37th Artillery Cap, Real or Memorex

[Bill A]

Don, could you post links to Neibelungen's threads on badge production?

[cefguy]

Bill:
I will try. There are many and you have put the technologically challenged one in charge of the search... Back in a bit.
Don

[cefguy]

Bill:
Here are some of the postings I can find from Neibelungen...

On the type of metal used for badges..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...elungen&page=2

On silver and silver plating..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

On the transition of dies..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

On soldering, braising and fluxes..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

On the life of dies..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

What becomes of dies..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...elungen&page=3

Colour of solder..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

Why copper lugs..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

Treble gilt..
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ht=neibelungen

A long post on the production (and reproduction) of Victorian helmet plates.
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...elungen&page=3

This fellow seems to be very knowledgeable on metals and badge history. Very interesting.
Don

[cefguy]

Bill:
I hope that you find some of Neibelungen's great posts interesting.
So getting back to my fake 37th, Dracks must have used an officers' cap badge to make the mold for this particular badge I guess. I can't quite visualize the process in my mind, (and I have studied a bit of metallurgy and machining) but in any event he needed both the front and the back to complete the process. I routinely hear people say that an arty badge is fake because it is clearly cast not stamped. It would seem to me that if you use a cast badge to make a high quality cap badge mold then you are going to end up with something that looks at least a little bit like an original cast badge. If this fellow didn't use an original badge to create the mold then it begs the question of how did he create the back side of it. Are there original arty badges out there that do actually look a little bit like this one when viewed from the back? Or are the original cast badges very different in appearance?
Don

[Bill A]

Don, from my understanding he used an original badge and type of casting like lost wax or centrifigal casting. The officers' badges were two piece, but made in the same technique. He had the skills to make a "new" centre for the badges.

[cefguy]

Bill:
I agree, and I think that his skills for making the wheel are excellent. Wish I had the same skill level (but not to fake badges). I guess that my real interest in this point is that there really are original cap badges (talking here about the gun and the maple leaves) where the back looks at least a little bit like this one. In other words perhaps a collector should not throw every single cast artillery badge in the garbage just out of hand is my point. Perhaps they should mail them all to me...... Just sayin is all.
Don