Anodised Badges

[bess55]

Originally Posted by badjez

There have been changes to both the formula for 'anodised' and in the designs of badges.
Minutes of 207th Meeting of Army Dress Commitee on 24/11/71 record that AA badges were displayed to the ADC which had 1% Magnesium added. Tests were ongoing to establish if these badges were stronger than current AA badges. I haven't found a result.

Of the many variations, I have some that are fitted with blade/tang type fittings. I am told (but have no credible evidence) that these were a prototype, but that as they failed to come up to expectations they were given away at one of the last Earl's Court Tattoos.

Scanned are four anodised Hussar cap badges
- 3rd The Kings own Hussars. No maker
- The Queens own Hussars. All silver. JR Gaunt London in small font.
- The Queens own Hussars. Silver & gold anodised. Dowler Birmingham.
- The Queens own Hussars. Silver & gold anodised with tang/blade fittings. No maker.

I don't believe that the silver is an intentional finish, just one which missed the dip. However, another tale told me relates to an all silver Wessex Bde I own. Supposedly the Regimental Police would heat ano badges. This removed the gold dip. Once scrubbed up you have an all silver badge. This they wore as a brassard badge. Again I cannot verify this. Firstly I've never tried out the heating process and secondly because I'm not sure that brassards and Wessex Bde badges have been worn contemporaneously.

Observations please. Steve.

Steve,

The bit about heating the badges is interesting. I picked up a couple of 'all silver' badges last year. Not too pricey, but on closer inspection I suspected they may have been tampered with. I fancied that they may have been treated with acid or something to remove the gold colouring but heating could well be the answer. Be interesting to know exactly how that was done. What appears odd on the two I have, is that whatever has been done to them effects the colouring of the adhesive used to fix the slider to the rear (normally has that metalic grey look, right?). It hasnt damaged this material but it somehow changes its look, so that appears a bit like solder, but it isnt (as discussed in earlier, Peter Taylor explained that this adhesive is something of a by-product from the nuclear industry, so it remains firm, whatever has ben done to it!).

Hmmm . . food for thought.

Bess

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by ukbrits

Hi Gents,
I believe the badges with the blades/tangs were produced by a company called Danbury Mint these bades were never government issue and were purely for the collectors market.These badges could be purchased from the company through magazines and newspapers and a couple of frames thrown in for hanging on your wall.
I guess over the years frames have been split down and single items appear on the market hence why you have come across these items.
As for Steve's all silver Hussars badge - hang on to it,it's was probably and "end or run item" but still a nice variant to have in your a/a collection.Hagwalther may like a pic of it for his staybrite web pages he is producing.
Best Regards.
Colin

Hi Guys,

Always looking for badges not on the web pages as part of the data collection phase of this project.

Regards

Chris

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by bess55

Steve,

The bit about heating the badges is interesting. I picked up a couple of 'all silver' badges last year. Not too pricey, but on closer inspection I suspected they may have been tampered with. I fancied that they may have been treated with acid or something to remove the gold colouring but heating could well be the answer. Be interesting to know exactly how that was done. What appears odd on the two I have, is that whatever has been done to them effects the colouring of the adhesive used to fix the slider to the rear (normally has that metalic grey look, right?). It hasnt damaged this material but it somehow changes its look, so that appears a bit like solder, but it isnt (as discussed in earlier, Peter Taylor explained that this adhesive is something of a by-product from the nuclear industry, so it remains firm, whatever has ben done to it!).

Hmmm . . food for thought.

Bess

This is all pretty interesting.

I have a few 'scrap' gold anodised - will given them a bit of treatment between physio exercises when I get a moment.

Regards

Chris

[Mike H]

The last Danbury mint badges i saw were made from metal not a/a.If i remember rightly they altered their collection after options for change to include the newly formed regiments.
The blade fittings are used on belt buckles etc,i have a few in my collection.

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by Mike H

The last Danbury mint badges i saw were made from metal not a/a.If i remember rightly they altered their collection after options for change to include the newly formed regiments.
The blade fittings are used on belt buckles etc,i have a few in my collection.

Do we know when the first or even the last, badges by Danbury Mint were created?

Regards

Chris

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by Mike H

The blade fittings are used on belt buckles etc,i have a few in my collection.

I have now been through all the waist belt plates that I have and none of the badges are fixed with blades. Every badge has short lugs (posts, shanks) that are just long enough to go through then secured by a split (cotter) pin.

[William]

I know of several AA badges that went for over £600 at Bosleys over the last few years. W Yorks Regt £605 Apr 2006, RASC (KC) £605 Apr 2005, Staffs 5th/6th Bn £605 Apr 2006, Flint & Denbigh Yeo £615 Apr 2006. Perhaps the day of the first four-figure sale of an AA badge can't be far away?

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by William

I know of several AA badges that went for over £600 at Bosleys over the last few years. W Yorks Regt £605 Apr 2006, RASC (KC) £605 Apr 2005, Staffs 5th/6th Bn £605 Apr 2006, Flint & Denbigh Yeo £615 Apr 2006. Perhaps the day of the first four-figure sale of an AA badge can't be far away?

Hi William,

Have sent an email.

Also, there are at least two in your list above that I would not pay 6 quid for let alone 600.

Regards

Chris