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January 6th, 2012
A Guide to Identifying Chinese Fakes on eBay
My friend Jason Spangler, also known as the Santee Swapper and host of the Scouting Hot Finds newsletters and podcast has assembled a free guide to spotting the fake Chinese made OA patches currently appearing on eBay.
A Guide to Identifying Recent Chinese Fakes on eBay
This is an extensive 24 page treatise on these patches, with many illustrations. It documents the fakes produced by various sellers over the past several years. It also discusses the marketing strategies of those who produced these fakes including the stealing of images from this website.
This is a must read for almost any collector who wants to avoid being taken by these fakes.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 23rd, 2011
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery (III)
[caption id="attachment_6836" align="alignleft" width="90" border="0" caption="Wahunsenakah 333 Piankatank Chapter Winter 2011 Service"]
I have written several posts on this blog about patch designs that appear to have been copied or "inspired" by other designs, quite often from different lodges. For example see the first and second posts using this same title. Another example is this post on more "inspired" patches.
The patch pictured at the top of this post was a recent chapter event issue from Piankatank chapter of Wahunsenakah lodge. (Editor's note: Please see correction in comments). The lodge is chartered to the Colonial Virginia Council which could easily explain the American Revolution theme of the design. However, the lodge totem is a duck so the hawk's head might appear to be an unusual choice.
A friend gave this to me. He acquired it a Trade-O-Ree and thought of me once he saw the design. It's obviously taken from Tsoiotsi Tsogalii's 2010 SR-7B conclave flaps, listed on this site as S34? and S35?.
Perhaps someone in Wahunsenakah can fill us in on the story behind Piankatank chapter's choice of patch design. The artist of the lodge 70 flaps should be flattered that someone in another lodge was so impressed by his design that he chose to adapt it for his chapter's event patch.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 22nd, 2011
One of These Things Is Not Like the Other...
"One of these things is not like the others, One of these things just doesn't belong, Can you tell which thing is not like the others. By the time I finish my song?"
How many of you remember this song from "Sesame Street"? I saw a friend of mine at the Winston-Salem Trade-O-Ree last weekend. He usually has a great assortment of patches, many classic material and items from our area. However he wants it to be known that he isn't just interested in old patches, so he puts the frame pictured here on his table. I'll let him remain anonymous unless he chooses to step forward here.
One of those patches seems oddly out of place (really two but one sticks out more!). Do you see it? It's not quite as obvious as recognizing letters and numbers, but still very easy to see! Every time I see this frame I chuckle a bit. It's a good way to start a conversation. Now you all can join me in a good natured chuckle.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 7th, 2011
Of Thee We Sing... About Our Lodge
Last weekend I rode with Greg Grimes and Roger Ward and paid a visit to our mutual friend, Larry Banks. On the way there I was shown a book, published in 1938, given to members of Chappegat Lodge.
The book included the lodge by laws and rules. It included instructions on how to wear the "bands", as the OA Sash was called then, and lodge pin. Specifically, Brotherhood members were instructed that the bands and arrow on the lodge pin were to be worn pointed toward the left shoulder. It was also stated that the lodge pin could not be given to a non-member of either sex. This refers to the custom, still practiced today, of fraternity brothers giving their pins to their girl friends as a token of affection. The centerfold was the brother's membership certificate.
The music and lyrics of the OA song and the lodge song were also printed in the book.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
December 5th, 2011
From China... Again
There has been some discussion recently on patch-l about an eBay seller currently using the id, "discountbar". He is operating out of Huhhot, China and selling fake Boy Scout patches.
Several members of that list have pointed out that he is stealing images of real patches from this site and using them to illustrate his auctions. Winning bidders report they do not receive the items pictured, but instead get computer designed fakes of those patches.
Read the Full Post on blog.oaimages.com
Archive for May, 2010
Skyuka 270 eX2009-4?
Last Summer I reported on the first two 2009 events patches from Skyuka lodge. Now, thanks to Brad Hutto, I can finally report on two more.
As with the earlier issues, both patches have the same odd shape that features the lodge’s double-headed thunderbird totem, along with an American Indian and what appears to be a Scout in an early uniform. I notice I do not have an image of a 2009 Spring Fellowship patch. I don’t yet know whether the lodge didn’t issue a patch for this, if I have it in my “backlog” or if I just haven’t been sent an image of it yet.
If anyone can confirm or deny the existence of a Spring Fellowship patch, please do so in the comments. If there is a patch for this event, I will update the listings and add it to this post.
Continue Reading »
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"Our firmest convictions are apt to be the most suspect, they mark our limitations and our bounds. Life is a petty thing unless it is moved by the indomitable urge to extend its boundaries."
Jose Ortega y Gasset
Are there too many posts to handle? Maybe you missed out on a great post. Here’s a quick digest of the top posts from last week that you may want to check out:
- Lodge 270: New/Old Spartan Chapter Patch
Posted on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 in Skyuka 270 – Views: (38)
Though I’m slowly catching up it almost seems as if there’s no end to the list of issues from the Carolinas that still need to be added to this site and blog! Brad Hutto recently sent word of a Spartan chapter issue that managed to escape listing here for about three years.
- Lodge 459: BSA Centennial Flap
Posted on Monday, May 3rd, 2010 in Catawba 459 – Views: (41)
Catawba lodge recently issued a flap for the 100th anniversary of the BSA. Thanks to Larry Banks for the image of this patch.The flap features the lodge’s totem as well as a WWW superimposed upon an arrow, traditional elements of this lodge’s standard flaps.
- National OA Issues for BSA Centennial
The National Order of the Arrow is selling several items of merchandise in their online trading post for the BSA centennial. These items include a flap (conveniently sold either singly, or in three, 10 or 20 patch bundles), neckerchief, neckerchief slide, cap and hat pin.The single flap is sold enclosed in a special portfolio and includes a message from the 2010 National Chief and Vice Chief.
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"Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever."
Albert Einstein
Skyuka 270 Spartan Chapter X12?
Quick on the heels of my recent post and renumbering of the Spartan Chapter issues of Skyuka lodge, I have one more to add to the list. This also is courtesy of Brad Hutto.
This patch, the first chevron from this chapter, was issued in 2009 and is dated. Even with the date, since no event is named this will be listed as the chapter’s “X12?”. The design features an interesting interpretation of the lodge totem combined with a palmetto tree and profile of SC.
Continue Reading »
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"Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshipped."
Calvin Coolidge
The 2010 Section S-4 Conference was held April 16-18, at Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation, outside Lake Wales, Florida. Over 900 Arrowmen from the eight lodges of eastern Florida and the three lodges of southern Georgia were in attendance. This number was lower than for the last several Conferences (what the rest of the South calls “conclaves”), the number of traders appeared to be the same, especially on Saturday night, when several traders from Seminole 85, the host lodge, were able to swap their items.
The conference itself did not have one common design for all items; for the first time, three designs were used for the memorabilia created for the conference. Continue Reading »
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"...The task is overwhelming, and the chance is slight. We must take the chance or die."
Robert Hutchins
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Tsali 134 S70?
Tsali lodge has established a tradition of excellence over the last several years in both Group Dance and Southern Drum, winning awards for both at the Dixie Fellowship and on a national level. The lodge issued four flaps and two CSPs in honor of their achievements at the 2009 National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC). Thanks to Hank Birdsong for the images and news of these patches. At the risk of promptly being proven wrong, these may be the last patches issued for the 2009 NOAC.
Four flaps were produced, two each for the Group Dance and Southern Drum teams. Two CSPs were also issued. The red bordered flaps and CSP were sold individually at lodge functions. The gold mylar (GMY) bordered flaps and CSP were only sold as a set of 3 for $25. The flaps feature symbols and items special to the Cherokee nation: the seven pointed Cherokee star, war club, hatchet, door bar, and twisted raw hide logo. The seven pointed star also appears on the CSPs.
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"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."
Winston Churchill
Early in 2010, Semialachee Lodge 239 and neighboring Alapaha Lodge 545 (Valdosta, GA) held a joint lodge weekend, call the “Wiregrass Fellowship”. The patch for the event depicts the totems from each lodge. There is no word as to whether this will become an annual event.
Continue Reading »
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"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. "
Dwight D Eisenhower
Tsali 134 J6?
Here are two more recent issues from Tsali lodge that had not yet been added to this site. Thanks to Hank Birdsong for filling me in on these.
The first is a new jacket patch, “J6?”, issued earlier this year. The design is similar to the “J4?”. There are some minor color differences. The most significant change is the removal of the two fleur d’lis that flanked the words “Order of the Arrow” on the “J4?”.
The second patch is the lodge’s 2009 Fall Fellowship patch. This patch follows the basic design scheme the lodge has used for the past several years.
Continue Reading »
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"The business of America is business."
Calvin Coolidge
As the host lodge for the recent 2010 Section S-4 Conference, Seminole Lodge 85 showed some restraint in the number of items created to commemorate their preparation for the event. For flaps, the lodge issued two: the first (85 S52, pictured here) was unrestricted to host lodge members. A second flap was available for those that met a service requirement (85 S53).
Continue Reading »
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"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
George Orwell
The National Order of the Arrow is selling several items of merchandise in their online trading post for the BSA centennial. These items include a flap (conveniently sold either singly, or in three, 10 or 20 patch bundles), neckerchief, neckerchief slide, cap and hat pin.
The single flap is sold enclosed in a special portfolio and includes a message from the 2010 National Chief and Vice Chief. It is clearly states this flap is not to be worn on the uniform.
Upon trying to place an order, a shopper is advised that, “Any orders containing BSA 100 Anniversary products will not be shipped until June 15th, 2010.”
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"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity."
Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire
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Recent OAImages News
January 14th, 2012
An OAImages iPad App?
Some of those who know me personally, know that I have gone over to the "Dark Side" and have started using Apple products. I bought an iMac a couple of months ago and just recently got an iPad. My brother is trying to tell me that my Droid's days are numbered.
I really like my iPad and started day dreaming about an OAImages app for it. I have no idea how to go about writing this and it would take me into an entirely new area from what I know. It's not something that would happen easily or soon. Here's your chance to give feedback. What do you think about an OAImages app? What would you put in it? Do you have any thoughts on how it would be distributed or how much it would cost?
Please feel free to comment. Comments are moderated for those who have not successfully had a comment published on this blog before in order to control spam. I will do my best to approve comments as quickly as possible in order to facilitate a discussion.
Read the Full Post
October 4th, 2011
Indian Summer and Summit Corps Patches
I have added special pages on this site for the 2011 Indian Summer and 2011 Summit Corps. I still have a few images to add but most of what I have images for is now on the site. Thanks for Rick Horne for most of these images.
To view these items, go to OA Images: National and Special Events Patches page and select either of these events from the "Other Specialties" drop down box.
Read the Full Post
August 27th, 2011
Coming out of Hiding About April 1st
It's kind of odd to come out of hiding to post about a topic like this.
I'm hearing from some brothers that there have been gullible readers to this blog over the years. I would have thought it was obvious from the context of the posts, but the various posts made on this blog throughout the years that have appeared on APRIL FIRST are all satire. None of them are true. Read them and chuckle but please do not complain to your friendly OA National Committee members, Scout Executives, lodge advisers, or official website administrators about the "changes" that are "announced" in them.
Read the Full Post
March 31st, 2011
Comment Spam
This is strictly an "FYI" post for those familiar with the issues facing those who maintain blogs and message boards where readers can post comments.
Recently I had been having issues here with comment spam getting past this blog's filters. I deleted the inappropriate posts as quickly as I could but this was still unacceptable to me, as well as additional work. I since have required that readers register before they're allowed to post comments here. That seems to have stopped the spammers.
I still see a number of probable spammers, mainly from Russian domains, registering on this blog but so far none have had their comments posted successfully.
I may test my luck for a short period of time in the near future. At some unannounced time, I will turn off the registration requirement for posting comments for a day or two. I want to see if the spammers have been chased away, or if they're just awaiting an easy opportunity to push their garbage
Read the Full Post
February 11th, 2011
Change in Comments Policy
This blog is being hit with a large number spam comments lately. There have been over 12,000 attempts to spam the blog with comments just within the past 60 days. Recently a few dozen comments, hawking service and goods I deem inappropriate for this blog, made it past the filters. Since I don't desire to spend more time deleting the spam as I find it and don't want inappropriate information to sit on my blog, I am tightening up the policy on commenting here.
Those who wish to comment must now register and be logged in before being to post comments. Registration is free and is not the same as membership to this site. This is a common practice on many blogs especially among sites run by more "traditional media" type companies.
Read the Full Post
February 9th, 2011
Gone Home: Matt Kirkland
It is with shock and sadness that I pass along this message Tim Brown forwarded to me this morning:
With deep regret I must announce that my son, Matthew Thomas Kirkland, 31, passed from this world at 9:30 this evening. Matt suffered a massive stroke last night. We are having Matthew cremated and will hold a private ceremony in Memphis at a later date. For those who knew Matt, if you desire, to make a donation to the Transatlantic Council, Boy Scouts of America in his name. http://www.tac-bsa.org/Home.html
Matt was a significant contributor to this site, especially for Black Eagle lodge 482. He will be missed.
Read the Full Post
Lodge 270: 2009 Events Patches, Part 2
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