J R Guant Maker Marks - Anodised Aluminium Cap Badges
 

Hi Guys,

Can anyone tell me what year JG Guant changed it's makers mark on anodised badges denoting the Birmingham and London locations?

I've been doing some investigation into the company and the best I can find regarding timeline of the company is this:

J R Gaunt London - 1750 to 1973
J R Gaunt B'Ham - 1973 to 1991
J R Gaunt London - 1991 to Current

Gaunt was aken over by Birmingham Mint in 1973 with (I think) operations and manufacturing moved to Birmingham hence the change of the mark from London to B'Ham.

It was then taken over by Firmin & Sons in 1991 with (I think) operations in London but manufacturing retained in Birmingham. This location of operations resulted in the change from B'Ham back to London.

Is this all correct?

Regards

Chris

Here's what I've found so far:

J R Gaunt & Son Birmingham (1870-1973)
J R Gaunt & Sons London (1884-1899, but also used well after this date)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD London (1899-1991)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD London ENG (1899-1991)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD London ENGLD (1899-1991)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD London England (1899-1991)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD NY & London (after 1900)
J R Gaunt & Sons Montreal (dates?)
J R Gaunt & Son LTD Montreal Made in England (c.1901-c.1939?)
J R Gaunt & Son LTD Montreal (c.1914-c.1939)
J R Gaunt & Sons LTD Late Jennens London (1940-1948)
Gaunt London (1950's/60's on)
Gaunt London Eng (1950's/60's on)
taken over by Birmingham Mint in 1973, also in London
J R Gaunt & Sons purchased by Firmin and Sons, Ltd. (1991)

Firmin confirms the demise of the Gaunt makers stamp. Gaunt finished production in its own right in 1993 and the use of the Gaunt makers stamp did stop then as well.

Rgds,
fougasse.

Hello Chris and fougasse, a little information on J.R.Gaunt, Montreal, 1908-1984. This will shed some light,hopefully,on the subject. From the Wm.Scully's archives.
Cheers
Jo

http://www.williamscully.ca/gallery/...cully_wsl_1022

http://www.williamscully.ca/gallery/...cully_wsl_1023

Thanks Fougasse and Voltigeur.

OK, it seems to look like this in abridged form:

J R Gaunt London - 1750 to 1973
J R Gaunt B'Ham - 1973 to 1991
J R Gaunt London - 1991 to 1993

I have scans of one badge in my files kindly sent by a member of this forum that is marked with both J R Gaunt London and J R Gaunt B'Ham maker marks (17/21 Lancers).

The reason for this in that my opinion (and also that of the owner of the badge) is that all anodised cap badge manufacture was transferred to Birmingham in 1973.

The badge body was marked J R Gaunt London as part of body manufacturing process, shipped to Birmingham in an unfinished state where the slider was added with it's own mark of J R Gaunt B'Ham.

If anodised aluminium cap badge production was to be continued at London past 1973 then this double and different location manufactures mark stamping would not have occured as production would have continued in London as normal.

This is all a bit speculative I admit but does anyone know if anodised aluminium cap badges were actually made in London post 1973.

If we can crack this then we can provisionally established a timeline for the manufacture and location of this manufacture of Guant anodised aluminium cap badges marked London and Birmingham.

Also, I wish I could get hold of scans of documents like the one Gaunt Canadian branch at a local level - if you have anything like this and are willing to send me scans then do get in touch.

Regards

Chris

Chris,

I have a number of 1958 pattern badges (23rd London, some 1958-68 Inf bdes, Roughriders) which were not in use in 1973 but have Bham marks. There is a strong possibility that Gaunts sold these badges in the 1970s using old stock (but new sliders) or even restruck them. The abundance and pristine condition of these badges indicates that they were not worn but have been sold in bulk.

However where the market would be for some of the common Inf bde badges mystifies me? Perhaps I will put a list together with dayes of wear for comment.

Alan

This just gets more and more mystifying all the time. Yes, they could have sold them on but would they have removed the old sliders to replace with the B'HAM ones? There will be damage to see if this occured.

I would suggest that they restruck them but why?

I'm currently going through my entire collection and recording all makers marks (if any) with a view to trying to reconciling them with the date of existance of the unit they represent. I expect this to take some time and it looks like you are a bit ahead of me in this but we need to record it all, account for it and try to workout what it all means.

I have noticed that it appears that JR GAUNT B'HAM seem to be the most common in my Infantry badges.

This will all take some time.

Regards

Chris