JR Gaunt makers plates - dating?

[DougSA]

This may well be a silly question, but when were maker's plates used on badges?

I have this Herefordshire Regiment OSD collar badge, with JR Gaunt London makers plate, and would be interested in knowing if date range can be pinned down.

Any insights appreciated!

[tonyb]

Doug this type of plate was used on several RND Division cap badges, so they were in use during WW1 for starters, I'm sure more knowledgeable will elaborate on this.
Cheers Tony.

[GriffMJ]

I have a Gaunt plate on a S/P collar badge that I know was first made in 1926. Thats not to say that the Gaunt MM plate started at that point...... just a date indicator for use.

[yorkie]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

I have a Gaunt plate on a S/P collar badge that I know was first made in 1927. Thats not to say that the Gaunt MM plate started at that point...... just a date indicator for use.

I have a cap badge (VTC) to a Yorkshire unit dating to 1915.

[Luke H]

I have a Royal Gloucestershire Hussars IY badge with a Gaunt plate. However I’m certain this badge was worn later than 1908, indeed I think there may even be pictures of it being worn in WW1.

[Expat Yeoman]

I have an example on a bronze badge first introduced in 1906 (JRG may not have been the first to produce it though), and have seen on another worn through to 1923 if that helps.

[Artynut]

Can we spread this out a bit? I have a J R Gaunt Montreal plate on a WW1 R.A (TA) badge with a “CANADA” plate overlaying the Laurel leaves. Were other Canadian badges from WW1 altered from original British badges? Regards, D.J.

[KLR]

Curiously - nobody has yet stated the obvious - that Gaunt (and others) plaques / stamps etc were only added to privately purchased badges. Officer's badges were stamped with the makers details as they were bought by the individual officers. As for dating, they will be put on immediately that the specific Pattern (even if 'unofficial) was produced. W


For Other Ranks badges they were mass produced for the WO and didn't need to 'advertise their wares. OR badges with maker marks were usually "unofficial" ones - ie not paid by the 'public purse' but paid for by the unit. This was occasionally an NCO Pattern or a piper's badge - such as the 1908 Liverpool Scotish piper's badge (the plaques were usually rectangular or very occasionally circular.


My other examples were the Gaunt made 'Foreign Service' badges for the 1st (and later the 2nd) Bn when they were in India, etc etc between 1899/1900 and 1926. These badges were in fact 'regimentally authorised' and thus paid by the Battalion.
Here is one with loops which suggests it was one of the earliest. the example with a long, marked, slider which was authorised for wear on the FSH in 1903. (Incidentally, there are two other 'anonymous' dies / badges of this type)

[DougSA]

Thank you all for the insights and for sharing pics from your collections!

[JerryBB]

Maori Pioneers cap and collar by Gaunt London with mm plate, only made in 1917 I think.

[Frank Kelley]

Certainly in common usage by the poor brave Highland Brigade, on the wretched veldt, during the Anglo Boer War

[sketchley kid]

I have this broken BAYS badge, would like to purchase a whole one, I do have a collar badge with same tag but no idea of dates.

[Frank Kelley]

A nice old badge, a shame it is broken.

Originally Posted by sketchley kid

I have this broken BAYS badge, would like to purchase a whole one, I do have a collar badge with same tag but no idea of dates.