Maker List/Photo Gallery

As of right now there are eighteen accepted manufacturers of this award. These makers made both unmarked and marked examples of the badge. It is hoped that by identifying all known makers that collectors will be able to identify their unmarked examples in their collections to specific manufacturers. 

The makers of this award utilized various techniques and materials in the production of the PAB. The most common method of production that collectors will find examples of is the die forged and die cast process. In die forging the metal is heated to an elastic state and tremendous pressure is applied. This causes the very identifiable “dished” or “scooped” back badges with sharp edges on the reverse of the badge. This process allows curved shapes to be made t hat would be very difficult in using other techniques. This process also permits much less wear to be accrued to the dies involved in the process.  

Die casting uses molten metal forced into a mold under pressure. It was more economical to use this technique in the latter stages of the war. Die cast pieces have sharply defined features and smooth back-side surfaces (as compared to the die forged pieces). When done properly, there is very little finishing work needed on these once ”ejected” from the mold.  The third method of making these badges was done early in the war and involved “die stamping” techniques. In this process a thin sheet of metal (brass in the case of the PAB) was placed between a male and female die and the badge was literally punched out of the metal. This variant was the most time consuming of the three techniques and was phased out as the war progressed in favor of more economical methods of production.