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Coal Iron Police Badge Redstone Coal Coke Co Mining

This great old obselete coal & iron police badge was issued by the redstone coal and coke company's brownfield mine was located in brownfield south union township fayette county, pa. The redstone co. Existed from 1881 to 1927. The front of this nickled silver badge is in very good condition. All the lettering is very clear and legible. The back of the badge si in very good condition. However, the original clasp has been replaced with a soldered saftye pin. The pin clasp is in excellent working condition. The piece of brass that holds the soldered pin has the words matthews adn pittsburgh. It measures approx. 2 1/4l. yB 1 1/2w. A great piece of mining and unino history. The redstone co. Brownfield saw at least one violent incident in 1922 during the national coal miners' strike whne several company houses were dynamited. The coal & iron police was a private police force. It was established by the pennsylvania general assembly in 1865. It was employed and paid for by the various coal companies to protect company property, but were used primarily as strike breakers and for anti-union activity. The miners called them yellow dogs and cossacks. These police were often, gunmen, hoodlums, and adventurers. They were known for their brutal tactics.

The coal and iron police were disbanded in 1931 by pennsylvania gov. Gifford pinchot. On sep-23-08 at 121518 pdt, seller added the following informationour description should read that the abdge is made of nickeled brass not nickeled silver.