Collector Warren Kuhfeld shared this history on one of the FB patch collecting groups. I thought it both worth sharing and saving for posterity (i.e. FB is a river and things flow through it and disappear.)

From Warren:

Experienced collectors can identify the manufacturer of some flaps just by noting their shape. Obvious examples include Geer, Moritz, Lion Brothers, and Welsh Industries. There is another shape that you might find interesting, the Novak shape. JF Novak was a friend of my father’s. Mr. Novak operated a store in Cleveland, Ohio, established in 1932, selling police and Christian supplies in the front and manufacturing patches in the back. I believe his primary patch business was law enforcement patches, but he made some Scout patches and many other types of patches. In 1973, one of my father’s other friends, a fascinating man and eclectic collector, learned about my collecting interests and told me about Mr. Novak’s business. At that point, I was an 18-year-old new collector. He took me to visit Mr. Novak. During several visits, I bought overruns of 487F2s, 487X2s, 350A1s, and 75A1s (WAB). These were an incredible help in developing my new OA collection. I also picked up quite a few Camp Tepicon and Sauk Trails patches. The 487Fs, both F1 and F2, have a distinctive shape with straight sides. The highly coveted FF event flap from 189 has the same shape and style of embroidery. Lodge 189 is from Sauk Trails Council and Camp Tepicon. It seems certain that Mr. Novak not only made the 487F1 FF but he also made the 189 event flaps. I was not aware of the existence of the 189 flaps back in 1973, but I certainly knew to look for anything flap shaped. I never saw any other OA issues there. Over the years, the Fire Marshall would show up now and then and make him get rid of boxes and boxes of overruns. It is likely that some 189 event flaps ended up in a dump in Cleveland long before I ever visited. Surprisingly, I don’t think Mr. Novak made any patches for Cleveland’s Cuyahoga Lodge, although I have seen several council event patches that I believe are his.I picked up one other thing during my first visit, a couple reproductions of the 1957 jamboree backpatch. Mr. Novak said a Scouter had one that was damaged in a fire. He believed he would never be able to replace it, so he asked Mr. Novak to make him another one. We all know that 1957 backpatches are not difficult to find, but a Scouter in 1973 in the era before eBay and the internet might not have known that. I don’t know if that Scouter’s story is true or not, but I do know that Mr. Novak gave me a couple of the backpatches. I am beyond embarrassed to admit that I traded them without divulging the source, at that point in my life not fully grasping the immorality of that act. The patches can be distinguished by a bright pink face. I did not keep any, nor did I take pictures.

From Warren Kuhfeld 06/29/22

Here are some examples of patches attributed to this company.

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The first BSA camp was held at the YMCA’s Silver Bay facility near Lake George, NY from August 16 – September 1, 1910. Like what Baden-Powell did earlier in England at Brownsea Island, the Scout leaders tested out the concept and interest in a summer camp experience for youth.

In the earliest days of the BSA, before James West was hired as Chief Scout Executive, it was Edgar Robinson Director of the YMCA in New York city, that was helping to administer the developing organization. Actually, Robinson was involved in the selection, recruitment and hiring of West.

From the BSA National Jamboree Silver Bay exhibit syllabus:

… in 1910 Robinson, Seton (Founder of the Woodcraft Indians) and others, like Dan Beard (Founder of Sons of Daniel Boone), had become national leaders in founding the Boy Scouts of America. This caused camp plans to shift, and an experimental Woodcraft Boy Scout Camp resulted.

Campers were instructed in advance on what equipment was needed for camp through the YMCA newsletter Association Boys. Among the items listed were a ‘khaki suit and khaki hat.’ This was the first effort toward any type of standard uniform for American Scouts.

Campers were told to bring five books with them to camp. Besides the Bible, there was Alice Fletcher’s book on Indian stories and songs, and Horace Kephart’s classic on camping. Both authors were considered the leading experts in their fields. Seton’s Birch Bark Roll and Baden-Powell’s Scouting for Boys were also listed. But by the time of the camp, the BSA’s first Handbook for Boys had come out. The new handbook combined parts of The Birch Bark Roll and Scouting for Boys into one book and credited both men. Several copies of the first Handbook for Boys were brought to the camp.

From Silver Bay syllabus excerpt courtesy of staff director Kelly Williams

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Before there were smart phones we had digital cameras. Before digital cameras were film cameras (those too young to have not seen film – it was called that because because pictures were captured on a physical media). Before film, and now we’re outside of my era, there were glass slides that held pictures that could be shown.

Reaching out to the web:

” The lantern slide has its origins in 17th century optical viewing devices which came to be known as “magic lanterns.” The earliest slides for magic lanterns consisted of hand-painted images on glass, projected by itinerant showmen telling stories about the images that were projected….” Source: Magic Lantern Slide Society

Again, pre-dating me, when these first came out there were no movie screens so seeing pictures from elsewhere around the world was quite a novelty and experience. They were generally phased out by the 1940s/1950s as they were replaced by the acetate 35mm film slides.

There exist glass lantern slides for Scouts. One such set we acquired when we bought the Buffalo Scout Museum of Paul and Diana Freitag. Paul had created a wonderful display box of a set he aquired that the council, at the time, was throwing out. We donated the slide display to the Council. It is on display at their council headquarters. It covers the first 25 years of the council including a picture of when Baden-Powell visited the council as well as the early days of Camp Scouthaven. Here’s a quick video we shot of the display.

We recently got in a complete Scout slide set out of Chicago circa 1918 from the John Vacca estate. Some are in black and white but many are in color which again was rare for this era. Here are scans for a few of them.

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A Passing of Note: William A. Kern, M.D. F.A.C.S. 6/6/1933 – 5/24-2019 (published in ISCA’s journal March, 2020).

Scout collector Bill Kern passed in May 24, 2019 at age 85 after a long and debilitating battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

For nearly eighty years Dr. Kern dedicated his life and lived by the Boy Scout Oath and Law. He joined the Cubs Scouts in the early forties, earning the Wolf and Bear ranks, with many Arrow Points while at Pack 19 in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. When his family moved to Frackville, Pennsylvania he joined Pack 591. He was the Den Leader and earned The Lion Award with eight more Arrow Points. He was among the first Cubs to earn The Arrow of Light Award.

He joined Troop 91 and progressed through the ranks in the minimum time earning the Eagle Rank with Bronze, Gold and three Silver Palms. During this time he served as Quarter Master, Scribe, Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader Assistant, Patrol Leader, and Assistant Scoutmaster. During the war he earned The Mac Arthur and Eisenhower Awards. In addition to serving in The Observer Corp he was a member of the troop band. He was also The Captain, and twice winner, of the First Aid Team at the TRI Council First Aid Meet, which had a great influence in his eventual decision to become a physician.

He was a six year camper attending Philmont Scout Ranch as a Scout and later served on the Camp Staff for two years. He was named Outstanding Scout for his council in 1946 and was elected into The Order of The Arrow and was selected for Senior Patrol Leader while attending the 1950 National Scout Jamboree.

During Bill’s college days at Penn State he was active in Alpha Phi Omega, plus helping with a local troop while also attaining grades to be selected to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Delta MU, Honorary Scholastic Fraternities. He was also president of the Student Council and Vice President of his fraternity, Kappa Delta Roe. He maintained his busy schedule during his Post Graduate Training and Army Tours as Assistant Scoutmaster, Merit Badge Counselor and was a member of The Knights of Dunamis.

He received his medical degree from Temple Medical School in Philadelphia. Bill served in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served in Germany with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, and in Vietnam with the 24th Evacuation Hospital as the Chief Ophthalmic Adviser to the U.S. Surgeon General: 1967-68. He was awarded The Bronze Star during Tet Offensive.

He was a founding partner of Hemet Eye Medical and Surgical Center in Hemet, CA. He was a pioneer in outpatient cataract (inter-occular lens) surgery and glaucoma specialist. In the community he rose to become a 32^nd Degree Mason.

It was in California with his sons Bill Jr. and Howard where he reconnected to Scouting serving with California Inland Empire Council. He received his Brotherhood and Vigil from Cahuilla Lodge 127.

Bill was passionate in many ways including his collecting of Scout patches which he picked up from Howard. The article above mentions his Eagle Scout collection was one of the reference sources for the first catalog of Eagle medals but he also built one of the best OA collections along with California camp patch collections and K of D collections in the country. Two of his sons are Eagle Scouts (Bill Jr., and Howard) and two grandsons are Eagle Scouts (Brandon and William A. Kern,III – B. T.) His spirit and joy of life will be missed.

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Received this update from Central Region:

August 1, 2014

To:                          Central Region Executive Committee

                                Central Region Area 7 Committee

                                Chicago Area Council Key Three

                                Three Fires Council Key Three

                                Northeast Illinois Council Key Three

Des Plaines Council Key Three

Calumet Council Key Three

Blackhawk Area Council Key Three

Rainbow Council Key Three

Northwest Suburban Council Key Three

                                Central Region Area Directors

From:                    Brian Williams, Central Region President

                                Reid Christopherson, Central Region Commissioner

                                Al Lambert, Central Region Director

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After much research, discussion, and deliberation, the Central Region Executive Committee has adopted a multi-phase approach to the realignment of councils in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana Metropolitan area.

As Phase One, the geographical territory currently being served by Northwest Suburban Council, Chicago Area Council, Calumet Council and Des Plaines Valley Council will be assigned to a new council that will be created within the boundaries of these four councils.

It is believed that this new council, operating within these approved boundaries, will successfully position Scouting in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana Metropolitan area for the future.  This new council will be constructed and fully operational by early in the first quarter of 2015.  Until that time, the four legacy councils will continue to operate and should continue to provide the services necessary to support their Scouts and families.

The Central Region Executive Board will provide interim governance and support for the newly created council.   National Executive Board member Ray Wood has been appointed to lead our support of the legacy councils during the transition.  Ray’s committee will include representatives of both the National Executive Board and our Regional Board.  Deputy Regional Director Fred Wallace has been appointed to lead the daily operations of the new council during the build out and will replace Matt Thornton as interim Scout Executive in our legacy councils.    You will hear from Ray and Fred shortly.

Phase Two of the project will begin later in 2015.  During this phase we will look at the councils and the territory surrounding the new council and will continue to explore the best alignment of communities aligned to provide strong Scouting programs to more youth.  Some of these could include:

·         A review of the territory served by the Rainbow Council including potential consolidation, collaboration and/or shared resources.

·         A review of the territory served by the Blackhawk Area Council, Three Fires Council and Northeast Illinois Council which could include discussions of consolidation, collaboration, shared resources, and boundary realignment.

·         A review of the Wisconsin and Iowa territory included in Area 7 and Area 3 to determine if those counties are being served in the best possible manner.

·         Other areas of review as determined.

While there will be much to discuss as the new council is built, we look forward to the Area 7 committee engaging with you to insure that every youth has an opportunity to join a strong program this fall.  This is surely the Main Thing…more youth across Area 7 experiencing the fun and adventure of Scouting.  Mike Duffee and Ernie Froemel continue to provide strong leadership to Area 7 – please count on them.

A sincere thank you is extended to the multitude of volunteers and professionals that have participated in the consolidation talks the past two years.  Your input was invaluable throughout this process.

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From long time collector Ted Packer, also former Council President for Burlington County Council:

Southern New Jersey council has merged into Burlington County Council. The vote by both councils was on the 19th. It will be effective on 1/1/2013. We will be choosing a new name in the near future & the OA Lodges will be combining by the end of 2013.

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Made another road trip to pick up another Boy Scout estate. Its what we do. Full-time. Now, I’ll suggest the reason we end up with so many estates is that we handle all areas of Scouting collectibles so we can see value where others don’t. As in this estate there was very little cloth and virtually no OA pieces but there were some VERY interesting pieces of non-patch memorabilia. So, if you are thinking of selling your Scout patches or collectibles – give us a call at 734-434-TSPA (8772) or e-mail us at info@tspa.com

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Right now this is in the rumor mill but the OA National Committee is following through on its policy one charter – one lodge. The biggest outlier in this is Greater New York Councils which is technically one council but each of the burroughs operate with a lot of autonomy and they each have their own lodge several being some of the oldest in the country (e.g., Ranachaqua 4 and Shu-shu-gah 24). Anyone have any more knowledge about this situation either to confirm or refute?

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Working through the collection consigned to us in August we’re going through the next step after photographing each item. Thoughts include: fun, interesting, exciting. And….drudgery. First you break it down by 100s or alpha, then into 10’s, then into individual lodges or councils or camps or…..

Several years back Bill Topkis posed this question to me as we were working up parts of his and Dr. Morley’s collection, “How many patches have you (Roy) looked at?” I didn’t have a ready answer. First thought was over 100,000. But as Bill reflected that this is way too low. That his and Jeff’s collection had over 20,000 issues plus duplicates. He figured he  had looked at several 100,000 patches over the years and patches area a hobby for him, not a business.

We’re quickly closing in on our quarter-millionth picture for listings, auction and web-site. That’s 250,000 patch pictures. That’s just from 2003. Many of those pictures are group shots. Many more patches were looked at but never pictured or weren’t in our hands.

At a jamboree or NOAC it is common to look at over 4,000 patches/day even though we have fewer councils and fewer lodges. Going through a multi-1,000 patch collection can be just an afternoon project. A good trade-o-ree can mean looking at 10,000 patches/day. This isn’t even counting eBay viewing.

The fun part with this collection is seeing so many new issues even though I’ve been on several Jamboree and NOAC staffs. The other thought that comes to mind is how well the patch armorers are doing, i.e., the patch manufacturers. We the collectors have been part of the problem as we start putting different borders on everything whether justified or not.

So back to Bill’s question-easily half-million and may well be a million plus. Its one of the reasons we were asked to take over Blue Book. Oh well…back to sorting.

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