William L. Thomson Regimental Badge Specialist

[High Wood]

A few more.

[Luke H]

From this thread it looks like they marked at least some of their sweetheart badges.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=53158

Perhaps Ron can show us the back if he sees this thread.

[Luke H]

What are the measurements on the 2 CEF badges please?

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by High Wood

Possibly, but the price list differentiates between Badges and Miniature Brooches.

I noticed the price list , in the "Special Terms to Badge Collectors" area it has badges for 6d. (sixpence) and the "Miniature Brooches" are listed starting at 1/- (one shilling).

A comparative advert for British Legion items has badges/tiepins at 1/- (one shilling) and Bar Pin Brooches at 1/6d (one shilling and sixpence) , these are 'retail' prices to raise funds for branches. The BL advert does not use the term miniature .

Post WW1 a lot of jewellers/badge makers produced Badges/Souvenirs/Trinkets with small/miniature badges or crests attached. The teaspoons had a 'small' version of a badge/crest and the Cigarette Case shown does not appear to have a full size badge on it.

Originally Posted by High Wood

Presumably the Identification Discs, Metal Watch Protectors, Button Sticks, Money Belts and Gent's Khaki Socks were all full size.

Sarcasm ?

.

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

I noticed the price list , in the "Special Terms to Badge Collectors" area it has badges for 6d. (sixpence) and the "Miniature Brooches" are listed starting at 1/- (one shilling).

A comparative advert for British Legion items has badges/tiepins at 1/- (one shilling) and Bar Pin Brooches at 1/6d (one shilling and sixpence) , these are 'retail' prices to raise funds for branches. The BL advert does not use the term miniature .

Post WW1 a lot of jewellers/badge makers produced Badges/Souvenirs/Trinkets with small/miniature badges or crests attached. The teaspoons had a 'small' version of a badge/crest and the Cigarette Case shown does not appear to have a full size badge on it.



Sarcasm ?

.

Absolutely not sarcasm, so no need for confusion. I was attempting to demonstrate that we we should assume that everything is full size unless described as "miniature". The fact that the they themselves have described the brooches as miniature implies, to me at least, that the military badges are full size.

Unfortunately, I only have an old photocopy of the catalogue, which clearly has some pages missing at both ends. There may have been more product specification at the beginning or end of the catalogue.

[High Wood]

The measurements of the Canadian badges. I believe that both of the badges that I have used to demonstrate size are original C.E.F. collar badges, albeit that one has had the lugs cut off. They are identical in size to a 1916 made Birks maker's marked maple leaf collar badge.

[leigh kitchen]

Would the Canadian collar dog sized badges be manufactured as per the actual badge or as enamelled collar dog sized sweethearts, do you think?

[High Wood]

I have looked through all my "sweet heart" badges and the majority are not maker's marked. Those that are are all J.R. Gaunt marked. Others are hallmarked or marked Stirling or have a patent applied for mark.

I therefore have no way of knowing if any of my others were made by Wm. L. Thompson, but I do have some that are a near perfect match in size and design. We do not yet know if he marked all his products with his name, but it would probably be only the higher end silver and gold products that were maker's marked.

It would be good if forum members could post examples of William L. Thompson badges.

Here are my Gaunt marked badges and a selection of non marked miniature badges.

[High Wood]

Clearly William L. Thomson was not the only producer of unmarked miniature badges and none of the few that I have may have been made by his firm. We also do not know if the badges illustrated in the catalogue are shown full size and more importantly, they are artist's representations of his products and not the actual manufactured badges.

That said, the illustrations are remarkably similar in size to actual miniature badges.

The Royal Warwickshire Regiment is a good match size wise but probably not a Thompson product.

[High Wood]

The South Staffordshire Regiment badge is clearly a different design but the Somerset Light Infantry is almost identical apart from the battle honours.

[High Wood]

My K.R.R.C. is clearly not a Thomson product but the 21st County of London is a good match.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by High Wood

Absolutely not sarcasm, so no need for confusion. I was attempting to demonstrate that we we should assume that everything is full size unless described as "miniature". The fact that the they themselves have described the brooches as miniature implies, to me at least, that the military badges are full size.

Unfortunately, I only have an old photocopy of the catalogue, which clearly has some pages missing at both ends. There may have been more product specification at the beginning or end of the catalogue.

I posted before morning coffee !

After seeing a few adverts from that era not all 'sweetheart' brooches were described as miniature , this one has the comment :

Illustration shows actual size of brooches

I assumed , as they would have small/miniature badges for brooches/spoons etc that they could supply 'badge collectors' with a 'complete set' of these , rather than full size badges.

.

[High Wood]

Devonshire Regiment, Norfolk Regiment, Hampshire Cyclist Battalion, (two types).

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Would the Canadian collar dog sized badges be manufactured as per the actual badge or as enamelled collar dog sized sweethearts, do you think?

Very difficult to say without seeing a proven (maker's marked) example. Unless Tomson's had a contract to supply the C.E.F. and made sweet hearts from the same die as a sideline, I cannot see why they would fit lugs to them.

Canadian made collar badges and shoulder titles were generally maker's marked and dated, at least those made in 1914, 1915 and 1916 were. I don't think that I have a later dated example.

I do not think that the same sized collar badges with lugs that I have posted were made by Tomson's.

It is interesting to note that none of my other sweet heart badges have lugs whoever made them.

[gurkharifles]

I'd always assumed that any badge with a buttonhole fixing was probably an OCA badge - now I know differently. Also were there any Gurkha or Indian badges in the catalogue ? Tim