IMO,Major Edwards obviously kept well in touch with the current badges being worn ,whatever the official 'line' & updated his books regularly. His contacts in the forces,etc would have been very numerous.
The pic shows that the 1968 book was correct for that period, however briefly it applied (6 weeks or 6 months.....whatever).
The South Staffs, 'Knot only' collar ,has been around ,since the 1920's,at least & is found in GM & WM,without too much trouble. A natural progression to a/a may have occured up to amalgamation (1959 ?) Then been rejected later,it seems(?).
I think that the badge found in die-cast anodised metal(not neccessarily a/a ?) was probably unofficial, but obviously a lot were made & used. Or they may be using 'old' Sth Staff collars ?
Just some thoughts here,
Steve
PS: my slow replying let some answers occur b4 this
PPS: it seems the GM version is prior to 1949 then
