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DescriptionAward pin: Army-Navy 'E' Award to Keuffel & Esser Co., Hoboken, N.J. Commemorative pin issued to employee Arthur E. Miller, Nov. 4, 1942. Sterling silver with red, white and blue enamel, 1-3/16" wide x 5/8" high. Screw post back with brass cap. Back has of pin has Keuffel & Esser Co. name plus maker's mark B.B. Co. Roch. N.Y. (Bastian Bros. Co., Rochester, N.Y.) plus two union marks; cap is marked Bastian Bros. Co., Rochester, N.Y. Mounted on card (1-11/16" square) imprinted "Sterling." With: original plain glassine sleeve; printed presentation envelope; enclosure - printed [4] page pamphlet about the award, its history and K&E. The Army - Navy "E" Award (Award for Excellence in Production). This is the third of seven such awards made to K&E. The company did significant work in Hoboken for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy during World War II. It was only one of 13 companies in the entire country to receive as many as seven awards. (K&E received its first award on August 9, 1941 and the second on May 29, 1942.)Date of fourth one not found. Fifth one was displayed on July 10, 1945. The pin is from the personal memorabilia of Arthur E. Miller (1914-1984) who was also known as Edwin Arthur Miller. Another of his "E' award pins, a different style, is objects 2012.021.0004. Born and raised in Hoboken, his job at K&E at this time is not known except that it was an occupation considered essential to the war effort and thus he was excused from military service. He is known have been engaged directly in manufacturing work as his tool chest from his time at K&E is in the Museum collections (objects 2012.021.0100) and has many small bench tools for that have yet to be studied. Printed envelope, 3-1/8" wide x 4-3/4" high; printed front only; imprinted with name of recipient on top flap (metal stencil): 476 Arthur Miller. Envelope face text: This envelope contains YOUR AWARD PIN Presented by COLONEL G. B. WELCH Ordnance Dept. U. S. A. [United States Army] in connection with THE ARMY-NAVY AWARD * with two stars attached * For Excellence in Production made to KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. ORGANIZATION November 4, 1942 ------ Pamphlet, 2-3/4" x 4-3/8", [4] pp. Text: Your "E" Award Here is your Navy "E "— wear it with pride! It stands for Excellence and Efficiency. It means that your company's outstanding production record for the Defense Program has earned one of the the most coveted awards the Navy can bestow. This is your honor. K&E is "excellent and efficient" only because its men — and women — have done their part to make it so. That is why you receive this badge. National Defense is not just a matter of bomb sights and range finders. Ships, planes and tanks must be designed and drawn before they can be made. Naval bases and airports must be surveyed before they can be built. Everything we manufacture today for drafting and surveying is of first importance in the re-arming of this nation. Whatever your job with K&E, you are contributing mightily to the Defense Program. All honors bring obligations — this one is no exception. Today, K&E faces the double task of producing materials for armament, and for civilian needs as well. The demands on our facilities have increased many-fold. We must strive to be even more "excellent and efficient" if we are to prevent serious shortages in K&E materials. This is a real responsibility. America is counting on us to deliver the goods! We have an important job to do. Let's turn in even better records . . . KEUFFEL & ESSER CO. "E" is prized Navy honor . . The "E" has been one of the most coveted awards in the United States Navy since it was first introduced by the late Admiral William S. Simms in 1906. Standing for Excellence and Efficiency, it is generally awarded for outstanding work in gunnery, seamanship or engineering. Constant records are kept of performance on every ship and plane and on every crew. At the end of each year the crew in each class whose ship has the highest rating wins the right to paint the letter "E" on one of the ship's funnels. Crews with the highest rating in gunnery paint the "E" on a mast or on the bridge. Men in individual gun crews with outstanding records receive the right to paint the letter "E" on their gun turret. In awarding the "E" to manufacturers and their employees for doing distinguished work in supplying Naval Ordnance, the Navy is establishing a new precedent. To date, only 14 manufacturers in America have been so honored. Keuffel & Esser Company is among the first to receive this award. The official Navy "E" badge is presented to the employees of Keuffel & Esser Co. as a personal award which must not be transferred. Lost badges cannot be replaced. [end]