Early pattern RASC shoulder title

[High Wood]

This has to be an early pattern RASC shoulder title as the back clearly indicates that it was an ASC badge that had the lug on the letter A removed and a letter R, with a lug, added.

This variant is not shown in Ray Westlake's Collecting Metal Shoulder titles.

As the ASC became the RASC in 1918 it would appear that an existing stock of ASC shoulder titles were remodelled to make the RASC title.

Recycling is nothing new.

[JerryBB]

Interesting title. A slight digression but I notice it has tombstone lugs and I always thought these were an early type, but I have this RASC title with the same type so this also must be dated from after the formation of the RASC.

[High Wood]

My understanding is that the tombstone type of lugs were an early pattern but I guess that badge manufactures had thousands in stock which they used up.

Your badge has the parallel bars that give the badge strength. My badge is the earlier type without bars and which were prone to breakage. I have similar titles for the RFA, RGA and the HAC.

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by High Wood

My understanding is that the tombstone type of lugs were an early pattern but I guess that badge manufactures had thousands in stock which they used up.

Your badge has the parallel bars that give the badge strength. My badge is the earlier type without bars and which were prone to breakage. I have similar titles for the RFA, RGA and the HAC.

Thanks for the info.

I have a few others without the parallel bars.

[REMEVMBEA1]

Originally Posted by High Wood

This has to be an early pattern RASC shoulder title as the back clearly indicates that it was an ASC badge that had the lug on the letter A removed and a letter R, with a lug, added.

This variant is not shown in Ray Westlake's Collecting Metal Shoulder titles.

As the ASC became the RASC in 1918 it would appear that an existing stock of ASC shoulder titles were remodelled to make the RASC title.

Recycling is nothing new.

Just a thought but I would imagine these were done in unit as manufactures would , IMO, have simply melted old stock and reused the brass which seems to me a more efficient and cost effective way of doing it.

[High Wood]

You may well be right but the evidence points to this particular example being converted from ASC to RASC, a cut and shut job. I cannot imagine anyone would go the trouble of doing it if it wasn't cost effective.

[buckiebeetle]

I have 3 different titles, a RASC with parallel bars top and bottom, slightly larger & copper lugs. Another similar with tombstone lugs, and a ASC with bottom bar only and tombstone lugs. There must be a few variations, - cheers, John.

[Mike_2817]

I have a pair of Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) made into RAOC titles in the same way, and as has been pointed out could be unit modified, but one has to question where the R's came from? Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers titles perhaps? if so not so economy minded!

It was into 1920 before some RAOC units were issued with new cap badges which were more noticable than ASC/RASC examples, so titles may have taken as long to produce, and some individules decided to modify the titles they had!

[High Wood]

'one has to question where the R's came from?'.

The obvious answer is from the all the Royal Munster Fusiliers and Royal Dublin Fusiliers shoulder titles left over after those fine regiments were disbanded. It also explains all the MF and DF shoulder titles offered for sale on Ebay.

[JerryBB]

Originally Posted by High Wood

This has to be an early pattern RASC shoulder title as the back clearly indicates that it was an ASC badge that had the lug on the letter A removed and a letter R, with a lug, added.

This variant is not shown in Ray Westlake's Collecting Metal Shoulder titles.

As the ASC became the RASC in 1918 it would appear that an existing stock of ASC shoulder titles were remodelled to make the RASC title.

Recycling is nothing new.

another variant which is obviously a cut and shut job with its 3 lugs