William L. Thomson Regimental Badge Specialist

[High Wood]

Whilst sorting through some drawers this morning, I came across my long misplaced copy of William L Thomson's badge catalogue.

Describing himself as a Military Badge specialist with "special terms for badge collectors", his catalogue had some interesting items for sale at some very good prices. It would seem that almost any badge was available, including those of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Some of the badges offered for sale appear to be very close to the original designs whilst others have a few embellishments, notably the famous Middlesex Footballer's battalion badge.

These badges were all available during the Great War and were almost certainly not made to the exacting standard and design of the sealed patterns for these badges. Unless of course, William L. Thomson also had contracts to supply cap badges to the War Office.

I will post a few pictures of some of the more interesting badges that were available.

Given that these badges were made over 100 years ago and that any still extant would have acquired the concomitant patina, I anticipate some interesting replies.

[High Wood]

I will start with a few of my favourite badges, all of which look to be good, except of course that we only have illustrations and not the actual badges.

[High Wood]

The Machine Gun Corps selection.

[leigh kitchen]

Any possibility that the catalogue may be of "sweetheart" type badges?
That was a suggestion re. this Meer Jones poster which also portrays the exotic such as the Middlesex Footballers.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...r+jones&page=2

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Any possibility that the catalogue may be of "sweetheart" type badges?
That was a suggestion re. this Meer Jones poster which also portrays the exotic such as the Middlesex Footballers.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...r+jones&page=2

They also offered a range of Miniature Brooches, all regiments and Naval, silvered and enamel, gilt and enamel and right up to silver and even 9 carat gold. I suspect these are what we now refer to as "sweetheart" badges, though they do not use the term.

I would imagine that the Belts mounted with badges (36) for a very reasonable 12/6, post free, were all full size.

I am not sure from you poster if Meer and Jones manufactured badges or just sold them, if the latter they probably bought them in bulk from William L. Thomson as their ranges appear to be identical.

[High Wood]

The Dorsetshire Regiment selection.

[leigh kitchen]

I wonder whether badges such as the Middlesex Footballers design were originally produced as sweetheart type and those badges and / or the illustrations in the Thompson booklet and Meer Jones poster inspired post war production of such "cap badges"?

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Any possibility that the catalogue may be of "sweetheart" type badges?
That was a suggestion re. this Meer Jones poster which also portrays the exotic such as the Middlesex Footballers.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...r+jones&page=2

Agree.

There was no cap badge sized Middlesex Footballers until relatively recently. I’ve been told the name of the man (dealer) who commissioned it and it was certainly not a Mr William Thomson of Glasgow. Older sweetheart sized/style badges do exist.

No MGC cap badge exists of the design shown either. For me W.L. Thomson falls into the same bracket as Meer & Jones and to an extent Gamages.

The Canadian collectors will be able to tell you the CEF cap badge repros are mostly recent (post 1970s), a significant proportion are also maker marked e.g. Roden Bros, Scully, Tiptaft, Gaunt, Hobson etc. so we know who made those. And I believe I’m right in saying for certain Battalions there was only one die.

This is not the smoking gun for some cap badge equivalent to Fox restrikes.