to refine the process of grading and pricing and associate a set price with a grade similar to comics. It will make it easier for the buyer and seller to determine pricing. I think we're all hoping it will eliminate or greatly reduce silly auctions from people asking $90 for a badge worth $15.     

CLEANING and REPAIRING

To do it or not do it. Well, let me tell you a story of a person (me) who didn't know what he was doing. When I first started collecting the AAA badges, I won an auction for a 1950's style Captains badge and it was in pretty good condition. I decided to polish and shine it up. I use one of the various metal polishes and it turned out great.

Months later I won an auction for a 1920's Captains badge ( this was before I met Sam Thomas who worked at GRIMMES Bros. in Allentown) I took out the polish and began to clean the old badge and  took off what remaining blue paint they used back them. Not only that, but the badge didn't get any nicer looking. I found out the paint they used was a very cheap base coat and it wasn't enamel. The metal they used was a zinc coating over a thin copper shell. Adding an enamel or acrylic paint would ruin it  because it wasn't original or even the same type of paint used back then.  Word of advice,. Don't do it. They are over 80 years old and supposed to look that way.

Are people repainting badges sold on ebay and other sites ? Yes and they look like hell. Some are not even the right color but for some reason, they still sell. Word of advice. If it klooks brand spanking new and it supposed to be 50-60 years old, be suspect.

China made or USA made.

Here is a recent example found on ebay. You can see the difference from the one in the middle  (USA) and the two Chinese made badges. Its the reason they rust and don't shine as much. They are just made cheaper.