Jacob's Rifles
After James Grove & Sons, of Halesowen, went out of business last December, I bought some of their dies and pattern books. The firm was known mainly for its horn, hoof and (later) plastic buttons, but at one time had made large numbers of brooches, and a few badges.
The attached photos show a Jacob’s Rifles die. What was made from it is uncertain, but as it is 32mm diameter, it is rather large for a uniform button. Two experienced military button collectors who have seen the die think it unlikely to have been for a button. The die is a mirror image of the front of the badge or button moulded from it, so the image is reversed left to right, and depressed parts of the die created a raised area on the moulded object, and vice-versa. For ease of reading, a flipped version of the photo is included also.
The die is essentially flat, more typical of a badge than a button. The outer ring is flat, with a depressed crown and inscription. The central area is gently domed, with four raised pips, so the objects made from the die would have had a shallow dished centre, with four small depressions. Almost certainly, the items press-moulded from the brass die were of hoof or horn.
Can anyone say what this die was used for?
Rex
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04-10-13, 01:02 PM
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