Paterson N.J. Fire Dept. badges

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Hi gang, I'm known in the bottle & glass forum for my large collection of Paterson N.J. bottles and stoneware, as well as anything else from the area, but recently I have been trying to add to my collection of F.D. badges. It's my hope to have an entire set of badges from the 15 different volunteer companies that were active in Paterson until 1890 when they became partially paid.

As you can see, the style of badge only uses initials, so people often confuse them and list them wrong on Ebay and elsewhere. In fact the last two times one of these badges were listed on Ebay they were both listed as Passaic N.J. F.D., the other large city nearby. I have even found them in museum collections listed as Passaic instead of Paterson.

Paterson had three company #1's, #2's and 3's, they consisted of engine companies, hose companies and hook & ladder companies, which can be distinguished very easily by looking at the badges below. Companies #4-#9 were only engine companies, and like most town and cities each company had there own specific name for different reasons, the Paterson N.J. companies were.....

Passaic #1
Neptune #2
Washington #3
Phoenix #4(disbanded 1842)
Jackson #4
Protection #5
Engine co. #6(disbanded 1842)
Vigilant #6
Lexington #7(started 1868, funny story)
Liberty #7
Lafayette #8
Paterson E.C. #9


Columbia Hose #1
Cataract Hose #2
Hibernia Hose #3


Eagle H & L #1
Germania H & L #2
Hook & Ladder #3

These are the badges from the time period I currently own and I am looking to acquire any that I may need...



Today I was lucky enough to acquire my first Civil War era F.D. from Paterson along with a very rare Exempt Fireman's badge from the same source...



Thanks for checking out some of my Paterson F.D. items, if you have anything I may want I would appreciate the opportunity to purchase it, I also have some medals and other badges to trade..... Jim

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Turns out the seller who had the two new badges for me didn't realize that the P.F.D. badge was also a Paterson N.J. badge, so it was a great morning yesterday for sure....

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I was able to add the rarest of all known badges from the Paterson F.D., Germania Hook & Ladder Co. #2 moved into the 77 Prospect St. firehouse previously occupied by Hook & Ladder Co. #1 in 1873, the building was first used in 1856. It is the only known example of this badge and the only badge from Paterson known with the companies name on it, as it's new curator I am psyched to add it to my collection until which time it is donated to either the NJ Fireman's Museum in Boonton or better yet the Paterson N.J. Museum. Also pictured is the building as it stands today along with a pic of the rig outside the firehouse...

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Cool. Paterson born detectorist here.

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Added the nickle plated Neptune Engine Co. #2 badge tonight, unlike the brass variant the nickel plated badges identified you as an exempt member of the Paterson F.D. back in the day. Now if I can just find the Hose Company #2 badge I'll be a happy camper...

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My shield variants, the collection continues to grow since I was lucky enough to add the brass Jackson Steam Engine Co. #4, and I have a line on the Liberty Engine Co. #7 variant, fingers crossed..