ASC officers badges - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Sonofacqms · #1 05-01-22, 01:49 PM

As I am sorting through my ASC officers badges I thought I would post these three examples apparently all made by Firmin from the plaques on the reverse of the OSD and the badge with the repaired slider.

There is a normal badge with bronze finish, a silver and gold gilt with a pin fastening, the silver and gilt finish is alas worn away and an OSD which has had the blades cut off or broken and a slider fixed with an horrendous amount of lead solder, possibly a field repair or repaired by a collector at a later date.

Thoughts welcome on these badges.

Rob

dubaiguy · #2 05-01-22, 04:16 PM

They are the 1901 to 1911 version as you probably know Rob. The slidered conversion is interesting, is it gilding metal?

I have a couple of examples of the gilt/silver officer's badge, one on blades and the other on a single loop and single blade - north and south.

Mark

cbuehler · #3 05-01-22, 05:12 PM

The badge with the slider was gilt at some time. The slider looks like a more recent type seen on fakes, and is not an old fix.
I would also surmise that the badge with brooch fitting is an alteration as well; originally it would likely have had lugs.

CB

Sonofacqms · #4 05-01-22, 07:23 PM

Thanks for your comments chaps, the badge with the slider is a poor repair IMO, as to whether the slider is the type on fakes I am not sure, the badge may of course be an OSD with the bronze finish cleaned off.

The badge with the brooch fitting I am leaving as is, the brooch is not original I know but it is a means of fixing.

Rob

dubaiguy · #5 06-01-22, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonofacqms

Thanks for your comments chaps, the badge with the slider is a poor repair IMO, as to whether the slider is the type on fakes I am not sure, the badge may of course be an OSD with the bronze finish cleaned off.

The badge with the brooch fitting I am leaving as is, the brooch is not original I know but it is a means of fixing.

Rob

I agree, more likely to be a worn off bronze finish on the slidered badge. Interestingly on examples of these two part bronzed badges (and also the later 1911-18 badge) where the bronzing has gone, the central device I've noticed seems to 'age' to a different colour than the star. The result being a badge with a very attractive two tone brass appearance. Similar in effect to the RAPC gilding/brass badge produced in WWII. I'm sure purists may prefer a badge with the bronze finish intact, but they do stand out nicely in a collection.