I got this fob along with a Bunn Special and would like to know its origin and scarcity. I may want to sell it.

Here is the Fob

I have never heard of that one before, but a Google search turns up: United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees & Railway Shop Labourers

... so it is definitely railroad related.

Hi Mike. I'm sure someone here will have exact knowledge of this brotherhood, but the tools on the fob look like maintenance tools, so this must be the 'United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes and Railway Shop Laborers', I believe active around the turn of the 20th century, and based in Michigan.

Norman

Thanks, for the info. I couldn't figure out all those letters. Do these have collectible/monetary value?

Mike-

For the past year, I have been collecting RR fobs along with my RR grade pocket watches. I currently have both a bronze and solid silver Bortherhood of RailRoad Trainman fobs that have #s on them to be used to identify an engineer in case of death or major accident.

I think I got a great deal on them, the bronze was about $30 and the solid silver was $45. If I attach them to a railroad grade watch and sell them together, I think it adds a lot value to the set.

You can never be sure if a RR grade watch was really used on a RR, however a fob like yours- definatley was. In my option, it would add value- similar to a watch being housed in a "Loaner" case.

Thanks, Foster. That is the information I need to learn. And to think, I got it free along with a nice Bunn special! Under $400

That is how I got my first one too. Attached to a 992B. Makes for a nice bonus

The United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way and Railway Shop Laborers was formed after World War I in 1918, there were conflicts with other crafts resulting in the Union being expelled from the American Federation of Labor in 1920 until 1922, when the organization reemerged as the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees which recently affiliated with the Teamsters Union. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen medallions referred to here were only issued to Railroad Trainmen and the number was for their insurance policy. The Locomotive Engineers, and the Locomotive Firemen had their own insurance policies. I have a ribbon from the U.B. of M.of W.& R.S.L. that I will post tomorrow.

Here is a ribbon from the United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way and Railway Shop Laborers, Lodge No. 189, Lindsay Ontario. On the top of the ribbon is a badge with clasped hands and and the words "IN UNION-THERE IS STRENGTH" and there are crossed Union Jacks with a Maple Leaf above, and a Canadian beaver underneath. The medallion on the ribbon has the union's name and Maintenance of Way and Laborers tools an Adze on the left side, a Track Wrench on the right side, a Shovel on top, a Level underneath, and in the middle a Wrench crossed with a Gauge Measuring tool, over a Sledgehammer.

Here is a view of the ribbon with the top badge reversed. It was worn this way to commemorate Memorial Day, and at Lodge Brothers funerals.

Here is an old ribbon from the National Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees from Englehart Lodge 3. It has an old hand push speeder on the medallion.

Larry, thanks for those cool pics. You obviously have some nice stuff. My Grandfather was a foreman on a track repair gang. I had no idea I would someday have a fob depicting his union. I wish I could get his watch.

I am not able to post pics at this time. But I did find one on ebay that is the same as the 2 that I have

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pocket-Watch-Chain-Brotherhood-of-R...eZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Anyone who would pay $130 for one of these charms, and a cheap chain is paying way too much. I have bought these over the years and paid no more than $10 for them. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was the largest of the running trade unions. And all the members were required to take out an insurance policy. So these medallions are fairly common.

Here is a convention badge from Lindsay Lodge 189 U.B.M.W.E.&R.S.L. The top of the ribbon above MEMBER shows a view of a railway roundhouse with water tower, and tracks coming out of it, along with a steel railway trestle, harbor, and community in the back ground. With a UBMWE&RSL medallion hanging on the bottom.

Here is a United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, and Railway Shop Laborers watch fob with 100% in the middle. This would be for Lodges that had 100% of the employees working there signed up with the union.

Here is a Brotherhood of Railroad Trainman fob from Cleveland in 1915.

I totally agree with Larry. The most I have every paid was $60- which included a solid silver- hallmarked chain.

here's another one is solid 10k

Nice pin Pete, I see the crossed gavel's underneath the top bar, which reads Past President I believe. The pin is Ladies Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, an organization of wives of trainmen that formed in 1899.

makes very good sense . i really like the detail and atrisanship of these historic bobbles ..

thank you kindly

pete