Is this a fat cat Leicestershire?
 

Hi All,

Is this a fat cat, or is it just my eyes?

Cheers,

Phil

Phil,

Yep!

A Podgy Pussy!

Andy :D

Cheers Andy :) I was hoping it was. Happy days :D

Hi Phil,

Andy is spot on it is indeed a fat cat.

Belly sloping to the knees is a tell tale sign in Tigers and humans !

Cheers Dean

Is a "fat cat" of interest due to being scarce? Is it a type found with small round sweat holes? A type by a certain manufacture? Also I have seen mention of a "kitten faced" badge. Any further info on these types??? Cheers, Paul.

Hi Paul,

IMO these are manufacturers variations. Ticker Riley has done some work tracing the different Tiger badge through to manufacturers and some via their flaws etc. Hard to date the different variations of course but does help sort the copies out.

It is interesting but have not ascribed a rarity equals greater value view myself, cheers Dean.

Cheer Dean. Regards, Paul.

Thank you all :)

Well done, Phil. Nice find, and well spotted.

Shame the Leinster is a pile o shite

LANGUAGE, TIMOTHY!!! :eek::eek:

Phil's 'fat-cat'!
 

Hello Phil

Thought I’d add to the confirmation that the badge in question is that which is referred to as a ‘fat-cat’ type, for obvious reasons – if I remember correctly it was actually Andy (2747andy) who was the first to use this phrase on the Forum, and as it so aptly describes its features I think it has rather stuck!

As to the question Paul (wardog) raises about scarcity and value, I do not personally think this type is particularly rare, though I have noted some fairly high prices being asked by some for such badges.

I do have a couple of these ‘fat-cats’, but I’m currently reviewing my badges and trying to organise them better, so can’t put my hands on them straight away I’m afraid. Nonetheless, if my memory serves me correctly they do come with very small round braze holes, with a 1-2 arrangement (that is a single braze hole behind the top scroll, and two on the bottom one), as well as with larger round braze holes at a 2-2 arrangement and some without any braze holes at all.

My current thinking is that they are of First World War period manufacture, though I have yet to decide which kind of braze holes are earlier (I’m inclined to think it is probably the smaller ones), or whether those without holes come first chronologically or after those with them (I realise the general view is those without braze holes are always later, but I am not convinced of this).

Regarding the ‘kitten-faced’ type, a term I learnt from another collector of Leicesters badges, an example of this manufacturers’ variant has recently been posted by Jelly Terror here. These are one of the most common of the different makers’ variations, and many would certainly date from the Great War, though, as I mentioned on JT’s thread, I personally think those of this type with small narrowish braze holes are actually pre-war.

Whilst I am still to identify this particular maker, I do know that whoever they were they also made tiger cap badges for the Uppingham and Oakham OTCs (more on this another time), and I am inclined to believe that they continued to make badges for the Leicesters at least up to, and probably during, the Second World War.

In any event, once I have finished my listing and re-arranging I’ll try and put something up on the Forum about the different types I’ve identified, including those that I have ascribed to certain manufacturers. Until then,

Best regards

Martin

Only just saw your reply, Martin. Thank you very much for such an informative reply. Sorry for the delay in responding.

Phil