Die Another Day
 

In a recent exchange with a forum friend, the subject of dies which were used to produce looped and slidered badges arose. The use of dies that might have lasted a good while would have extended across the change in fixings, traversing the loops/slider divide and even beyond.

One such example which illustrates this point is shown here. Although I am as yet unable to identify the maker of this badge, it can be seen that the die has been used from the Victorian/Edwardian period (example 'A'), through to the post-loops phase of construction (example 'B') and beyond, into the 1916 all-G/M phase (example 'C').

Attachment 183275Attachment 183276

Attachment 183277Attachment 183278

Attachment 183279Attachment 183280

It would be interesting to find a post-1916, bi-metal badge with overlaid scroll struck from this die, showing the imprint of lettering to the rear/brass section of the scroll, though there is no guarantee that this particular manufacturer produced such a badge.

Regards,

JT

As always, impressed, amazed and thankful for your excellent research JT

Cheers, Tim

What an interesting idea ! I hope you can find / illustrate such a thing.


Incidentally, I have found a KLR (Patt 1896) die of the horse etc but with two different scrolls.

Thanks for your reply, Tim. The close scrutiny of these badges seems to be revealing more and more with each step.


Julian,

Do you literally mean the die itself, or badge from one die with two different scrolls?

Thanks again gents,

JT

Yes, sorry - of course I meant 'two badges with the same (horse) die but with diffrent scrolls' - I wrote it in a hurry ! Badges that straddle different fixings and eg scrolls are a good indication of use over a period - though i don't know when KLR scroll designs were changed !!

Was there a specific reason for the change of scroll?

No, just a minor difference in shape !
With two piece badges, I find that the KLR scrolls have far less variations than the horse part has !