Adam-12 badges
- Thread starter jheilman
- Start date
stationzebra
New Member
im not sure about that one, i know the badges from dragnet were real and loaned to jack webb from the lapd, i assume the adam twelve badges were real too.
jheilman
Sr Member
Yes, they were real badges loaned to the show. A rep from the LAPD brought and removed the badges from the production for each day of filming. I'm assuming that selling replica badges would have the same issues as selling replicas of real coins like the Two-Face coin. Legally it would have to be a different size and probably have "COPY" stamped on it somewhere.
I've seen mini-badges for sale, but those don't interest me.
I've seen mini-badges for sale, but those don't interest me.
jheilman
Sr Member
Found plenty of sites that sell replica badges. Some even with the Adam-12 badge numbers. But none of them look quite right. I think many are basing their design off the current LAPD badge, changing the rank to Policeman and adding the numbers. The current LAPD badge (from their website) has a number of differences from the Adam-12 badges which I put down to subtle design changes in the last 45 years.
But, I'm making the assumption that the badges shown during the end credits are THE badges. If they didn't want to make replica badges for the actors, I don't see them making replica badges for the end credits sequence.
But, I'm making the assumption that the badges shown during the end credits are THE badges. If they didn't want to make replica badges for the actors, I don't see them making replica badges for the end credits sequence.
Prop Medjai
Well-Known Member
I would like to recommend "The Centurion's Shield" by Ray Sherrard for you. It's a complete history of the LAPD badge from the beginning to now.
You can find it on amazon.com
You can find it on amazon.com
There is a place which you may know about already that just started selling the replica Reed badge:
MDM, Inc. Hollywood Prop Badges - Home
You can check my website for info. as well.
www.1adam12-1adam12.com
Hope that helps.
MDM, Inc. Hollywood Prop Badges - Home
You can check my website for info. as well.
www.1adam12-1adam12.com
Hope that helps.
jheilman
Sr Member
That's a good looking replica at a decent price. Do you know anything about the company or their replicas?
And I'm assuming you meant your website had more info on the show rather than that specific badge replica? I have been to your site before. Lots of great info. Thanks.
jheilman
Sr Member
Just ordered the Reed badge. They tell me Malloy's badge will soon be available. Thanks for directing me there. I'll post pics when it gets here. Maybe even offer some to the seller. His site could use some better pics. Their website was one of my initial concerns. Kind of clunky looking. But, their quick replies to emails and a request for additional photos sold me.
jheilman
Sr Member
Badge arrived today. Pretty good for the price. Weighty. I would love it to be more accurate, but it is what it is.
Side by side with the real badge you can see some of the differences. How many were deliberate vs. not, I don't know. But, it will be in a shadow box display on my wall and no one but me will know the accuracy issues.
Side by side with the real badge you can see some of the differences. How many were deliberate vs. not, I don't know. But, it will be in a shadow box display on my wall and no one but me will know the accuracy issues.
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
Nice! It is the closest replica to a 60s-era badge I've seen in quite a while, though the lack of hard enamel is my biggest issue. Still, it's beautiful, and Malloy's is out now so the matching set is within easy reach.
jheilman
Sr Member
Hard enamel? As in the lettering? Please explain.
Yeah, I'll get the Malloy badge shortly. Need the set. I've done more searching and haven't found a more accurate replica yet. Found many, many that are just terrible. What I'd like to know is just how accurate is too accurate? What crosses the line in accuracy that will get you in trouble? I know the LA city seal is copywritten which explains why badge replicas usually had really inaccurate seals. This one included. But, it's so small that it doesn't really detract from the overall impression.
Yeah, I'll get the Malloy badge shortly. Need the set. I've done more searching and haven't found a more accurate replica yet. Found many, many that are just terrible. What I'd like to know is just how accurate is too accurate? What crosses the line in accuracy that will get you in trouble? I know the LA city seal is copywritten which explains why badge replicas usually had really inaccurate seals. This one included. But, it's so small that it doesn't really detract from the overall impression.
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
Hard enamel is where the depressions in the lettering are completely filled in with glass, ground flat, and then polished to create a smooth, level surface. The original LAPD badges have this, as do most real badges in general. It's just expensive and harder to do, which is why most replicas lack this detail.
jheilman
Sr Member
OK, need some expert info. I've been researching a bit more. The badge image I posted above that I said was the real badge from the show... isn't. That graphic is pretty common on the web and I assumed it was from the end credits. Wanting to compare, I popped out my DVDs and made some caps of my own. The badges were used over the end credits for seasons 2-7. Looks like the same graphic each time. Just variances in color and brightness which could be nothing more than the variance in the DVD transfers. Here's a comparison.
It's pretty close, but the style of the badge numbers show that the top badges are not the same. All that leads to my question. Anyone know what those top badges are? Or when they were made?
It's pretty close, but the style of the badge numbers show that the top badges are not the same. All that leads to my question. Anyone know what those top badges are? Or when they were made?
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
That top pic looks like a heavily doctored image and the numbers especially just look like photoshopped text.
WinstonWolf359
Master Member
I don't think any inaccuracies you see in replicas are from trying to skirt legality. Most replica badge makers I think are just going for "close enough" and the smaller nuances get missed. The LAPD badge is extremely complicated, especially the older ones from the 50s and 60s.
What impresses me most about these new badges is that no one I've seen before has really tried to capture the distinctive look of the older badges in general, and specifically the Jack Webb-related ones to this degree. Not perfectly, no, but the amount of effort to get something approaching a true prop replica and not just a generic badge with a specific number really shows through.
TankStoner
New Member
It was a decent effort on the replica but still no cigar. Entenmann-Rovin and L.A. Stamp & Stationery Company (LASSCO) made the style badge on the right from 1940 to 1969
The one I'm holding in my left hand is an Alumilite copy of the badge in my right hand.
dynomicentri
New Member
My LAPD Detective and Sergeant Badges
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