Capitalizing on the popularity of the television crime drama Dragnet, Transogram released the Dragnet – Badge 714 Crime Lab. The set provided “a complete crime detection outfit for the Junior Detective,” allowing them to simulate solving crimes like the show’s lead character.
During the 1950s, Dragnet was broadcast on television and radio. The police procedural featured the no-nonsense detective Joe Friday, played by actor Jack Webb. Webb is featured prominently on Transogram’s packaging, complete with his trademark fedora and badge.
CRIME DETECTION TOOLS
The Crime Lab came in a self-contained carry case and included a mix of forensic and crime-fighting tools. Junior detectives had access to a fingerprint kit consisting of ink, a magnifying glass, and record sheets.
A stamp pad and “case closed” stamp made it easy to track which cases were still unsolved, and the included silver-coloured badge was available for identification purposes. The kit was rounded out with a set of handcuffs and a flashlight in the form of a gun. Printed “How to Use” instructions were included in the box.
SET VARIANTS
Shortly after releasing the first set, Transogram began releasing variants which included additional law enforcement tools. In some deluxe kits, the company added a Dragnet code chart, a microscope with a shatterproof lens and slides, fingerprint powder with applicator, fingerprint transfer tape, a vile of invisible ink, a detective wallet, tweezers, and pyrocon impression material.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Given the abundance of small parts and paper-based contents, collectors of Dragnet memorabilia would do well to find a now 70-plus-year-old Crime Lab in pristine condition. The smaller set (#3761) appears more readily available in various conditions on the secondary market, while the larger sets (#3763, #3765) are a more challenging acquisition.
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