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Obverse Design
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Badge is circular, and has five crossed bugles.
The bugle represents
an old-fashioned megaphone and is a symbol of authority. Fire department
officers at one time used these megaphones to direct fire fighters during a fire.
There is a small inner circle
on top of the crossed bugles. This circle has a blue background, and has the
title "CHIEF" going across it in gold letters. The letters in the middle of
"CHIEF" are taller, and the letters at either end are shorter. There are dentures along the edge of the badge.
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Reverse Design
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Probably a screw or push pin connector in the center.
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Metal
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Probably brass, 10K gold-filled.
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Size and Shape
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Round, 40mm in diameter.
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Dates Issued
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This badge type was used after September 30, 1979. On that date the Canal Zone Fire
Department was transitioned to the Panama Canal Commission.
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Issurer
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Panama Canal Commission.
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Rarity
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Scarce.
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Manufacturer
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Unknown.
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Source
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'hp2xsg' Collection.
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Varieties
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None known. Note that there is nothing to mark this hat badge as being used in
Panama; in fact my source tells me he wore an identical hat badge at a US military
base in Japan.
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Function
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Fire Department hat badge.
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Population Count
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Known specimens are as follows:
- 'hp2xsg' Specimen - private collection, pictured above.
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