Images(2)

United States Navy belt buckle

Date1958

Object number00054829

NameBuckle

MediumBronze

DimensionsOverall: 40 × 75 × 15 mm, 39 g

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jeff Allan

Terms

DescriptionA gold coloured bronze belt buckle featuring an embossed fouled anchor with text over it reading: USN. On the reverse is engraved text reading 'Made in U.S.A. Solid brass'. The buckle is from the USS BENNINGTON aircraft carrier. The belt was wrapped in a white tissue paper with a handwritten label reading: 1958 Belt buckle Chief Bremington [sic] carrier USS Navy'. This belt buckle is a piece of memorabilia related to the United States Navy bearing the initials USN and an anchor. The buckle was collected by Vanessa (Zena) Roberson and is possibly related to the visit of USS BREMERTON I (CA-130), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser to Sydney in 1959 or more likely the USS BENNINGTON (CV-20), an Essex-class aircraft carrier, which visited in 1957. The inscription affixed to the object reads “1958 Belt Buckle Chief from the USS Bremington [sic.] Carrier.” HistoryThis unusual and comprehensive collection of mainly US Navy (but including RCN, RAN, RN and Matson line) ship souvenirs, letters, book matches, badges and invitations documents Navy ship visits to Sydney in the period between 1950 and 1980. The collection includes souvenirs from USN vessels serving in the Vietnam War that visited Sydney for maintenance, repair and rest and recreation including the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Another souvenir is from USS Arneb a vessel that took part in Operation Deep Freeze 1, 2 and 3 (1956 - 1964) designed to secure the USA's presence in Antarctica. USS Arneb was damaged by ice in 1957 and put into drydock in Sydney for repair. The preponderance of souvenir cigarette lighters and matches indicate the status of tobacco smoking as an acceptable and even desrirable social habit of this period. Many of the lighters are the American Zippo brand which was used as a marketing device and souvenir by many American companies and entities. They are collectable and are considered to significant in the history of US product design. SignificanceThis belt buckle is a piece of memorabilia related to the United States Navy bearing the initials USN and an anchor. The item, collected by Vanessa (Zena) Roberson is significant in the context of her collection of naval souvenirs during the period between 1950 and 1980. It is possibly related to the visit of USS BREMERTON I (CA-130), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser to Sydney in 1959 or more likely the USS BENNINGTON (CV-20), an Essex-class aircraft carrier, which visited in 1957 or 1967. The inscription affixed to the object reads “1958 Belt Buckle Chief from the USS Bremington [sic.] Carrier.”