[Bill A]

CEF BADGE MAKERS

The CEF had badges made by many manufacturers and suppliers. The names of the makers can be found on the back of some badges, but unfortunately not every badge was marked. Some brief comments on the manufacture of badges. The vast majority of badges were usually made by die striking, while some badges were made by casting. The metals used varied. Many CEF badges were made of copper with a wide range of finishes. (blackened, pickled, etc.) Other metals encountered are brass, white metal, bronze, and silver (usually associated with officer's badges). Gilted or gold washes, "frosting" (silver or gold) and "fire gilt" are finishes also found. A few badges have enamel inserts added.

Fasteners are another area of interest and important to help establish authenticity. These include lugs (loops fastened to the badge with a type of wire pin passing through the holes), both round and flat styles, tang back (pointed metal blades that fold over), pin backs, screw posts (threaded posts with a nut), and sliders (a metal blade on the vertical used to slide into a pocket or slit in the headdress). Others may have some other varieties to add.


Some makers have a definite regional association, while others appear to have supplied badges to all and sundry. Below is a list of known makers. The name on the badge may not exactly match the style of the name in the list. Additional variations of the maker names are not always found on badges by that maker. Please note the date of the latest edit at the bottom of the post. The list is arranged alphabetically, using the makers last name. Samples of maker marks courtesy of Larry Wills are attached as thumbnails.

Canadian makers.

Ash Bros.
O.B. Allan, O.B. ALLAN VANCOUVER (There may be another maker "Allen", note the different spelling.)
J.D.Bailey
Birks, Birks 1916, Birks Regd 1916
D.E.Black
M.S. Brown
Caron Fils (or Bros), (CAR Bros 1916), Caron Frères 1916 Montréal
Chauncey Maybees
F.W.Coates
Cook
Creightons
Crighton
C & S Co.
Dingley
Dingwall
Ellis Bros, P.W.Ellis & Co. Ltd., Ellis Bros Toronto,
J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd (Montreal)
G.F. Hemsley
R.J. Inglis
J & Co
J.C. Rondeau Quebec
Jacoby
Jackson (JACKSON BROS, CENTRAL ALBERTA CANADA or JACKSON BROS EDMONTON ALTA)
Kinnear & Desterre, KINNEAR & D’ESTERRE KINGSTON 1915
E.V. Lamontagne Limited
Geo H. Lees, Geo H.Lees & Co. (note this mark was found on a collar with ELLIS BROS marking as well.), Geo H. Lees & Co 1916
Lees & Creighton
Maybees
Patterson Bros
Reynolds/Port Hope
Roden Bros
Rosenthal (H ROSENTHAL / TORONTO)
Ryrie Bros Ltd (Toronto)
SAR & D'BSTERRY. KINGS/1915 (unsure of spelling)
Wm Scully (with variations on the name)
Stanley & Aylward (Stanley & Aylward Toronto)
Wellings, Wellings Mfg Co Toronto
Wheatley


US makers.

No US makers on record for CEF badges. Service Supply Company, Service Supply Rochester is a British maker.

UK makers.

Brown
W.J. Dingley B'Ham
Firmin & Son
J.R. Gaunt & Son Ltd
Goldsmith & Silversmiths Company Ltd (frequently seen as G & S Co, or THE G&S Co / 112 REGENT ST/ LONDON)
Hicks, Hicks & Sons London
Hill Brothers Bond St London (CMGC officer's cap and collar badges, with or without Canada scrolls added)
R. LillicoReiche
McDougall / LONDON
Reich Folkestone
Service Supply Company, Service Supply Rochester
Smith & Wright
Tait & Co.
Tiptaft
Wm. Twigg & Co. (27th Battalion)

Identified as C/x collar number maker.

Chapman Bros. Toronto. (C/3)


Identified as button makers.

Hicks & Sons Leadenhall ST. London (1st Bn CEF button)
H. Rosenthal, Toronto
Meer Jones, Birmingham, UK
R.J. Inglis, Winnipeg & Montreal
Roden Bros, Toronto
Smith, Kemp & Wright, Birmingham, UK
Buttons Ltd


There are more to be added to this list. In addition, many officers had badges made by jewellers, who added their maker name on the badges.
Information is based upon the Charlton Standard Catalogue of First World War Canadian Infantry Badges, W.K. Cross , input from other collectors, and from dealers.

See Also the King's Crown Maker Mark LIST further in the string.
MORE MAKER MARK IMAGES LATER IN THIS STRING. See Maker Marks Pt 2 and Pt 3