1VB Leicesters

[Paul Spellman]

Any forum members who attended fairs in the past at Penkridge, Stockport and sometimes Birmingham will remember a chap who sells similar badges all from the front looking very nice on individual black square cards with silver pen writing
If you ever took the time to look at the reverse you would have noted some of these badges were marked Sterling or with a Hallmark omitting the date letter and some with maker marks such as these Gaunt Birm types.
If these were original I am sure that any dealers would of cleared him out years ago at the prices he asked.
Paul

[Neil s]

I believe this is badge 4
IMG_20220219_112630.jpgIMG_20220219_112811.jpg

The reverse of the HPC
IMG_20220219_113144.jpg
HP
IMG_20220219_112926.jpg
The Previous HP this is not the plate from the same vendor
it appears to have been struck from the same die somewhat
later as the faults have worsened or are not present on this
plate
IMG_20220219_113404.jpgIMG_20220219_113311.jpg

Glengarry from the same period
IMG_20220219_113104.jpgIMG_20220219_113017.jpg

['Ticker' Riley]

What you say about this chap and the badges he sells is most interesting Paul, so thank you for posting this up. Do we actually know is name? Is he still selling badges? If anyone has bought any of these marked badges from him, then it would obviously be good to see them for direct comparison to those that have been the subject of this thread. I remember when I began collecting I attended a fair in Bromsgrove, and there was a fella there, I think his name might have been Roger Smith? Anyhow, he was selling badges as if they were genuine, when, in fact, I know now, they had come ‘hot off the presses’, as it were, from Gladman & Norman! In any event, as I say, hopefully someone will have bought some of your chap’s offerings, and we can see the marks on them to see exactly what they look like.

Regards

Martin

[KLR]

I was told that the date stamp was discontinued after 1998 - but don't have exact proof.

[Parabellum]

Thanks for posting the helmet plate and centre, Neil.

Could you tell me the length of the loops on both please ?

Neil

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by KLR

I was told that the date stamp was discontinued after 1998 - but don't have exact proof.

From official UK Assay Office "PRACTICAL GUIDANCE IN RELATION TO THE HALLMARKING ACT 1973".

The Date Letter – optional

Until 1999 the date letter was compulsory. This is no longer the case, but it can be applied voluntarily in addition to the compulsory marks. The date letter changes once a year on January 1st.

.

[Neil s]

Hi Neil
Loops measure 11mm or 7/16 depending on your vintage

[Volunteer Soldier]

On offer - chairborne - 1VB Leicesters complete with Gaunt B'ham plaque. Only £160.00. No further comment.

[Alan O]

Barge pole comes to mind.

[Volunteer Soldier]

Alan, I had an extremely long one in mind.

[Paul Spellman]

He has another listed under seller british_and_commonwealth_badges
Paul

[Volunteer Soldier]

Yes, I'm afraid a number of members previously seemed to be in favour of this badge. The silence is deafening now it seems to be raining 1VB Leicester badges -complete, of course, with Gaunt B'ham plaques. How on earth does one seller seem to acquire several? I have always found genuine VB badges extremely difficult to find.

[Alan O]

Having thought about VB badge scarcity I have always attributed it to a number of factors:

1. The VB were relatively small in size and had multiple battalions each with a different badge so production numbers were small.

2. They were slow to adopt full sized cap badges as they wore FSC with collars or no badges or slouch hats long after the Regulars had adopted Brodricks or the peaked cap. So where as the Regulars were wearing full sized badges from circa 1900, the VB were not wearing them until much later.

3. As they bought their own kit they did not order in bulk, and store them awaiting issue, as the WD did. So in 1908 there were no surplus stocks to be sold off.

4. The fact that some VBs wore the same badge as the Regulars in different metals but without a VB title means that many are not recognised as VB.

5. The 1905 award of the South Africa battlehonour saw new designs but as there was only a 3 year window to have them made before VB were replaced by the TF.

Alan

[Neil s]

I haven't commented because I couldn't find it on chairborne's site

[Paul Spellman]

Originally Posted by Neil s

I haven't commented because I couldn't find it on chairborne's site

On two of his eBay identities
Just search VB Leicestershire Regiment
Paul