More “Inspired” Patches
Posted in Patch Collecting by John E. Pannell on October 9th, 2008 at 5:02 am 
Echockotee 200 eX1960
Here’s another pair of patches where the design of one appears obviously inspired by the other. While reviewing pricing data for this site, I noticed the patch at the top of this post.
This simply designed patch was issued for Echockotee’s 1960 Fall Fellowship. Even though the patch is clearly round, Blue Book has listed this as eX1960.
By today’s standards this design might be considered offensive and “politically incorrect”, but such was not a major concern in 1960. Perhaps the elements of the design were intended to signify that both American Indian events and a business meeting took place at this fellowship? This design was familiar to me.
Mi-Gi-Si-O-Paw-Gan 162 Wopon Chapter R1a
Wopon chapter of Migisi Opawgan 162 used a similar design on both their R1 and R2. It was my impression these were from the 1950s so would pre-date the Echockotee lodge fellowship patch. Can anyone confirm this?
On the Wopon chapter pieces the running warrior is the central element of the design. He is flanked by the book with “WWW” on the cover and three tomahawks.
Assuming this came first, the brave appears to have lost some weight before appearing on the lodge 200 patch. Perhaps that was from running all the way from Michigan to Florida? He also acquired a shirt and some footwear along the way, and decided it could be useful to wield one of those tomahawks. 
Inspired and common patch designs aren’t all that unusual. This is at least the fifth time I have written about patches like this. Previous posts on this topic include:
- Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
- Peculiarly Similar Patches?
- Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery (II)
- Look Familiar?
Popularity: 5% [?]
JEP: “Wopon chapter of Migisi Opawgan 162 used a similar design on both their R1 and R2. It was my impression these were from the 1950s so would pre-date the Echockotee lodge fellowship patch. Can anyone confirm this?”
As the original retail owner of two Migisi Opawgan 162 Wopon R2 patches, I can confirm that the R2 issue was current during the first half of the 1950s. I obtained these patches new through “official” channels sometime after I was inducted into Migisi Opawgan Lodge in October 1952, but before I received my Eagle badge in November 1954 (Troop 129, Detroit Area Council). One of these patches is still sewn onto the back of my old merit badge sash.
In my opinion, the Blue Book designation of DYL (dark yellow, golden) as the background color of this patch issue is misleading. I think that “light tan” or “brownish manilla” would be more accurate. In any case, it’s a very nice-looking patch!
— Lew Creary