The Krelman Kecoughtan C-2 chenille prototype

In mid-September 2009 Mike McCaughan sent me a picture of a prototype Kecoughtan C-3 chenille that I had never seen before. Unlike the released version with a red felt background this prototype had a tan felt background.

While researching this emblem I consulted Jeff Godby, who was Lodge Chief at the time and whose father, Dr. Ron Godby, was the Lodge Trading Post Advisor responsible for ordering this chenille issue.

Jeff confirmed the existence of the tan C-3 prototype and sent me pictures of one from his collection with the only difference being that the prototype Mike McCaughan acquired does not have a Standard Pennant Company label on the back while the one in Jeff's collection does.

A fortunate coincidence occurred when Jeff mentioned that he also has a prototype chenille patch for the Kecoughtan C-2 chenille.  As he remembers:

I was Lodge Chief when we came out with the C-2 and C-3 issues, and it was my idea for the lodge to issue our first chenilles in about 15 years ---  good money maker.  My father was the trading post advisor, and he was in charge of ordering the chenilles.  We gave Krelman & Standard both a shot at the C-2 and went with Standard.

The Krelman prototype is noticeably smaller than the Standard Pennant Company version, and the colors are more subdued. Additionally, the reverse side of the Krelman prototype is black, although when viewed from the front the felt background is red.

The Kecoughtan Chenille Emblems page has been updated to include the recently discovered prototype C-2 and C-3 issues. No known prototype of the C-4 is known, but perhaps a surprising discovery awaits!