Vintage Cop Collectibles by Linda Rosenkrantz on Creators.com

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Vintage Cop Collectibles

Like the uniformed postman making his twice-daily deliveries and the ice-man in his horse-drawn cart, the club-swinging neighborhood cop munching an apple as he pounds his beat is an image drenched in nostalgia, light years away from the frenetic police dramas we witness on television today. And it is that black-and-white era of policeman as incorruptible upholder of law and order that today's collector of police memorabilia looks back to.

Although the history of American law enforcement dates back to early colonial times, professional urban police forces did not begin to be organized until the middle of the 19th century. It was a century later, during the golden age of motion pictures, beginning with gangster films like "Scarface" and "Little Caesar," as well as books like the Sherlock Holmes novels and magazines such as the Police Gazette, that the public became fascinated with police procedures and paraphernalia.

Probably the No. 1 item collected in this field is the police badge. These have been manufactured in a variety of materials over the years, including gold, silver, brass, copper, nickel and even leather. The most common are badges made of "German silver" — actually a nickel alloy. One way to date these badges is to consult old police supply catalogs, which are often available in reproduction. Badge collectors usually specialize in one particular state or city locality, with market prices reflecting varying demand.

Also of interest to collectors are police uniforms. In New York, when policemen were first seen in standardized frock coats, the local public responded by mockingly calling them "liveried lackeys." Police uniforms, hats and helmets can sometimes be found among collections of Army surplus clothing. There is a great variety in uniforms worn over the years in different cities: In 1858, the police in Chicago sported navy blue caps with gold bands, and Los Angeles' first policemen were issued dark slouch hats to accessorize their long blue coats in 1869.

The buttons made for these uniforms are also desirable on their own.

Most 19th-century and early 20th-century police buttons were manufactured in Connecticut by either the Waterbury Button Company or the Danbury Button Company, both of which identified their products with the name of their firm, as well as the Fred Batchelder Company of Boston.

In addition to these obvious links to the police forces of the past are legions of other peripheral pieces. Billy clubs of the 19th century form one category, including an especially threatening model used briefly in the 1850s, which was spiked with sharpened nails. Another more amusing variety is the illicit liquor holders used by officers to ease the stress of the job — glass containers in the shape of a nightstick or revolver. There are also some handsome rosewood parade batons with ivory handles. Other such items include early handcuffs, rattles and whistles.

Although record books are usually kept on permanent file, occasionally a fascinating police blotter will become available, to the delight of this collecting community. Among additional paper ephemera, there are books and magazines, police-related sheet music, and photographs and cabinet cards depicting cops. A sizable collection could also focus on the numerous toy police cars and policemen on motorcycles made over the years. One desirable example is a 1930s cast-iron motorcycle marked Champion, with white rubber wheels, made by the Champion Hardware Company.

If you happen to be in New York and are interested in seeing some of these items first hand, you might consider an excursion to its police museum, downtown at 100 Old Slip. There, you will find collections of objects on display from the force's inception in 1845 on, including police cars and motorcycles from the earliest days, uniforms, communication equipment, vintage weapons (including some used by famous gangsters), medals and badges, and even an authentic jail.

Linda Rosenkrantz has edited Auction magazine and authored 18 books, most recently "Beyond Ava & Aidan: The Enlightened Guide to Naming your Baby" (St. Martin's Press). Visit her baby names website at http://nameberry.com. She cannot answer letters personally. To find out more about Linda Rosenkrantz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.