Tank corps badge

[Brodie_MK1]

Hi there i have a tank corps badge and i was wondering is it original or not.






Thankx for the help

[Alan O]

Sorry,

While the originals had sliders there has yet to be a single badge with that JR Guant.London mark that I would say is genuine. Other ranks Tank Corps badges are not maker marked.

Alan

I am sorry, Mr. Moderator, but other ranks' Tank Corps cap badges DID bear makers' marks. The next time any of you visit Bovington just ask to inspect the reserve collection specimens. Similarly, the Imperial War Museum reserve collection has several such examples. As for J R Gaunt London, I would expect to see J R Gaunt Ltd at the period. I am sure there are others ready to comment.

[Brodie_MK1]

Well i had some reply's on a other forum that it was a restrike.

So what do you think?

[fearnaught]

Hi, although museums are a good source of information, their collections are for the large part donated and as such are not gospel. Curators are often ex-regimental and not really experts on badges and insignia. I'm not deridng regimental museums in anyway,they are an excellent place for research, I'm just saying exercise the same caution as you would anywhere else. This doesn't apply just to British museums, it applies just as equally to other countries. P.S I agree with Alan, I have a few TC badges and seen a few more and have never seen a marked slider that I have liked, for what it's worth. Mike.

[ncc]

its an acid aged fake.

[Sonofacqms]

Please see my first post on this forum, marked sliders in my opinion on WWI badges are to be regarded with suspicion, as Fearnaught says about museums, the items they have are in the main donated, I saw a white metal King Edwards Horse in a museum along with other spurious items all from an "old collection".

[Mike]

Hi Brodie,

my 6 penn'orth worth:

1) The excessive reverse discolouration should ring alarm bells, but this feature on it's own should generally not cause the dismissal of a badge out of hand. (But seeing this photo I would personally avoid this badge for this reason alone - but that's just my opinion of course )

2) Many originals of this badge have the slider attached to the reverse of the "TANK" scroll and not the crown.

3) The alleged 70's mass restrike Gaunt mark, AKA The "Gaunt with a dot" mark - (also said to be used on later restrikes too) - is about 15mm long, original marks appear to be about 11mm long.

4) Having said point 3), through 1917 & 1918 there was a need for insignia for 28,000 Tank Corps members, therefore it is unlikely any "other ranks " production by contract winners were marked, (there were fortunes to be made in WW1 supplying the military) - see post 2 above.

So my opinion; sadly it's a restrike/ copy.

[Brodie_MK1]

Many thankx

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Sorry,

While the originals had sliders there has yet to be a single badge with that JR Guant.London mark that I would say is genuine. Other ranks Tank Corps badges are not maker marked.

Alan

Alan,
some are!

Andy