Posted 10 years ago
AceSpelunc…
(1 item)
3 piece metal, pieces spin in a dial. letters and numbers show in tiny windows on face. #'s go from 1-26 on back.oh For all i know its a childs toy decoder or a re
serves pin from 1938. Its pretty light weight. The two (s s) on bottom front
It is a child's secret decoder badge. ROA stands for Radio Orphan Annie, and the smaller SS beneath stands for Secret Society. During the Little Orphan Annie radio show, a "secret message" was broadcast for only the kids who were had the decoder badge, which was distributed by the sponsor, Ovaltine. A fictional account of this is shown in the movie "A Christmas Story".
Here's more info on your item.Your version of the badge is about half way down the page.
http://www.radioarchives.com/Little_Orphan_Annie_p/ra005.htm
Very cool .............
Thank you very much. That was very kind and impressive of you. I was thinkinking free mason or reserves. Would never have guessed that. The comic strip still runs today in a few papeers I believe. Just wondering if it was in all ovaltines sold or a chosen few?
Actually, I was a bit surprised at myself that I knew enough about this item to find an example online. My normal field of collecting is military, but I know people who collect toys and I guess the knowledge rubbed off.
Kids had to save up a certain number of box tops to send in to get their decoder badge. Smart marketing for Ovaltine, and I'll bet it built up the suspense for the kids. I found the clip from the movie "a Christmas Story" about the decoder badge. He uses the 1940 version of the badge but it was the same gimmick as your 1938 badge. The messages were actually clues about the upcoming radio episode, not like the one in this video, but I won't ruin the punch line from the movie here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdA__2tKoIU
loved the u yube...lol
and u tube too....lol