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This badge is not a joke but in fact an actual replica. Brothel Inspector was an official office in Kansas City and other American towns in the 19th century � no oolin'! This had to be the cushiest job in the world.

Solid pewter. 2" wide x 2 1/8" high.

Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 12:38 PM
Subject: brothel inspector badge

To whom this may concern.
You are selling the brothel inspector badge as an actual replica.
I bought one once, not via you.
I wrote to Kansas City Police dept. to ask them about it.
I got a nice reply, there is no such thing as a brothel inspection. Brothels were illegal, so there could never be a official office to inspect brothels. If you don't believe me, ask them.
It's a nice/fun badge, keep it like that.
But don't sell the lie with it.(thing to do for the new year?)

greetings,

Michael Woldringh
from The Netherlands
Michael

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From: Greg Baskin
To: 'Michael Woldringh'
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2005 8:12 PM
Subject: RE: brothel inspector badge

Hello Michael,

The reply you received from Kansas City Police is correct: "there is no such thing as a brothel inspection." Today, now, in our time. But the facts of the past say otherwise. I am certainly not one to argue with the law enforcement community but, with all due respect, these folks are not historians.

Brothels, and the position of brothel inspector, were quite common throughout the western United States of the mid-nineteenth century. And Kansas City was located at the crossroads of the rail lines of the day. The place was exploding with men coming and going from all over the continent, all looking to "blow off some steam" on their way to somewhere else. It is widely understood that the many brothels in Kansas City -- legal or not -- were more than tolerated by local officials. Because prostitution was common, it was clear that without health inspections, diseased girls would knock out a large segment of the young builders of our young country within a very short time. The girls were very important to the health of the economy.

Here is how it worked:

The brothel inspectors actually served as both health inspectors and tax collectors. The small rooms above the bar in which the girls worked (known as "cribs") each had a small box outside. The patron would purchase a token from the bartender and deposit it in the box of the girl of his choice. At the end of the night, the tokens were tallied, each girl was paid her due, and the numbers were kept on ledgers. These ledgers were the basis upon which the inspectors collected tax.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this issue.

Greg Baskin

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Gold Mountain Trading, LLC
A Motherlode of gifts ... at Old West prices!

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Hello Greg,

Thank YOU for clarifying. Yes indeed, the law enforcers are no historians. When I asked my question, the PR dept. of Kansas City Police, asked a former law enforcement officer about the matter.
The man was a collector of original badges, and what he told was the answer I got. So it seemed logical.

After reading your explanation, I have to agree with you. Toleration reaches far when money is concerned. Especially in those days where law differed geographically.

When rereading my first e-mail, the text could be taken somewhat offencing. So I hope there was no offence taken.

Again, thank you for putting it right..

greetings,

Michael Woldringh

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