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UPDATE: MONDAY APRIL 7th 2025: The FLYING TIGER ANTIQUES Crew is IN THE OFFICE Shipping Out Orders and Listing NEW Artifacts Daily!!!
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We will be IN THE OFFICE for the foreseeable future through the end of MAY!!
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Meanwhile, we are busy packing orders and Pricing New Historical Artifacts for our Many COLLECTORS!!!
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Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
Happy Collecting, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
Rare circa 1950 New York City Airways Radio Dispatch Service taxi driver hat badge. Airways Radio Dispatch was established by a disabled veteran taxi driver who assisted during a plane crash at LaGuardia Airport in May 1947. His assistance, driving injured to nearby hospitals saved at least one life, but Edward Lamothe knew that more lives could have been potentially saved if there were more radio-telephone equipped vehicles who had known of the accident. Lamothe started the Airways Radio Dispatch Service (ARDS) very shortly after the plane crash, he started a taxi firm with approximately 20 independently owned vehicles and taxi drivers who were former GIs. Lamothe also realized the United Hospital Fund was in need of additional vehicles properly equipped with radio-telephones. Much of the ARDS service provided was transporting the sick and handicapped to hospitals and care organizations and because of the number of pregnant women expected to be transported, the careful selection of drivers included basic obstetric training. Being a handicap himself, Lamothe trained his drivers not to show sympathy to the passengers, in an effort to let them feel as equals, many doctors approved of this and encouraged "transportation therapy". The center of the badge is a round enameled disc in red, blue, and blue detail. The center shows a telephone receiver and an electric bolt against a background of red, the outer blue ring reads: "AIRWAYS RADIO DISPATCH SERVICE".
VINTAGE:
Circa 1950
SIZE:
Approximately 2-1/4" in length, x 1-7/8" in height.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Enameled sterling silver.
ATTACHMENT:
Single post with screwback and two stabilizer pins.
MARKINGS:
None.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a bus and taxi collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MAEJL04 LCGEX2/16
CONDITION:
8- (Very Fine - Excellent): The badge shows minor to moderate wear and tarnish, much of the enamel details remain intact, overall very fine condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
