Oxford OTC - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

steve149c · #1 29-02-08, 04:26 PM

Hi Guys,

Got this recently, the Oxford University OTC Cavalry? (KK2474) - a real gem of a find, it has been confirmed genuine by an expert. Infact he was that sure he offered to buy it from me,

But what gets me is that the Cavalry version was only issued in Gilding-metal according to K&K

So I ask - what is the difference in Gilding Metal? Is it a base metal that has been gilded? So it could be any colour metal?

Steve

KLR · #2 01-03-08, 08:30 AM

It is described (p18) and illustrated (Pl II, fig 15) in ...

Martin, EJ, 1938, 'Badges of the Officerss Training Corps', Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research, Vol. XVII, No. 65, (Spring 1938) 15-37

... unfortunately, he doesn't mention what metal !!! (the B&W illustration is certainly "pale" though I couldn't swear what metal it is.)
There, are some files at the NA about OSD insignia. You could also write to the unit !

Peter Brydon · #3 01-03-08, 10:16 AM

Illustrations from an article in Crown Imperial Winter 1998 by Barry Sutton.

The badge in question No 17 is described in the text as-

"The Oxford university OTC- Cavalry Section cap badge- I have examples with lugs and slider,the badges being in gun metal".

Interestingly the Cavalry section collars numbers 16 and 18 are described as white metal with lugs.

( Amazing how many pieces of insignia to this one OTC )

P.B.

steve149c · #4 02-03-08, 09:54 AM

Thanks KLR & 41st,

Gun Metal huh? Well that could well be it as it doesn't feel like white metal to me. That's all good though. A lucky find! Not bad for only 2 months of collecting.

Thanks again / Diolch yn fawr

Steve

Alan O · #5 02-03-08, 07:33 PM

Without wanting to be a wet blanket - the following link would make me very wary of this badge even if it was in the right metal.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARMY-CAP-BADGE...QQcmdZViewItem
Alan

steve149c · #6 02-03-08, 08:32 PM

Yes it does doesn't it Al, perhaps the seller has a gen one this time - we'll have to wait see how many he sells in the coming months.

Steve

Alan O · #7 03-03-08, 08:22 AM

Steve,

I have lost count of how many of those he has sold in the past few years. one a month perhaps. The company that he buys them from produce serval badges with the wrong lugs/metals/sliders etc. Yours is identical to the Taxicar special yet both have the same marked differences in design to the one shown in the picture. Yours has brand new lugs - the cherry red tone is too new for an old badge. My advice take it back to your 'expert' and get the best price you can.

Alan