British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > General Topics.

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31-03-20, 03:51 AM
Terry Rayner Terry Rayner is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Adelaide formally Romford
Posts: 321
Default Essex Buttons

Hello Troops
I have been collecting for the last 30 years mainly to the Essex Regt, then on to all the Regiments that make up the Royal Anglian Regt. O.T.Cs, shoulders, collars, A/A and Yeomanry and a few buttons. I have started to collect the Essex Regt buttons. What I find interesting about buttons is a prolific amount of different manufactures. Can anybody tell me the difference between an Officers and other ranks buttons? I realise it could be Gilt or G/M but I do not want to clean the patina off to find out. Some dealers advertise Officers buttons but they all look the same. Just a hint, I use bobby pins to secure my badges etc onto card. They come in different lengths, The long ones are great for Helmet plates, medium ones for badges, shoulder titles and the small ones for buttons etc. They come in mixed packs or separate packs. They are easy to remove and replace.
Regards Terry
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 31-03-20, 05:31 AM
Artynut Artynut is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 876
Default

I thought that gilt was gold plating. Gold does not get a ‘patina’, brass does, silver does. Gold plate can be corroded off a base metal button if buried for years in the event ground chemicals or fertilizer gets into a scratch or cut on the button. DJ.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31-03-20, 06:13 AM
norfolk regt man's Avatar
norfolk regt man norfolk regt man is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: norfolk
Posts: 2,216
Default

Hi terry, I have always thought if the shank is fixed, it’s an officers. Other ranks if not.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31-03-20, 07:25 AM
Rob Miller's Avatar
Rob Miller Rob Miller is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Devonshire
Posts: 2,190
Default

Its a complex subject.

There are lots of fixed shank other ranks buttons, but I don't recall seeing a drop shank button in Officers quality?

Officers often had to purchase their own insignia and it was up to them how much they paid and therefore the quality they received, also in some far corners of the world options were more limited. Also senior Warrant Officers were often allowed to upgrade to better quality.

This I would class as Officers quality, the rear construction is seamless.


These I consider to be other ranks quality but they may at times have been worn by Officers?






This one I can't decide?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31-03-20, 08:38 AM
Keith Blakeman's Avatar
Keith Blakeman Keith Blakeman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Staring into space, just wishing I had a desk.
Posts: 2,951
Default

At what date did OR’s stop wearing regimental in favour of general service buttons. Anything after this ought to officers.

I’ve got hundreds but not one single example is gilt as found on cap badges, they’re all faded.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-04-20, 11:13 PM
Terry Rayner Terry Rayner is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Adelaide formally Romford
Posts: 321
Default

Hello D.J.
I used the term Gilt, as quite a few dealers use Gilt to describe Officers buttons.
I am a novice when it comes to buttons, but I think Andrew hit the nail on the head regarding fixed shanks for officers.
Thanks for all the replys.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-04-20, 12:07 AM
Artynut Artynut is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Ontario, Canada.
Posts: 876
Default

To Keith, I never knew of O'Rs not wearing regimental buttons, When did this happen? .................. To Terry, there's always an exception to the rule, I just did a quick scan of my Regular Royal Artillery buttons (see my albums) and did find one Officer's gold plated button with a "drop shank" fixing loop. Regards, D.J.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-04-20, 01:09 AM
Malcolm Davey's Avatar
Malcolm Davey Malcolm Davey is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: The Shire
Posts: 1,608
Default

Here are some Officers Gilt buttons I sold Recently
Malc
__________________
http://www.watlingmilitaria.com/



Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-04-20, 02:57 PM
Keith Blakeman's Avatar
Keith Blakeman Keith Blakeman is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Staring into space, just wishing I had a desk.
Posts: 2,951
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Artynut View Post
To Keith, I never knew of O'Rs not wearing regimental buttons, When did this happen? .................. To Terry, there's always an exception to the rule, I just did a quick scan of my Regular Royal Artillery buttons (see my albums) and did find one Officer's gold plated button with a "drop shank" fixing loop. Regards, D.J.
From R.J.Wilkinson-Latham - British Military Badges & Buttons. p62

...." other ranks of regular line regiments were issued in 1871 with a general service button that displayed the royal arms, regimental patterns being retained only by officers and NCO's until about 1924 when regimental buttons were again sanctioned for the rank and file."
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 12:48 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.