Rare Malta Royal Artillery Anodised (Buttons LTD)
 

This beauty was amongst a small collection I acquired last week.
I believe Buttons Ltd is the rarer of the 2 makers of the A/A badge.
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Hi Jon,
Yes, it's a scarce badge also made by Firmin London.
Both a/a maker marked versions are fairly scarce in my opinion. Well done a good find.
Regards
Colin

Here is the FIRMIN LONDON version picked up in a mixed job lot last year.

Tim

A lovely looking badge!!!

Terry

Good work Jon, these are beautiful badges that are generally a bit elusive. I have the large Buttons and Firmin example and a third which has a wheel without rivets. The slider is clipped unfortunately so no makers mark present.

The smaller beret badge is scarce too and I believe generally found 'without' the crown (having been removed from badges worn post 1971 as I understand it). My example has a fully blank slider.

Very nice find Jon. Well done!

Haven't come across a Buttons Ltd. one as yet. Another to add to my Wants List!

Vincent

Bess55 could you kindly send an image of the back of the Buttons badge particularly the slider and it's area of attachment just as Jon did please?

Thank you,
Vincent

Vincent - PM inbound

Thanks to all, for all images and info.

This Royal Malta Artillery AA cap badge is stamped 'BUTTONS LTD' and over-stamped 'FIRMIN & SONS LONDON'

All the best

William

Oddly enough, I have just taken some pics of mine for Vincent and it does look like 'Buttons Ltd' may well be an overstamping on something else - its not a clear crisp stamp. Odd.

ROYAL MALTA ARTILLERY
 

Hi All,

Just received mine, purchased from a reputable dealer (via ebay) a couple of days ago and whilst i am certain that it is genuine, it has a couple of noticeable differences from those already shown.

It is Buttons Ltd and the mark is quite clear although the slider has been cut down. The differences - the tips of the star at the crown are not tips but are parallel with the base of the badge making it look more like the Scottish saltire. In addition there is no void above the gun chain....

In many other ways it matches the Buttons items already shown for instance on the rear view photo you can quite easily see the vertical mould mark at the base of the star on the right which points out at the 2 o clock position. (hope i have described that well enough for you to see what i am getting at)

Although its different i'm sure as i say that's its genuine and i am happy to add it to my ever growing collection of Buttons Ltd AA cap badges.

Any comments welcome

Steve

Hi Sean,

Thank you. I highly appreciate the images sent. I do agree that it's stamped Buttons Ltd. alas not that clear and over stamping could be the case.

Steve, I have seen that badge and I agree the dealer is a good one. My thoughts about it were that it's a " factory reject" due to the reasons you've have mentioned. However it's certainly a keeper!

Vincent

Thats odd Steve . . .it looks exactly the same on the rear. The voiding on the gun chain is probably a manufacture error in the 'piercing' stage. Have the tips of the Maltese cross each side of the crown, been filed down carefully? For example if one of them snapped off or broke and the badge was cleaned up for continued wear?

Just a thought.

Sean,

No - no signs of damage or of them being filed down. Looking at them again i can still see the shear marks from when the piece has been cut out of the aluminium sheet.

makes for an interesting addition and as Vincent said perhaps it was a 'reject' or unfinished piece that somehow made it way out of the factory door unnoticed.

It was IMO a reasonable price and to be honest i did not notice the differences until i had it in my hand and checked it against 'No Bull' and the photo's in this post. I am sure it will remain a mystery but that's just part of the fun of collecting.

Regards
Steve

Steve, sounds perfectly reasonable to me mate.

And yes, the oddities are what make all this interesting.

An interesting example.

Bess