✅ SOLVED "Licensed Hack" Badge ???

[GoingDown]

Several days ago EARTHWORKS dug this cool "badge" from an 1850's estate in upstate NY. Reverse still has the pin attached. Anyone ever seen this style before? Any history about them? Age perhaps? Thanks!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

A pic of the back might help us I.D. and date this badge for your friend.

'Hack' might mean... "A car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money." - Taxi License?

Dave

 

[GoingDown]

The back is blank and only has the "pin" used to attach it to a uniform?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

The back is blank and only has the "pin" used to attach it to a uniform?

The style of pin used and how it was soldered can help to date it.
Also, 'professional' badges of this quality will often have the makers name stamped into the back.

 

[creskol]

Those early badges generally refer to horse drawn transportation for hire. Very cool find!

 

[GoingDown]

As soon as I get the reverse pic I'll post immediately .... so cool that it may be during "horse drawn transportation"!! It was on the side of the estate's (1850s) original very long dirt driveway ... where carriages certainly were used.

 

[A2coins]

Chauffeurs badge

 

[creskol]

Chauffeurs badge

It would be more akin to a taxi driver than a chauffeur.

 

[piegrande]

I read a lot of old books, and in horse days they used the word hack to describe a street vehicle that took passengers.

 

[GoingDown]

Bodge BACK

After cleaning the back ... and the dirt away the pin disintegrated ... and there appears to be NO makers mark.

 

[Doubter in MD]

Where in upstate NY was it found? Based on my brief Google search, most municipalities stamped their names on their badges. Yours doesn't identify a city or state, which I find curious.

 

[GoingDown]

In the mid hudson valley, ny

 

[Pick_axe]

Very nice. A cool piece.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

After cleaning the back ... and the dirt away the pin disintegrated ... and there appears to be NO makers mark.

Thank you for posting the back of this piece.
This type of attachment pin indicates your friend's badge is from the late 19thc.

A very early and unique find GD,
Dave

 

[DCMatt]

I read a lot of old books, and in horse days they used the word hack to describe a street vehicle that took passengers.

Correct. Hack is short for 'hackney'. Originally a horse for hire for regular riding (as opposed to a work/plow horse), later used to describe a vehicle/carriage/wagon for hire to carry passengers or freight. In more modern times 'Hack' describes a taxi or taxi driver.

As stated, the badge appears to be late 19th C. The wires on the back were used to attach it to a hat.

 

[GoingDown]

Thank you ALL for your comments and insight!!!

 

[creskol]

an interesting old photo:

 

[creskol]

Here is a new version I thought was kinda neat!

 

[creskol]

Check out this cool hack top-hat on Ebay .. Pricey bugger, but way cool!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-19thC...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1431.l2649

Sorta matches the one being worn by the hack driver in the old photo I posted earlier.

 

[creskol]

Wonder where the bids will stop on this ..It's up to $ 248.50 now. Very cool item thought!