Army Apprentice School Arborfield
 

Brought this belt buckle expecting it to be white metal, when it arrived found it was anodized. Daughter stopped me mid jig by stating that I was very sad!!

Unusual maker stamp on back

Top part

"BELT BY
HOBSONS"

bottom part

"CLASP BY
J.R.GAUNT"

That daughter of yours is very astute Bob.
T

I hope it hurts!

Bob. I'm not sure I understand your meaning. These belts were indeed made by Gaunt and Hobsons, the Gaunt clasp being in white metal. Are you implying the clasp is not white metal or that it has possibly been 'plated' to give a brighter 'anodised' look? The pics are of mine which I wore in the '60s. These belts ceased to be worn in 1966.

That's what I'd been wondering, as it appears chromed rather tjan of anod. al. although I may be wrong.

It is definitely anodised aluminum and not metal, very light
Bob

Well I never! That's a new one on me. To my mind a clasp made from AA would not stand up to the daily wear and tear of use, especially if opening bottles! What you must have is a copy produced for the collector market, I can't think of any other reason.

Although nowhere near as experienced as many on here I have learnt that you should never say 'never' lol.
I'm almost sure I have a record somewhere of an anodised belt buckle from an Infantry regiment, possibly Worcester & Sherwood Foresters but I'm not 100% on which but I've definitely had one through my hands in the past.

Well remembered, it was the Worcestershire Regiment which is of a more solid make up

You may well be right

Unfortunately the buckle/clasp is of 'Mazak' type, zinc based alloy that is then plated. Hobson & Sons have been using them since the 1980s at least. They are awful and I understand why you are disappointed. I much preferred the Firmin and Ammo Company buckles.

Spoke to Mick who runs the Stable Belt website to see if he was aware of any anodised buckles and he confirmed he has Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers anodised buckle. So that along with the Army Apprentice one and the Worcestershire one makes three that we know of.
My theory is this were attractive to units when anodised badges were being introduced and were no doubt cheaper. But once issued it would have become evident that they wouldn't hold up to the rigours of constant use and were discarded in favour of the heavier metal type.
Any way that's my theory lol
Cheers
Sean

Thanks Sean, yes I will go with your theory, based on the that there is so few of them that we are aware of
Regards
Bob

I take on board all that has been said, but the question for me is the date. As I stated in post 4, AAS became AAC (College) in 1966 and control passed to the 'sponser' Corps, which at Arborfield was REME, so all AAS uniform items ceased to be worn (with the exception of rank badges and lanyards) and Corps items adopted. I passed out Christmas 1964, and until then never saw, or heard of, an AA buckle. So, if the subject AAS buckle is 'genuine' then it must have been produced between c1963 - c1966. Maybe 'Mick the Stable Belt' may be able to add dating evidence. If not 'genuine' then, as previously stated, the buckle in question must be a copy.

I am really struggling to think of your anodised buckle as a copy (Jeep) if it was there would have been more of them and more to the point......what would the point be when you can still pick up a stable belt with the wm buckle for just a few pounds, I think I got mine from eBay for £6.
If my theory is right.........and of course there is no evidence for it.......the reason you won't have seen one is that they were probably never issued, they may just of sat in a box in the QM stores having been rejected by the powers that be in the unit.
Anyway no doubt another mystery unsolved.