WWI Gorham Co Machine Guns War Worker Medal Home Front Munitions Badge Eagle For Sale

Original World War I U.S. home front war worker medal for machine gun production, made by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island. During 1917-1918, factories building weapons and war materials awarded these medals to employees for faithful service on war contracts. Gorham produced this design for many different plants, with the type of work struck at the bottom; “Machine Guns” is one of the few known variants recorded in Planck’s reference on WWI home front awards.

Design details:

• Bald eagle with the U.S. shield, gripping arrows and lightning bolts, with a laurel branch behind
• “E PLURIBUS UNUM” ribbon banner flowing overhead
• Factory worker in shop apron and rolled sleeves holding a tool, standing at a workbench with machinery behind him
• “MACHINE GUNS” lettered across the exergue at the bottom
• Plain reverse with the “GORHAM CO” maker mark stamped near the rim
• Bronze with a silver-toned finish
• Approx. 33 mm (1-3/16") diameter

These medals were typically worn hanging from a “WAR WORKER” bar pin. This example is the medal only, without the top bar, and has two small holes drilled near the top edge, most likely added during its working life for mounting on a plaque, a factory display or a shadow box. It is a well-sculpted piece of WWI industrial history and a fine example of Gorham’s medallic art, suited to WWI militaria, home front, machine gun and firearms history, or Gorham collectors.

Please see the detailed photos carefully, as they are part of the condition description..

Specifics:

• Type: War Worker Medal / Badge (pendant only)
• Theme: WWI Home Front, Munitions and Machine Gun Production
• Era: World War I (1917-1918)
• Maker: Gorham Co. (marked)
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• Material: Bronze with silver-toned finish
• Inscriptions: E PLURIBUS UNUM / MACHINE GUNS; reverse GORHAM CO
• Size: approx. 33 mm (1-3/16") diameter
• Features: Two drilled mounting holes; top bar not present

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