Rhodesian African Rifles in aluminium
 

Just a quick question... where the RAR ever issued with aluminium cap badges, and if so, when were these worn.

Thanks
Steven

I must say that I've never seen an aluminium one. Silver, white metal or chrome only.

Ian H

Thanks Ian,
I ask because I have seen one and it looks ligit and assume it is post 1950's. It is however not anodised, so maybe it came out of the manufacturer unanodised. I suppose the next question would be, were there anodised aluminium versions?

Cheers
Steven

I have silver, both British made and Rhodie made cap badges. Brit ones with hallmarks, Rhodie with African Silver marks.
White metal, both Brit with manufacturers marks and brass loops, and Rhodie with their specific loops. There's also a rough cast Rhodie type too, with Indian type cast lugs.
Chrome ones also exist.

Not seen either aluminium or anodised aluminium ones. Would like a picture if possible?

Bear in mind I'm no Mark Radford (although I know him quite well), or Owen either, so consider myself just an interested amateur.

If I can ever get into the room with my Rhodie badges in (long story involving eldest child moving back in whilst idle solicitors argue about him buying a house) I'll try to get some photos of some of the variations.

Regards,

Ian H

Thanks Ian,

Will try to get a picture next time I visit my friend.

Steven

Sounds like maybe a prototype or a manufacturers sample. I don't remember ever seeing an Al example and they're fairly common badges.
Cheers,
Alex

RAR Alum cap badges
 

This is an interesting one. I also have different versions of RAR badges and have also never seen or heard of anodised ones. However, I have a pair of RHACR anodised collars - the only ones I have seen. Also, I have a pair of anodised Pay Corps collars as well as a pair of anodised RLI mess dress collars.
Dave

Hi Dave
He did mention in an early post that it's just plain aluminium, not anodised, which makes me think it's more likely to be a sample or prototype.
Cheers,
Alex

Hi Alex, I believe that the ones that I have in my collection which also includes RhMP collars, could also be prototypes. I have not seen any of these in any other collection nor in any publication. My anodised collars all came from one source in the early 1980s when I first started collecting. So possibly the RAR badge in question is one as well. I will attempt to attach a collection of post 1970 OR badges which iclude the anodised ones mentioned.
Dave

Nice collection :)

Finally managed to retrieve most of my Rhodie bits from the bedroom they're stored in.
Firstly the silver ones. 4 full size, with the one on black being Rhodie made and CAS hallmarked with "SILVER" and "M.M.Co." on lower lines. The black felt is cut off the hat (not by me).
The second is "F&S" for Firmin and Sons with a Birmingham 1962 hallmark.
The 3rd is not hallmarked, but marked FIRMIN on one side and LONDON on the other, but very small. In the silver pile because the lugs are silver.
No.4 is slightly smaller and has no manufacturer marking at all.

2 silver officers beret badges/collar dogs. Much smaller than the cap. The first is marked "REUTELER MFG" then "RHODESIA" and on the bottom scroll "SILVER".
The smaller of the 2 is marked "F&S" and has a silver hallmark

I'll show the whitemetal next.

Ian H

The next set are white metal with copper lugs.

Number 1 is marked "FIRMIN" and "LONDON" on the scrolls. Very small and indistinct and there appears to have been an error with the voiding,, with the left front botton being slightly too low and the right bottom too high, giving a misshapen "AFRICAN" scroll.

Numbers 2 and 3 are marked "FIRMIN" and "LONDON" in much larger font.

Finally the collars, unmarked, with typical British loops.

Ian H

and finally 2 Rhodie made cap badges and some collars.
the cap badges are from the same die as the Reuteler silver officers one with the word "RIFLES" much smaller than the same Firmin word. The backs are smooth, but the shinier one has been chrome plated, so the typical Rhodie loops are chromed also.

The 3 collars are all chromed also with Rhodie loops.

So, all my variations, but no aluminium or anodised aluminium amongst them.


Ian H

Thanks for showing Ian. Nice collection

Nice! What dress were the Rhod Arty badges worn on with the red backings. Do Zimbabwe Arty wear the same backings these days?

Keith