King's Irish Hussars - metals used

[Ubique]

Can anyone tell me what metal/plating was used for the main part of the post 1901 bi-metal other ranks collar badge for the King's Irish Hussars?
The crown appears to be brass or bronze but the harp looks "silvery" but hasn't aged as I would have thought so possibly nickel plated?

[John Mulcahy]

Pattern 4648a/1901 was sealed on 29/10/1901 replacing pattern 4648/1898 with a Tudor crown. The register of changes describes it as Badges, Collar, GM & WM all ranks.

GM stands for gilding metal, i.e. metal suitable for gilding. According to Dress Regulations for the Army 1900 paragraph 18, GM is composed of 8 parts copper and 1 of zinc.

WM stands for white metal - sometimes called German Silver in official documents. German Silver is an old name for various alloys of copper, zinc, and nickel, sometimes also containing lead and tin. Whereas there appears to be various compositions for German Silver , the thread here;

http://britishbadgeforum.com/forums/...al+composition

lists the composition of German Silver as 64.5% Copper 16.5% Zinc 19% Nickel. This is the Harp part of the badge of which you enquire.


O/R badges of this period are typically not plated. German silver is noted to have good hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance properties. This resistance to corrosion perhaps accounting for the appearance you describe.


John

[Ubique]

Thanks John,

extremely comprehensive and helpful.