Up for sale is a vintage corporate tie tack from the Maryland Cup Corporation, the Owings Mills, Maryland-based manufacturer best known for its Sweetheart brand paper and plastic cups, which later became Sweetheart Cup Company. This tie tack was made by Balfour, the respected American jewelry manufacturer long associated with corporate service awards, class rings, and fraternal pins.

The face features a shield-shaped badge in a warm gold tone, with a wheat sheaf or laurel-style spray along the left edge and the script wording "Maryland Cup Corp" across the top. Below the text is a round white enamel medallion featuring the company's stylized heart emblem, a nod to the Sweetheart brand name the company built its business on. The reverse is stamped "BALFOUR" along with a gold-filled quality mark, and the piece is fitted with a traditional tie tack fastening: a straight pin with a spring clutch back, connected by a fine chain to a bar clip, allowing it to be secured through a tie for wear.

This is a nice piece of Maryland business and advertising history, likely issued as an employee service or recognition award. Please see the detailed photos for a full assessment of item condition, as they are considered part of the physical description.

Specifics:
Type: Tie Tack / Tie Pin
Brand/Maker: Balfour
Material: Gold-filled metal (per reverse stamp), white enamel accent
Theme: Maryland Cup Corporation / Sweetheart heart logo, corporate service award
Fastening: Tie tack pin with spring clutch back, chain, and bar clip
Era: Vintage, mid-to-late 20th century
Country of Manufacture: United States

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