IDing the True Pokagon First Flap
Got into a discussion with Pokagon 110 alumnus Jim Scherbarth of Illinois about Pokagon’s first flap. We both agreed that most folks get it wrong and as a result don’t have the true first flap. This came up because we were both at the Columbus TOR where someone had the wrong Pokagon cataloged as the S1. Then again later this week someone asked for an offer on a collection. In it was supposedly a Pokagon S1 but when looking at the picture, it was not.
Here’s a picture of what is commonly thought to be the S1 but is NOT!!!
Digging deeper I went to OAimages.com. What’s on there today is the wrong patch. I went to the book First Flaps in Color. The one pictured there is wrong. Finally I had to get to the first edition of First Flaps by Morley, Topkis & Gould to get a picture of the correct one. Arapahoe 2’s completely mixed up in their sequencing of the issues but this was being done just on Dave Leubitz’s recollection.
What Jim has pointed out to me over the years is that the true S1 first flap is just like the Chief’s issue, S2, but with red arrow. Unfortunately that does not help most folks have never seen the Chief’s issue. Its one of the rarest patches in the hobby.
Here’s the S2 chief’s issue:
Now here’s a picture of the true Pokagon first flap:
and a close-up of the tail:
on October 25th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
From Jim:
Roy:
Looks good & thanks for doing this. The first flap was made in either 1956 or 1957 (I joined the lodge in 1958). The chief’s issue was made in 1957 or 1958. Tom Houts was the first lodge chief to get the S2 & he was lodge chief in 1958 when I joined. All previous lodge chiefs prior to 1958 were also given two of the chief flaps. The last chief’s flaps were given in 1966 to John Halsey. The lodge advisor at that time (Bill Cranor) destroyed the remaining ones when the merger took place. My guess is that 50 or so were made and about 30 were given to Lodge Chiefs from 1946 to 1966. Ray Lee purchased his from Tom Houts. I sold the two owned by George French (for his sister)to John Laitar, Lodge Advisor and Tom Fleming. George was Lodge Chief in 1946. Chris Jensen just sold a Lodge Chief flap he obtained form George Lytle (lodge chief in 1950). The Lodge Chiefs issue idea was a joint effort of the Lodge Chief in 1956 and George Lytle, who was associate Lodge Advisor? at the time.
Probably more info than you wanted to know & of course I am not certain of the dates or the quantity made.
Jim
on November 5th, 2011 at 7:32 pm
Great Information!!! I have known about the real S1 for years, but it still eludes me. Would LOVE to add one to my collection, any ideas?? www, Dave
on November 5th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
I’ll have to check around. It is underrated in my opinion precisely because of this confusion. It certainly doesn’t help that some reference books have it wrong.