Dating RMC cap badges

[DaveA]

Hi, just a general query about dating RMC Duntroon cap/collar badges. I have Cossums books on Australian badges so I can do things generally and the post 1948, 1953, 1960 and 1997 ones are easy to recognise. So I am concerned with the 1913 to 1948 variations. Cossum breaks them up into 2 main groups 1913-1918 and 1932 - 1948 and this is where the problem arises. I have 25 so far with the main differences being:

the finish - brass, bronze, oxydised, silver, whitemetal or gilt
the KC - voided or filled
the makers mark - Stokes & Sons Melb or Stokes (stamped or embossed)
the lugs - 2 or 3 (although I have a couple of brooch backs as well as one fitted with blades for a pith helmet)

Any general advice would be greatly appreciated. They are all made by Stokes and I must admit I have never seen such a wide variety of finishes for what was a small unit. If there were a number of different manufacturers I could understand this but as there is only 1 (Stokes) I find it a bit confusing.

Any general advice would be greatly appreciated.

regards

Dave