Quote:
Originally Posted by ARPCDHG
Very pleased with this mint badge I picked up, of which only 76 appear to have ever been made.
Description: 'Gilt and enamel button hole lapel badge by Thos. Fattorini, B'ham. Bright, fresh gilding with undamaged enamel, numbered to the reverse.
'It is believed that this was one of a batch of test types [the 'S' may stand for 'Sample'?] based on earlier WW1 designs [the 1914 Admiralty-Pattern badge] that were rejected in favour of more modern designs and put into storage.
'This example was amongst an unissued batch with the lowest number 2 and the highest 76, this example numbered ' S30 '.
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Very nice badge !
I've seen an "On National Service" badge (CUNLIFFE-OWEN AIRCRAFT LTD) which has an 'S' stamped on the buttonhole fitting and issue/badge number 975 stamped on the badge itself.
So , the 'S' could be for samples sent out to companies but am curious about why they would then have an issue number stamped on them if they were "rejected" ?
Also , why 76 (number of employees ?) . Was there any information about where they were 'put into storage' as this could identify who they were made for.
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