There were over 1000 variations of Hungarian Excellent Worker (Kivalo Dolgozo) badges produced, some bearing the general "Excellent Worker" title and some bearing a more job-specific title. Please post yours here!
Thought I'd kick this off by showing two less common ministerial excellent worker badges. On the left, the badge from the Rakosi period (1949-1956) and, on the right, the Kadar period (1957-1989) version.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
The general opinion is that quality diminished as time went on and, I do notice some pure "junk" coming about in the '70's (less money). But this is only a generality... there were many quality items made in all time periods of the Warsaw Pact.
With regard to the badges shown: the earlier badge does not incorporate a "clear coat" over the enamel as the Kadar period badge does, which may account for the vibrancy of the colour. Taking all points of the badge into consideration, and in my opinion, I think the earlier badge is of slightly better quality... but only slightly.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Here's a good example of what most think of when the subject of Excellent Worker badges is brought up... the suspended star-type badge. This particular example dates from 1954 and is a type 2 variant. This is a heavy alloy silver finished star, with Rakozi arms, suspended from a pin-backed plaque reading "Kivalo Dolgozo". In case with miniature. The case lid has a raised Rakosi seal.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Here's another type 2 Kivalo Dolgozo badge, but this one incorporates the clear red plastic star which is glued to a sheet metal backing- this is seen often in Hungarian badges.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
06-08-2010, 01:17 PM (This post was last modified: 06-08-2010, 01:20 PM by Greg Collins.)
This is a 1953 Sztahanovista badge. Virtually the same as the first type 2 badge I posted, but with a different "hanger". Also, this badge has a letter/number designation on the back... K875. These are somewhat difficult to come by. Also note that a couple of links are missing one one side of the suspension chain. I have seen this before and wonder if this wasn't an owner's modification to accomodate the way the badge was worn (to match the cut of a lapel, for instance).
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
As I've shown, the Excellent Worker badges did not always feature the star motif. Here's another example of a different design... a Kadar period Excellent Worker of Agriculture badge along with it's miniature.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
While not being the last model Kivalo Dolgozo badge, this is certainly one of the final types. This appears to be molded plastic with molded and pressed around brass. The red in the Kadar seal appears to have been "touched-up" at some point- stray paint. Note the suspension on this badge has been shortened in, more or less, the same way as the Sztahanovista badge I showed earlier.
"We are Marching for the Victory of Communist Labour" V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin)
Which side of the chest were these worn on? I'm beginning to agree with the notion that it was a cosmetic re-arrangement. Those ever-stylish Hungarian socialists.
