Here we have a set of 1930s employee badges of S. Bodayla from the American Type Founders, Inc in New Jersey. Finding a pair of badges from the same person is a rare situation. Bodayla must’ve been a lifer at the Type Founders. You can see the younger and older version of this working class grinder with the pair. Such a cool glimpse into the American industrial history.
Here’s some more history about this historical plant:
The American Type Founders (ATF) main plant located at 200 Elmora Avenue in Elizabeth, New Jersey, underwent a dramatic transformation from a world-renowned printing foundry into a high-security defense facility in the 1940s. As part of the American war effort during World War II, the massive complex was partially converted to manufacture precision military equipment, including munitions and components for aircraft. This transition necessitated a shift in corporate culture toward heightened security, leading to the implementation of the rigorous photo identification badge system seen in these artifacts. These badges served as essential "gate passes" for employees like S. Bodayla, ensuring that only authorized personnel could access sensitive areas of the plant while it operated under federal defense contracts. Today, these badges stand as a rare intersection of industrial graphic design history and the home-front mobilization that defined New Jersey’s wartime contribution. The rare vintage employee badges comes out of an old machinist’s collection in the Twin Cities area. The clip back badge was made by A.E. Co.(American Emblem Co.) in Utica NY. Given the early employee number, it was likely created in the 1930s, possibly earlier.
The rare American Type Founders badges measure about 1 1/2” wide. They both show signs of slight wear use and storage. The photos are slightly faded from age but they still pop. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only (no PO Boxes please). Free shipping on the wicked and rare employee badges.
Who needs a resume when you have a visual timeline of a historic company?
