Early Japanese Sports Badge Prize Toy -Ping Pong

These vintage (possibly before WW2) badges were prize toys. Each badge was attached to a lightweight cardboard sheet in a numbered space. There were tickets at the bottom that the buyer would select to see what number prize they got.

The badge fastens like a tie tack with a post and knurled knob that screws into place. The badge is made of a soft metal, possibly pewter. I have had many early Japanese figures, penny toys and pin backs cast in this soft, almost flexible metal...most were made in the pre-war period.

This badg has the word Ping Pong in script. These sports badges could have been made as prizes for High School athletes. If it was produced before the war then it might be unsold old stock that was used on a 1950's prize sheet.

Condition is unused, just as it came from the prize toy sheet. The casting's edges are not cleaned up since these were cheap novelty items but you could easily tidy them up with a pair of small scissors or an exacto knife.

1 and 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) wide

VG