Ty Cobb pin?

[aelefson]

Hi-
I recently purchased the item scanned below from an antique dealer. Is this a vintage Ty Cobb pin? Or was it made more recently? I cannot find anything similar to it in online searches. Has anyone seen this item before? Any thoughts at all would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

[gnaz01]

The stick pin itself looks relatively new compared to the wear on the button. Neat item though.

[drcy]

When looking at a pin, corrosion and rust on the back, and especially the needle, is good evidence it is antique. The needles on most turn of the century pins are very rusty and dark.

Aluminum tends not to corrode, but most antique baseball pins weren't aluminum. Either way, that's obviously not aluminum as aluminum is silverly white (and light in weight). Gold also doesn't corrode, but it's a safe guess the back and needle aren't gold.

[aelefson]

Thank you David and Greg! I think the pin might have been added more recently, and then it fell off (that might be why there is a bunch of gunk on the back). Has anyone ever seen this before? Alternatively, has anyone ever seen this particular image of Cobb (with or without a facsimile autograph)?

Thanks,
Alan

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Thank you David and Greg! I think the pin might have been added more recently, and then it fell off (that might be why there is a bunch of gunk on the back). Has anyone ever seen this before? Alternatively, has anyone ever seen this particular image of Cobb (with or without a facsimile autograph)?

Thanks,
Alan

Alan,

Reminds me of this:

[drcy]

I'm not pin or jewelry expert, but did hear an expert jeweler say that you can tell if a brooch or similar has been restored or altered just by examining the back. It will have obviously added metal, soldering, other. Just looking at the back mess of your pin, it is possible it was restored and/or converted with a new needle added.