Fake Armoured Car Company Badge ?

[hkbuttonman]

Grateful for the advice of the experts - this badge appeared on Ebay - made of white metal with J.R. Gaunt on the reverse. Seller claimed it was attributable to Shanghai Volunteer Corps ACC citing British Colonial Badges Volume 2 as a reference. This is impossible as none of the SVC badges were ever made by Gaunt or Firmin.

Is the badge just a fake or does it belong to another unit ?

Thanks in advance for your expert advice.

[Hoot]

The armoured car looks identical in design to the one on the cap badge of the SVC ACC. How can you be sure Gaunt never made badges for the SVC?. I am thinking in terms of collar badges or arm badges as well as the RTC-style cap badges.

[hkbuttonman]

Hi Hoot,

I can't be 100% sure and I agree that the AC design is identical to that of the SVC ACC cap badge.

However, I have collected SVC badges for 40 years and have had badges from every unit in the SVC, and I have never had one made by Gaunt or Firmin. If someone has one please let me know.

Maybe someone has seen a similar badge for sale somewhere ?

[fearnaught]

Hi, as far as I know the SVC A/C company arm badge was brass. I think this is what your badge purports to be. I agree with you that they were made locally but to a high standard. Why Gaunt would copy this badge I can't imagine, but as has been said before never say never, just be cautious, best wishes Mike

Possibly a case where the unit asked suppliers for a sample badge to be made, before buying? Regards Mark

[Lampwick]

If it's not too costly buy it and regret it later if it is a dud.

[gurkharifles]

Not an expert on this by any means but I do have a copy of Renfrews Vol 2 and the photo in it is identical to yours - the description is "Attributed Shanghai Volunteer Corps Armoured Car Section arm badge 1921-1941. Brass" - there's obviously no mention of makers - I suspect if other members have any other badges to the Shanghai corps, artillery, light horse etc and they are Gaunt manufactured we may have a "smoking gun" so to speak. Tim

[Alex Rice]

Definitely looks like it has some age. Not sure if I would rule it out...