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American NPA Fancy Pigeon Bands...

Author: Jan Lombard	Title: American NPA Fancy Pigeon Bands
Date: 2004-09-28 11:52:32	Uploaded by: webmaster

NPA stands for National Pigeon Association. The NPA of America used rolled edge aluminum rings with embossed letters up until the end of 2002. Their 2003 order was supplied by Horst Stengel & Sohn, Firma Kunststoff Fussringe; from Schmalkalden, Germany. These rings are white plastic – similar to the modern plastic fancy pigeon rings used by most European countries. At the time of writing (February 2004) I have not seen any 2004 rings and cannot comment on it. On the pre-2003 aluminum type (manufactured by the Gey Band & Tag Company) the N and the P forms one character. We also get the English NPA and the Australian NPA. Both use the initials NPA on their rings. Both of these two countries use coloured smooth aluminum rings with engraved letters.

Most collectors find the American NPA system for ring sizes and their individual numbering system very confusing. Adding to this confusion is the fact that there are no hard and fast rules The individual numbering system works as follows: The first letter indicates the size and group of breeds, while the second letter forms part of an alphanumerical numbering system. If there is a need for it, I can post an e-mail on the breeds within each group. I will give the inside diameter of the different sizes below. The observant reader will notice that sizes A, C and R are the same. These 3 sizes are however used for 3 groups of different breeds. Size B & D are the same size. The same holds true for sizes E & M as well as for sizes F & H and sizes J & T. In all instances the different first letters indicate different breed groups.

It seems that the 2003 plastic rings have the same 2-letter system as well as the inside diameter in millimetres (printed vertically). You will therefore get NPA 03 7 AP, where the 7 (printed vertically) is the inside diameter. Americans do not use the metric system. Time only will tell how their ring sizes will be indicated in the future.

The second letter has no meaning at all. The purpose is to help make provision for the large number of rings per size / breeds group. You will therefore find NPA 02 AA; NPA 02 AB …. to NPA 02 AZ. I am not 100 percent sure if they ever used all the combinations up to AZ. This system enables the NPA to provide for large numbers per size / group of breeds, without having to use more than 3 digits. This is important when we consider the fact that the NPA orders between 450 000 and 500 000 “normal” rings. Most (not all) of these so-called normal rings are plain aluminium.

The NPA also orders breed club rings – 120 000 or more per year. While most clubs are “single” breed clubs that uses one size, some clubs like those for e.g. the Pouter / Cropper breeds order rings in different size to cater for the different breeds within their clubs. They do not use the same numbering system discussed above. In becomes necessary to measure their bands. Most (not all) of the breed club rings are coloured, and most use 3 or more letters to indicate their club with. There is however some clubs that uses 1, 2 or 3 letters. The instance where they use 2 letters leaves the door wide open for confusion. A good example is the American Helmet Association. They used AH up until 1990 (My latest NPA AH ring is from 1990 and my earliest NPA AHA ring from 1991). The size that they are using is the same as the “normal” A size. It is therefore possible to find a “normal” NPA AH ring that has got nothing to do with this particular breed club.

My conclusion then, is that it does not make any sense for a collector to pay any attention the second letter on “normal” NPA rings. At the same time, however he/she should be aware of the fact that it may be a breed club ring – especially if it is coloured. If the size of such a coloured ring differs from the normal size of a ring with the same first letter, you can almost be certain that it is a breed club ring.

What do I collect when it comes to American NPA rings: one per size per year of the plain aluminum rings; one per size per year of the coloured rings and one per size per year of the breed club rings with their specific initials. I will now continue to list all the different NPA rings that I know off and that I have / need. Any help with my collection will be appreciated.

NPA	A size; 0.292”. I need the years up to 1958; 1960-63; 1965-73; 1975; 1977; 1979-80; 1982; 2004
NPA	B size, 0.315”. I need the years up to 1965; 1968 to 1977; 1979; 1981-3;1985; 2002; 2004
NPA	C size, 0.292”. I need the years up to 1972; 1974; 1977; 1979; 1982; 1999; 2003; 2004
NPA	D size, 0.315”. I need the years up to 1974; 1976-1980; 1982; 1984-1986; 1989; 1992; 2001-2004
NPA	E size, 0.340”. I need the years up to 1970; 1973-1976; 1982-1984; 1995; 2001-2004
NPA	F size, 0.370”. I need the years up to 1972; 1974-1979; 1981-1984; 1987; 2001-04
NPA	G size, ?”. I need the years up to 1962; 1964-1969; 1971-1972; 1974 and later
NPA	H size, 0.370”. I need the years up to 1974; 1977-8; 1982; 1984; 2002; 2004.
NPA	J size, 0.432”. I need the years up to 1979; 1982-1985; 1987; 1990; 1992; 1998; 2001-2004
NPA	K size; 0.388” (with second letter as part of alphanumerical system). I need the years size up to 1970; 1972; 1974; 1976-79; 1982; 1985; 2000-2001; 2003; 2004
NPA	L size, ?”. I need the years up to 1975; 1977-79; 1982-2004
NPA	M size, 0.340”. I need the years up to 1974, 1976-79; 1981-2; 1984-5; 1989 to 1990; 1999-2004
NPA	R size; 0.292”. I need the years up to 1970; 1972-78; 1981; 1984-85; 1988; 2002-2004
NPA	T size; 0.432”. I need the years up to 1974; 1976; 1977; 1981; 1983-5; 1988-89; 1993; 2002 - 04
NPA	X size. Used exclusively for ringneck doves. I need the years all years except 96
NPA	Z size, 33/64”. I need the years up to 1980; 1982; 1984-5; 2003; 2004
NPA AAC	American Archangel Club. I need all the years.
NPA ACA	American Carneau Association. I need all the years.
NPA ADC	American Dragoon Club. I need all the years.
NPA AGH	American Giant Homers. up to 1975; 1980; 1983-1987; 1996; 2000-2004
NPA AH	American Helmet Association. up to 1971; 1973-1977; 1979-1987; 1989; 1991- (depending on the change over to AHA)
NPA AHA	2001-04 (1990 was still NPA AH)
NPA AJC	American Jacobin Club. I need all the years.
NPA AKC	American King Club. I need the years up to 1959; 1961-1971; 1973; 1975; 1978; 1982-1983; 1987; 1998-2003
NPA AMA	American Mookee Association. I need all the years.
NPA AMC	??? I have 76 and need all the rest.
NPA AOC	American Owl Club. I need all the years.
NPA APC	American Pouter Club. size 33/64” . I need the years up to 97; 2001; 2003; 2004
NPA APC	American Pouter Club. size 0.370” . I need all the years, except 2000
NPA APC	American Pouter Club. size o.315 . I need the years up to 1998; 2002; 2003; 2004.
NPA ACP	American Pouter Club. size 0.292” . I need the years up to 1997; 2002-04.
NPA ARC	American Roller Club. I need the years up to 1988; 1994; 1999; 2001-04 (must have NPA)
NPA ASR	American Show Racers. I need the years up to 1978; 1980; 1982; 1985; 2003; 2004.
NPA CFC	Central Fantail Club. I need all the years except 75 & 77.
NPA CO	Chinese Owl Club. I need the years up to 1988; 1990-1993; 1995; 1998-2003.
NPA CPC	Southern California Color Pigeon Club. size 0.370”. I need the years up to 1998; 2000; 2003
NPC CPC	Southern California Color Pigeon Club. size 0.432”. I need the years up to 1996; 1998 to 2000; 2003; 2004.
NPA EH	Eastern Hungarian Pigeon Club. I need all the years.
NPA EJC	Eastern Jacobin Club. I need all the years.
NPA EOT	European Owl & Turbit Club. I need all the years.
NPA ET	Western American Trumpeter Club. ET = English Trumpeter. I need the years up to 1986; 1989; 1993-1996; 2002; 2003; 2004
NPA FOR	Flying Oriental Roller Society. I need all the years.
NPA FTS	Flying Tippler Society. I need all the years except 1995; 1998 and 1999
NPA GH	Giant Homers Club. I need all the years except 1973
NPA GLV	Great Lakes All Variety Pigeon Club. I need all the years.
NPA GRC	Giant Runt Club. I need all the years except 1989
NPA INK	Indian Nations Pearl Eyed Komorner Tumbler Club. I need all the years.
NPA IFC	Indian Fantail Club. I need all the years up to 1986; 1989-90; 1992; 1994; 1998; 2000-2004.
NPA K	unknown – maybe King Club? up to 1974; 1977; 1984-1988; 1990; 1993-2004 (see AKC). These rings have a single K, without a second letter.
NPA KTC	Komorner Tumbler Club. I need all the years up to 1979; 1981-82; 1986-87; 1993; 1995; 1999-2004.
NPA MID	Mid American Frill Club. I need all the years except 1995 (in 8mm size)
NPA MID	Mid American Frill Club. I need all the years except 96 to 99; 01 (in 9,3mm size)
NPA MWP	unknown? I need all the years except 1988
NPA NBT	unknown? I need all the years except 1988 and 1990
NPA NCC	North American Capuchine Club. I need all the years.
NPA NEC	National English Carrier Club I need all the years except 99
NPA NFM	National French Mondaine Club. I nee all the years except 1994 and 1997
NPA NM	National Modena Club. I need the years up to 1975; 1977-1979; 1982-85; 1987-88; 1991; 1994; 1998; 2003; 2004.
NPA NRT	National Russian Tumbler Club. I need all the years except 1991.
NPA NRTC	National Russian Tumbler Club. I need all the years.
NPA PC	National Pouter & Cropper Club - size 33/64”. I need all the years except 94
NPA PC	National Pouter & Cropper Club - size o.370”. I need all the years except 2000
NPA PC	National Pouter & Cropper Club - size 0.315”. I need all the years except 96 & 2000
NPA PM	Pacific Modena Club. I need all the years up to 1967; 1969-80; 1982; 1992 onwards (see PMC). There is a possibility that we will not find any rings with a 1992 date or later, because the first year in my collection with NPA PMC is 1992.
NPA PMC	Pacific Modena Club. I need all the years up to 1991 (with C) ; 1997-1998; 2000-04. See comment above. There may not be any pre-1992 NPA PMC rings.
NPA PPC	Pomeranian Pouter Club. I need all the years except 1992, 1995 & 1997
NPA PTC	Pacific Tumbler Club - 11mm (0.43”) inside diameter – all years except 1987 &1991
NPA PTC	Pacific Tumbler Club - 8mm (0.31”) – up to 1982; 1984-88; 1993-2004.
NPA RA	Unknown, RA printed vertically. I need all the years except 91 & 99.
NPA RB	Rare Breeds Club?. I need all the years except 84, 98, 00
NPA RC	Unknown, RC printed vertically. I need all the years except 91 & 94.
NPA RD	Unknown, RD printed vertically. I need all the years except 84.
NPA RE	Unknown, RE printed vertically. I need all the years except 88.
NPA RUMBLER	American Giant Rumbler Club . I need all the years.
NPA SBC	Syrian Breeds Club - I need all the years.
NPA SC	unknown – perhaps Swallow Club? I need all the years except 65
NPA SCIF	Southern Californian Indian Fantail Club. I need all the years.
NPA SPC	Unknown – all years except 96 & 97.
NPA SWISS	National Swiss Mondaine Club. I need all the years.
NPA TD	Old Dutch Tumbler Club. I need all the years.
NPA UNC	United Nun Club. I need all the years except 2002
NPA UOR	United Oriental Rollers. I need all the years except 1998
NPA USC	United Swallow Club. I need all the years except 1993; 1994; 2001 & 2002
NPA WEST	West Of England Tumbler Club. I need all the years except 1995 & 2001
NPA WFC	Western Fantail Club. I need all the years except 2001
NPA WO	Western Owl Club. I need all the years.
NPA WOC	Western Owl Club. I need all the years up to 1986; 1989; 1997-2003
NPA WPC	Western Pouter club - size 0.370”. I need all the years except 93. There should be other sizes as well.

Hopefully this article may convince somebody to start collecting American NPA fancy pigeon rings. I have a large selection of duplicates of both “normal” and breed club rings to trade! Let me know if you are interested.

Jan Lombard

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