ALI Tank rhodium plated?

[Darrell]

Hi

A recent purchase by myself but when it arrived, I felt there were problems. The vendor has been kind enough to allow me to return it but we both agreed that a Forum opinion would be respected.

My concern is that the lugs show no actual part between the wire down from the loops and that the lugs do not look like the were separately attached (mainly at the feet). Would this be cast with the lugs included or did perhaps the plating cover the part and make the lug attachment point look as it does?

The badge is entirely rhodium plated and otherwise fits the bill I've come to know.

If anyone had thoughts /reasons to share, I'd be interested as I would love to be able to keep this badge.

Thanks.

regards
Darrell

[DavidS]

Keep it. There is nothing wrong with this badge. A lot were rhodium plated.

[Phillip Herring]

I think that the plating would obscure any differences in the metals - badge, solder, lugs.

Phil

[WJ Miller]

Hi Darrell,

I agree with David and Phil, the plating would obscure the solder at the base of the lugs, so that is not a concern.

Here are photos of mine, it's up in a frame now so I can't easily get a sige view shot of the lugs. But I do have an older photo showing the back. Note it is not completely plated on the back. I have also seen another one similar to this in recent years. The plating does go up the lugs though.

My concern about your badge is that it does not appear to be as crisp and sharp in detail as mine (lettering in the annulus particularly)? Which would be one indication of a cast copy... Does the plating on this badge appear worn? Perhaps the plating was done after the badge had been worn for some time. I am not aware of any copies of this badge that have the word 'TANK' show through to the back. Not sure what to think.

[Darrell]

Hi Fellas

Thank you for your input.

Phillip, that is my concern. The fact that the lugs appear to be part of a casting because of no visible spaces between the wires of the lug at the bottom of the loop and at the feet may derive from the plating or it may not.

Bill, thanks for the pics but it's hard to see on yours what troubles me on mine. As for the crispness of the badge, it's actually quite good. The flash and my ACDsee auto-image may account for what you're seeing as less sharp.

This badge is completely plated all over front and back. Who has one like that? Many are not completely plated on the rear.

I should mention the Vendor is a member here and has been most accommodating in my concerns. As I said, we're both happy to take a Forum concensus and my preference is to keep the badge if it's deemed worthy.

Thanks.

regards
Darrell

[Bill A]

Hi all, As a ""Tank" regiment, the ALI were supposed to have white metal badges, but after the dies were altered adding the TANK tablet, the badges had been struck/cast in brass. The solution was to plate the badges.
My ALI Tank badge, which was handed to me from a vet of the unit, is the same as the one Bill has shown us. It is rhodium plated (which has a blueish tint), and as shown, the back of the badge is not thickly plated. The lugs are plated, and one appears to be "fused". I agree with David, Darrell's badge is good.

[WJ Miller]

Darrell, I have uploaded an album with detail photos of my badge for comparison.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=2147

Bill.

[DavidS]

If you are really unsure, though I see no reason to be myself, as I can see a gap under one of the lugs, take an X-acto or Olfa knife & scrape the plating off the base of the lug. You'll find the bronze braze under there I'm sure.