Many thanks indeed for all the replies Gentleman, and the links to previous threads about matters, all of which have been most enlightening. I had suspected that the badge might not be quite right, which has now been confirmed, though am rather shocked to hear of John Gaylor’s apparent part in matters. Before turning to this, however, can I ask do we have a definite end date for when the Antelope cap badge was last worn, presumably as a bi-metal badge? 1962/1963 maybe??
On what seems to be a ‘fantasy’ anodised aluminium badge, if I am understanding things correctly from what has been said and what I’ve been reading since I made my posting, the consensus is that John Gaylor actually commissioned a series of anodised aluminium badges, like the Royal Warwicks one I put up, and was openly selling these in the 1990s, as illustrated by the copy of his stock list that Tim (grey green acorn) posted up
here.
I see from one of Luke’s links that Chris Marsh (hagwalther) put up this interesting
posting about how the badges from this ‘unofficial commission’, like my Royal Warwicks, first appeared in the late 1980s, listing it amongst others under the heading ‘The J. R. Gaunt & Son Limited Slider Type’, and saying of these “Although there is no direct evidence that J. R. Gaunt & Son Limited made these badges the discovery of the same slider type (usually Slider 6.9: Step) being used by both camps seems to imply, once again, that the sliders at least originated from a common source.”
Back in 2010 ‘PembrokeYeo’ posted up a fake Birmingham Pals’ badge
here which I thought was clearly a match for a badge I had bearing a ‘J.R. Gaunt B’ham’ mark, pictures of which I shared
here (the mark on this example was slightly indistinct, though since then I have acquired another one exactly the same with better definition of the mark). As I said at the time, I understood my badge to be a restrike/reproduction made by Gaunt themselves after their takeover by the Birmingham Mint in 1973.
I would, therefore, say there is actually a good likelihood that J. R, Gaunt & Son produced my anodised aluminium Antelope, just as they did my bi-metal one with their mark, specifically for the collectors’ market (the former seemingly under the instigation of John Gaylor). I have to assume that Gaunt’s owners, the Birmingham Mint, were ultimately behind this, as I think I am right in saying they produced reproduction coins, and there is also the well know set of ‘Great British Regiments’ medals and cap badges they issued, with the badges produced by J. R. Gaunt & Son.
What I hadn’t realised until now was Gaunt’s work in manufacturing restrikes and reproductions had, seemingly, lasted from the 1970s through to what looks like the 1990s; I take it in effect from when they were bought by the Birmingham Mint in 1973, until they were sold to Firmin & Sons in 1991, though perhaps things even continued after that? I am also intrigued by Chris Marsh’s comments on the Royal Warwicks A/A badge turning up “sometimes with a fake ‘Smith & Wright’ mark to slider”, and wouldn’t mind seeing one, if someone happens to have one?
Whilst not wishing to add to a potential paranoia over marked badges, these days I am becoming more and more suspicious about badges with marker marks. I have two Leicesters badges with makers’ marks, both of which I am happy are on badges made by the relevant manufacturers, though by now I am wondering if these are actually restrikes/reproductions by the companies themselves, rather than period badges that happen to have been marked. Perhaps makers initially marked them to actually distinguish them as being reproductions? Anyhow, I digress!
I must say here, with regards to cost, I see that there is one of these anodised aluminium Antelopes on the ‘Steady the Buff Militaria’ site for
£65 and another had been on ‘Cultman Collectables’ for
£45. Although I didn’t pay as much as this for mine, it wasn’t as cheap as Alan’s one he picked up for
£5!
Regards
Martin