Sealed Patterns / Pattern Cards / Guide Request

[Jelly Terror]

Would someone with the requisite knowledge be willing to set out a dummies’ guide to sealed patterns/pattern cards, outlining the whole process from alpha to omega?

I confess to finding the subject a little confusing; ‘sealed patterns’, ‘contractors’ samples’, ‘Quality Assurance Directorate’, wax seals, patterns that appear identical but which have different dates marked on their accompanying cards. It’s all a bit of a mystery to me.

Would it be possible to set out a simple description of how a badge is first conceived and the process which then follows, resulting in a ‘sealed pattern’ and the various markings/annotations we see on the cards & labels?

Also, how is it that so many of these items are available for sale etc., and why is it that they are not retained by the various military departments from which they (presumably) originate?

Apologies if this is a daft question, but if you don’t ask...

With thanks,

JT

[magpie]

For badges, I think Chris marsh hagwalther could give you a good example of what it takes to get to the sealed pattern, it's probably the same process for all the other kit that the forces use and I should imagine the cost of just keeping sealed patterns is quite expensive so once they aren't used or needed anymore they'd just dispose of them like any other surplus whether it be landfill or by sales for scrap etc to certain people who deal in clothing vehicles or anything else you could think of.
While at the IWM a few years back with orasot they said they had 6 working cards to send out for manufacturing purposes and 1 master that was always kept back.

[grey_green_acorn]

JT,
The Forum shows more than 400 examples of cards and labels both front and back here:
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ures&groupid=7

My general comment on the process is that the earlier examples are on thick card with details hand written in 'copperplate' to a set design. Things have changed in a number of ways over the years resulting in the use of labels and lead seals instead of card and sealing wax. Annotations are made in red and other colours and the more recent labels are typed.

A very large quantity of pattern cards was 'released' by QAD Didcot in the 1990s as surplus to requirements. Some were crudely crossed through others went unmarked. There were originally about 10 cards/labels made for each item, some went to museums and others to dealers apparently purchased by the pallet!

Tim

[hagwalther]

JT,

I can only comment on A/A and 'New Metal'.

Basically, CO of Corps/Regt thinks up design of badge and creates a sketch. Sent to War Office/Army Dress Committee to get their input. They may go to Garter King of Arms if they think there may be heraldry issues. If no issues a painting is commissioned and sent to War Office/Army Dress Committee. If OK with painting it is sent to Soverign for approval who initials the painting.

At this stage the badge is officially authorised for issue.

Badge samples made after War Office/Army Dress Committee put contract out to badge manufacturers for said samples which are sent to War Office/Army Dress Committee.

After the badge samples are OK'ed by the War Office/Army Dress Committee anything from (if I remember) 6 - 16 are held over for attachment to pattern cards/tags. The rest of the samples were binned.

The patterns were split into two - Master and Working/Standard. Between 1-2 Master cards and the rest Working/Standard. Later on the cards became tags.

Master(s) was held by the Pattern Room and Working/Standards were lent out to manufacturing companies after their name/date/requisition no. was recorded on the rear. When returned the date of return was added.

Pattern cards/tags are a guide only and usually related to colour, construction type (lugs/slider) and general design. Many official badges are different to the pattern cards in that they may or may not be mounted items (multi part) and even different in style.

Also note makers of samples not always manufacturers of first batch of badges for issue.

Patterns could be withdrawn and re-sealed later as units disbanded and later reconstructed hence multiple dates on same pattern card.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Chris

[Jelly Terror]

Gents,

Fascinating stuff, and sincere thanks for going to the trouble of providing such detailed replies.

JT

[REME 245]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

JT,
The Forum shows more than 400 examples of cards and labels both front and back here:
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ures&groupid=7

A very large quantity of pattern cards was 'released' by QAD Didcot in the 1990s as surplus to requirements. Some were crudely crossed through others went unmarked. There were originally about 10 cards/labels made for each item, some went to museums and others to dealers apparently purchased by the pallet!

Tim

I remember seeing boxes full at Sabre Sales and of course it was not only badges. Presumably the MOD like most things these days decided that storage space costs money and decided to dump it all. Hence the lack of any major war reserve depots any more. Hopefully the relevant Museums got the most significant items but something on that scale we will never see again with items dating back many decades.

[Alan O]

It is called RAB - Resource Account Budgeting. The Treasury decided to apply RAB to the MOD because it reduced unnecessary stock holding by the MOD and also raised money for the treasury. It complemented 'just-in-time procurement' which unfortunately was not that accurate a description.

This led to the selling off of old stock that was no longer required and meant the MOD was supposed to buy only what they needed. The down side was seen in 2003 when one of the Defence assumptions was that we would only need one brigades worth of expeditionary kit but then sent a division.

[REME 245]

In deed and you have incident in the gulf war where the Tank Commander lost his life as he had given up his body armour to an infrantry man who the Army thought had a higher priority. They had insufficent in storage and the Goverment would not place any orders prior to the offical anouncement of our paricipation in the war. I can also remember a piece of kit being off the road for a year whilst a new axle was manufactured. Just-in-time procurment did not work on that occasion.