Medical Profession Badges

Nov/Dec 2020 edition
Issue #13 AutoMobilia Resource Magazine
John & Henri Boggs

Dedicated to our Medical workers

There was a time in this country when medical profession badges were proudly displayed on automobiles. These badges identified the automobile owner as a member of the medical community. Many factors have led to their demise, including automobile designs and the lack of an appropriate area to display the badges. Medical badges also disappeared due to liability issues. Medical professionals are now protected by the “Good Samaritan” law or act, but that was not always the case. By the time these laws were passed in the 1980s, badges had given way to window stickers if anything at all was displayed.

The badges featured in this article are a small sampling of the medical profession badges that were produced in the past and are by no means all inclusive. Many badges exist for other medical disciplines and offer the collector a wide range of badges in the medical field. We have included price ranges for the badges pictured, but how do you place a value on one’s health and well-being? Invaluable and priceless! 

Thank you to all of the first responders and medical professionals that help and protect us during normal times and especially during this Coronavirus pandemic. They are on the front lines every day and deserve our heartfelt thanks and gratitude.   

Stay Safe and Keep on Collecting!
John Boggs & Henri Boggs

​This Medical Doctor badge was made by the Stenpho Company, Dayton, Ohio.  It is painted steel and made to attach to a trunk lid. It dates from the late 1940s to 1950s and is 3.5" in diameter. This type of badge would sell in the $25 to $45 range.

 The Medical Society of the County of Queens, New York, was made by Bastian Brothers and is dated on the reverse c. 1925. It is marked “sample” and is 3.5" in diameter with fired on enamel.  This sample badge does not have any attachment bracket or mounting holes and would have been produced for the company salesmen in very limited quantities. Value is over $200.  

​The Physicians Motor Club of Philadelphia is an early badge from the mid 1920s and is made from steel with a porcelain finish. It is 3.375" in diameter with a tang at the bottom for mounting on a license plate. This badge would sell for approximately $75.

​ The Keystone Automobile Club Physician member badge was made by Fox Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.  It is 3.75"x4.375" and is chrome plated with fired on enamel. The Keystone Automobile Club operated in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and the Washington, D.C. area. Club advertising literature from 1950 boasted that the club was a “friend of the motorist since 1906.” It dates from the 1930s and would sell for around $150.  

​The American Automobile Association Lackawanna Motor Club has a Physician Member Topper attached with rivets to identify the AAA club member as a physician. The badge is stamped stainless steel with paint made by Bastian Brothers Co., Rochester, New York and dates from the late 1930s. It is 4.625"x6.125".  These AAA badges normally sell for $25 to $45, but with the topper would be $65 to $75. 

​The Registered Nurse badge is 3.125" in diameter and was made by Wright and Street, Chicago, Illinois. The color is fired on enamel and carries member number 733. It dates from the 1920s and would sell for $100 to $135.  These badges are difficult to find in this condition. 

The Licensed Practical Nurse badge is made from steel with a fired on porcelain finish. The badge measures 2.75"x4.75" and would be mounted on a license plate attachment. It is from the late 1930s to 1940s and would sell for $40 to $50.

The American Pharmacist badge is made from steel with a fired-on porcelain finish.  It measures 3"x4.5" and has small mounting holes possibly for radiator wires. The badge does not have a makers mark and would date from the late 1920s. The selling price would be $60 to $80.

​The Doctor of Chiropractic badge was made by Fox Company, Cincinnati, Ohio and is 3.5" in diameter. It has fired on enamel, and would have been mounted on the automobiles radiator with attachment wires and dates from the 1920s. In this condition it would sell for $125 to $150.

​The Doctor of Dental Surgery badge is 3.5" in diameter and has fired on enamel colors. It was made by Spencer Industries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and would have been mounted on a license plate bracket or trunk lid in the 1950s to 1960s.  Prices for these badges range from $40 to $60.

​The American Osteopathic Association (A.O.A.) Osteopathic Physician badge is a fine example of badges made by Whitehead and Hoag Co., Newark, New Jersey. The badge has an attached 1926 date plate to verify current membership status. The colors are fired on enamel and it would have been mounted on the automobile radiator with wires.  It measures 3"x3" and would sell for $125 to $150.

The American Automobile Association (AAA), Pennsylvania Motor Federation (PMF) badge for Erie County is 4.5"x5" and is nickel plated with fired on enamel. It dates from the late 1920s and would have been mounted on a license plate attachment. The green cross was attached to the badge by the former owner and is the symbol of nature and life. The symbol is used in health care and first aid and must have been very special to the person displaying the badge. This would sell for over $100.

To read more great columns like this one from car badge experts John & Henri Boggs...
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