Military Emblem ????

[baywalker]

Found this on the beach the other day. Looks like a hat badge? Military? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Was listed on Feb. 18th as Need Help and after over 100 views, no one could identify?? Is it that rare an item?!?

Reads either DRI or ORI

back side

 

[nhbenz]

My thoughts when I looked previously were: is the I perhaps a 1? (looking at the back convinced me, but I could be wrong). And, it's similar to old postal hat badges, but I couldn't find one like it.
I'm pretty sure the first letter is an O, since all four corners are cropped.

 

[DownNDirty]

Looks like "ORI" to me if that helps

 

[SkaBa]

Hard to tell from pic, but is the stud threaded or a ring shank?

 

[BARKER]

Hi; DPI - OPI = Dept of Port Inspector or Office of Port Inspector. In the early 1900's they were your present day form of a Harbor Master. Their main job was to watch for boats making illegal catches or making illegal dumping etc.. We had them here in Boston. it may be a Hat Badge or it is a Buckle ok. It has a screw on type shank ok. Nice Find. If it were whole it would be worth about $150 ok. As is $10 as a Restoration Project for someone. PEACE:RONB

 

[fyrffytr1]

Is that a penny beside it in your first picture?

 

[NOLA_Ken]

It is definitely a hat badge, not anything military that I recognize though. For some reason I want to say something like "reform institution" like a prison officer, of maybe railway inspector.... but those are just guesses

 

[DCMatt]

It does have similar shape to immigration and/or post office hat badges (20 - 30's?).

 

[baywalker]

yes

Is that a penny beside it in your first picture?

 

[baywalker]

looks very similar , was there ever a department of (official railroad inspector )



l

It does have similar shape to immigration and/or post office hat badges (20 - 30's?).

View attachment 1417558

 

[baywalker]

threaded

Hard to tell from pic, but is the stud threaded or a ring shank?

 

[DCMatt]

looks very similar , was there ever a department of (official railroad inspector ) l

All I've found so far is a few references to the Office of Research and Intelligence (ORI) which was part of the State Department during WWII. No evidence of special uniforms for them, though.

I was also wondering if it could be from a school or institute.

 

[A2coins]

Cool find!!!!!

 

[DCMatt]

In 1945 the US Navy created the Office of Research and Invention. Later it was changed to the Office of Naval Research.

From a 2015 article:

In May 1945, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal established the Office of Research and Inventions (ORI), which combined several different wartime research offices with the Naval Research Laboratory. Vice Adm. Bowen, who had previously headed the latter organization, was made the director of the new agency.
The basic outlines of ORI came from a group now known as the “Bird Dogs,” whose plan involved placing a flag officer at the head of the organization and providing two advisory committees in support, one on research and another on research and development (eventually, ONR would require only that an officer of lieutenant commander or above be appointed chief, and the committees would be narrowed to one, what would become the Naval Research Advisory Committee, which also celebrates its 69th anniversary this week).

 

[BARKER]

Hi; Just one correction. Yes it was a hat badge. Thing is they also had them as a Belt Buckle style as well. Also I'm about 70% sure on my ID ok. As I said we had them here in Boston. I am still trying to find them for you ok. Sorry about the typo's. I was half asleep when I wrote it. I have made the Corrections in my first post to show the changes ok. I believe the Office of Port Inspector was a Civilian Subdivision of a main Dept. like the Coast Guard. It is NOT a Military piece ok. Great find. PEACE:RONB

SUGGESTION: Send it in to have it Restored. It may be worth it. If not it will always make a nice Conversation piece ok.

 

[baywalker]

I don't know who I like best. DC Matt or Barker!We did have a military base here during WWII and the beach was a popular place, All in all, I love the mystery of what we do.