Printed Shoulder Titles

[daverpol]

Can any forum members tell me if white on red printed shoulder titles are being copied now?
I saw this example recently & I have my doubts about it.

[Mike Jackson]

In my opinion you are right to have doubts. On my example the lettering is more bulky and the V at the centre of M in DURHAM does not reach the same level as the foot of the rest of the letter.
When I'm reunited with my collection, I'll image my example.

[Old Smelly]

Originally Posted by daverpol

Can any forum members tell me if white on red printed shoulder titles are being copied now?
I saw this example recently & I have my doubts about it.

Some titles have been copied for a while now, mainly aimed at the living history groups but I'm sure there are those made to deceive as well. The titles you show look like copies, lettering is slightly different to originals. I know Pegasus have made some printed insignia but they have deliberatly made the lettering slightly different so that you can see the difference
Lee

[Postwarden]

I agree with Mike and Old Smelly. Definitely a fake. The last edition of the journal of the Military Heraldry Society had one which had even been sewn and distressed - possibly used by a renactor. There are ways of telling but too much information simply tells the fakers how to make better fakes. The titles were only produced by one company so they should all be identical.

Postwarden

[daverpol]

Thanks for the replies Gents.
I noticed that the lettering was thinner than other examples but I thought it could have been down to different makers, but as Postwarden points out they were only made by one company so that rules that out.
The title itself looks fairly passable but as Mike mentions the "M" in Durham looks very much out of place.
Collecting of any item is getting harder now with even ordinary shoulder titles being faked.
Apart from the usual fakes there must be many metal & cloth items that were originally made for re-enactor groups & are now being sold as "genuine".

Thanks again,
Dave.

[badjez]

It appears some unofficial printed titles were produced, posibly in Hong Kong, during the Korean War. I have examples for 'Royal Leicestershire' and 'Royal Marines'. They were submitted to Formation Sign earlier in the year.

I am currently abroad so cannot access photos etc.

Stephen.