RCAF BUTTON NOT WHAT IT SEEMS!!

[ASR142]

Tuesday of this week I purchased a raf jacket at an antiques fair and found a RCAF button in the pocket closer inspection this is what it was !!! I must have checked over 2,000 + buttons over the years all normal RAF ones so keep looking you nether know !!

[Voltigeur]

Now it,s the time to buy that lottery ticket...........
Good catch.Congrats.
Jo

[Tinto]

Hi Guys,
Am I missing something? Is this button a rare one?
Thanks, Tinto

[BWEF]

Originally Posted by Tinto

Hi Guys,
Am I missing something? Is this button a rare one?
Thanks, Tinto

During WW2 a very few buttons had a compass hidden inside them, in order to be used in escape attempts - study third pic.

I have lost count of the number of buttons I have "twisted" over the years,

[Tinto]

Hi BWEF,
Thanks for enlightening me!
Cheers, Tinto

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Tinto

Hi BWEF,
Thanks for enlightening me!
Cheers, Tinto

in 2006,Bosleys had one for sale..........asking price then between 150 to 200 GBP.


Jo

[Charlie585]

Ref Button twisting,

don't forget to turn both ways as I have read that once the German guards cottoned on to hidden compasses in buttons the Allies simply reversed the threads which seemed to work.

Ry

[twinottercaptain]

My grandfather was a Squadron Leader in the RAF in Egypt during the early part of the war. He was with intelligence. Although he has passed on, several of the items he passed on to me were several compass styles, including one in the RCAf button. Another was on the end of a tie stud. Another pair were made out out a pair of thin metal buttons, one with a neddle to support the second. I also have two other that were supposedly sewn into the corner of a tunic. In addition I have a small hacksaw that was also part of a kit. I will attempt to take some photos and try to upload this weekend.

[ASR142]

Originally Posted by Charlie585

Ref Button twisting,

don't forget to turn both ways as I have read that once the German guards cottoned on to hidden compasses in buttons the Allies simply reversed the threads which seemed to work.

Ry

This particular one is a left hand thread and was very stiff I placed a escape compass over the top to check it and watched the compass move 180 degrees around and spin once or twice which it would not do it was a normal button .
I had to put a very small amount of very fine gun oil on the tread area and left it for 10 minutes this then turned fairly easy arfter this, the glass is misssing but i cant complain about that.

[whizzbang]

Originally Posted by Charlie585

Ref Button twisting,

don't forget to turn both ways as I have read that once the German guards cottoned on to hidden compasses in buttons the Allies simply reversed the threads which seemed to work.

Ry

Interesting! - here is another take on the thread direction, from http://www.britishbuttonsociety.org/2007AGMTalk.htm

"Gaunt (button makers) produced uniform buttons which unscrewed (left for the RAF and right for the Navy) to reveal a compass which enabled many serviceman to reach safety, often undertaking acts of sabotage along the way."

NB!!!!! a bit further down in the article:

"It is regretted that there are a considerable number of these and other compasses at the museum which are not on show, due to a requirement for them to be locked away in the radiation store owing to the paint used. "

I guess collecting badges is a lot safer!

Cheers, Ian.

[Unknownsoldier]

Originally Posted by whizzbang

Interesting! - here is another take on the thread direction, from http://www.britishbuttonsociety.org/2007AGMTalk.htm

"Gaunt (button makers) produced uniform buttons which unscrewed (left for the RAF and right for the Navy) to reveal a compass which enabled many serviceman to reach safety, often undertaking acts of sabotage along the way."

NB!!!!! a bit further down in the article:

"It is regretted that there are a considerable number of these and other compasses at the museum which are not on show, due to a requirement for them to be locked away in the radiation store owing to the paint used. "

I guess collecting badges is a lot safer!

Cheers, Ian.

With the half life on the radiation and the small quantities involved this sounds like a get out for not having enough space :-(

[ASR142]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

With the half life on the radiation and the small quantities involved this sounds like a get out for not having enough space :-(

more like the value involved ie ebay item that sold to day for £577.89 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=STRK well I will be still looking for more of them .

[badjez]

The one that sold on ebay was Australian, made by Stokes of Melbourne- I guess that is what made it more desireable. Now, just off to the shed for the 3-in-1 oil...

Stephen.

[Luc]

Originally Posted by twinottercaptain

a small hacksaw that was also part of a kit.

It was part of a pilot's escape kit, it was issued with silk maps and carried inside a pouch.

[Charlie585]

Is this one any good?