I am new to the site and find it awesome!
Found in an old park in Baltimore City, MD.
About the size of a quarter.
Marked with a number 1 in the center with A L U across the top. 391 at the bottom. 3 under the A. 16 under the U.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you!
I think DCMatt is right. Which park was it in? As young men my brother and I both worked unloading ships in Canton. That was over 50 years ago so the memory is faded at best. Unloading Tapioca was hot dusty work even for young men. I didn't do it for very long and moved on to better things. Little brother stayed a few months longer than I did. I guess that's why he moved to Texas and bought a big Black Angus Ranch and never went near a boat again.
Is it just me or might there be a 6 and an 8 on opposite sides of the "L"?
A union pin is a good idea... It would explain all the numbers, what with local #'s and district #'s. And it sure looks like it was a pin, based on the back (unlike, say, a mailbox tag that just stays in place, which originally was along the lines of what I was thinking).
I found little online about the American Longshoremen's Union, but from what I saw it was only around from 1896-1899, based in NY, while other Longshoremen unions were more prevalent. I guess what I mean is "did they have enough chapters for their pin to be so cluttered with numbers?
Maybe the American Labor Union?
If this is an American Longshoremaen's Union pin, it is a very very rare piece. There isn't much information on the internet as the organization only used that name from 1896 - 98. It was started in NYC with hopes of spreading it down the east coast. Apparently some financial fraud/tumoil forced the members to disband the ALU and incorporate as the Longshoremen's Union Protective Association.
White Feather- Patterson Park. I have found many nice items there over the years. A lot of 1800's stuff. Some pre-1800. War of 1812 and Civil War buttons.
nhbenz- I'll have to take a better look at it when I get home from work.
DCMatt- Thank you so much for the info. I hope it is an American Longshoreman's Union pin. That would be awesome.