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 Replies: 16 / Views: 1,857 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1388 Posts |
Hello all! Thrilled to present my latest purchase, a 1926-1936 NBC 10th Anniversary Medal! I've wanted one for years, and this one turned up on ebay yesterday. I've only seen silver plated ones, this website notes that the bronze version is rare. This one has some imperfections, the seller thought they could be casting problems. Not sure there, but I figured it would be OK. I am thrilled to have any example... what say you all? Does anyone have one, or can anyone tell me more about them?   Edited by The Silver Searcher
01/20/2025 12:32 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
25008 Posts |
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
I've always been struck by these runic SS. It's so strongly associated with other, so to speak, things now, that it's very unusual to see it on a medal. I haven't seen anything like it on any other American medals (I don't mean the swastika on the tokens), this is the spelling of SS.
So, perhaps SS is an Austrian "heritage" of R. Loederer. I don't know of any other medals he had, but if he is mentioned in the NBC archives...
But the manner of writing the letters along the edge on the reverse is very similar to Kilenyi of that time (who is E.P.H. James and why did he make the reverse?). This medal (the manner of writing the letters) can be compared with the New York Air Brake Company 50th Anniversary Medal. And in general, Kilenyi was the main medalist at Robbins in the mid-30s.
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Moderator
United States
187801 Posts |
Very nice!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1962 Posts |
Art Deco influenced designs are among my favorites. Nice acquisition, TSS. Congratulations.
" Even a clock that's stopped is right twice a day. "
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
73798 Posts |
Nice purchase. Errers and Varietys.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1388 Posts |
Thanks for the thoughts, all! The Art Deco aspect is what drew me to it also - by training I'm a historian, and I study the 1920s and 1930s. So the intersection of the Deco designs, broadcasting, NBC/RCA, it's all just so interesting in one medal. Quote:
I haven't seen anything like it on any other American medals (I don't mean the swastika on the tokens), this is the spelling of SS. @ WHC, I strongly suspect that the designs emanating from the crossed NBC logo are meant to symbolize radio waves, or, more broadly, lightning. Their unfortunate similarity to symbols used by the Third Reich is, I think, a coincidence. I will need to check out the Air Brake medal that you mention, though, so thank you for the info there! |
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
Yes, of course, I understand that this is a stylized image of electrical discharges. In 1936, such an image did not yet carry an obvious negative connotation. As a historian and medal collector, you might be interested to know that the original design of the Eta, Sigma, Phi Award medal (1929) featured images of saluting teenagers on the reverse.  There is no American flag, so it is not a "Bellamy Salute". The design was later changed (1940). But even now, the reverse in the MACo archives is not the original.  |
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
More information on the NBC medal... In the catalog by Presidental Coin and Antique Co. (Auction 84, 2014, p. 110) medal is presented without any indication of authorship.
And the manner of writing the letters on the reverse was quite possibly fashionable in the Robbins Co. at that time. Cf. Robert Wallace Silver Centennial Medal (1935) by Georg John Lober.
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
E.P.H. (Edgar Percy Horace) James Papers, 1922-1976 https://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/c...whs-us0164af...In October 1927, the National Broadcasting Company hired James as sales promotion manager, where he was primarily concerned with the advertising and development of the communications industry...   So the information from Alex's website is most likely incorrect. It is unlikely that this person worked on the reverse of the medal. Edited by WHC
01/22/2025 09:07 am
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Moderator
United States
187801 Posts |
Quote:
There is no American flag, so it is not a "Bellamy Salute". Nice pull! I was going to comment on that. Perhaps there is an unseen (or assumed) flag atop the background structure? Quote:
The design was later changed (1940). The Bellamy salute was officially replaced with the hand over heart when the Flag Code was changed in 1942. I assume the law was changed to reflect what was already happening as its association with fascism became more well known. Regardless of what is being depicted, that negative association could explain a design change in 1940. |
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
One can imagine that somewhere between the columns of the temple there is a flag, but what is the point of these extra essence?
It's simple the Parthenon and the final phase of the movement that is commonly called "saluto romano" (although some people think that this name is incorrect).
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Moderator
United States
187801 Posts |
That does make sense to me. |
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Valued Member
Russia
185 Posts |
It's all a question of the symbol's reputation. It has gained negative associations, the attitude has changed.
I mentioned one famous token above - Good Luck. With a swastika with a rays pointing in any direction.
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Moderator
United States
187801 Posts |
Indeed. Many images and symbols are forever tainted by their misuse or abuse.  |
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New Member
Canada
21 Posts |
Its hard to tell if it's just lighting and reflections in the pics, but is it possible this was just a silver plated version that someone removed the plating? I've seen that with other tokens and medals before.
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Replies: 16 / Views: 1,857 |
Posted 01/20/2025 1:45 pm
