Old collector fills in the gaps
 

After a forty year interval I have dug my collections out of the loft and am remounting them.
I have a few gaps that I am attempting to fill and lots of spares to dispose of.
The 21st Century restrikers, selling through e-bay have certainly changed the hobby from what it was. It started from cadging a squaddie's well polished cap badge, of which there was no doubt of its authenticity.
Restrikes appear with both loops and sliders.
I had occasion to to look at my London Regiment collection which I bought as an almost complete collection and they all have sliders, fitting in with the 1906 slider date.
Questionable phrases are used to describe the badge such as 'genuine'
In my Yeomanry collection I have quite a few Gaunt Birmingham strikes. Now they were struck with the contract sealed pattern dies, but out of period, so could never have been issued or worn.
A restrike buried in the garden should fool no one. A clean well polished badge, like boots is a sign of being genuine issue.

I, like you, started my collection before WW2 from the old Village WW1 vets....my first badge was a title. RFA pinched from an allotment shed....I added to my collection while serving in the Bays and KDG....When demobbed in 1948 I gave the lot away, in a cigar box to a neighbour's lad.....I kept my own and have added to them over the past few years....no restrikes etc then, my own pictured.
I was a Gun Fitter.

I would love to see some photos.

One clarification point: the London regt dates from 1908 but they were still TF. The badges were not supplied by the WD until 1916 so the vertical shank instruction did not apply. In the London Regt case I agree that all Bn badges were fitted with vertical shanks. However some TF (Essex SA scroll for example) were fitted with lugs.

Alan