The things people do to badges !

[Peter Brydon]

Hugh King mentioned that he had seen badges with the fittings removed and which had then been nailed onto wooden shields for display.

This may well be a Martin Marsh special but someone has put holes in this badge to nail it on a walking stick, in the light of the damage caused, hopefully it isn’t genuine.

P.

[Luke H]

It is not a Marsh special and that is a genuine Gaunt plaque.

I would say it’s original despite knowing nowt about the badge or unit.

[norfolk regt man]

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

Hugh King mentioned that he had seen badges with the fittings removed and which had then been nailed onto wooden shields for display.

This may well be a Martin Marsh special but someone has put holes in this badge to nail it on a walking stick, in the light of the damage caused, hopefully it isn’t genuine.

P.

Nice badge

[crest-insignia]

In the entrance Hall of Blair Atholl castle (IIRC), as well as the usual impressive Baronial display of weapons, there are many Cross Belt Plates, Kilt Plaid Badges etc NAILED to the walls.
When asked, I was informed it was to prevent theft. Effective, but utter sacrilege.

[Hawthorn]

Saw a wooden shield in an antiques shop in Norwich where someone had clipped the ring off a 39 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and Defence Medal, drilled a hole in them and nailed them on along with a RAF badge which had been glued in place. A bargain at the asking price of £75!

Simon.

[Peter Brydon]

Thanks for the replies, what a waste of a badge.

Peter

[Phil2M]

What is equally annoying is the fact that they didn't even make tidy holes that were aligned to each other properly.

It may be repairable if the badge is valuable enough to warrant finding a skilled enough person.

[Artynut]

Not quite, Phil2m, The MOST appalling thing is that the person who vandalizes badges in this way, after “nailing” them onto whatever they did, probably stands back looking at the finished product in awe, thing how clever they were! Such a crying shame. D.J.

[badger123]

Here's my example of 'nailed to a board' vandalism.

A not very common OR's 1829-1839 OR's Bell Top Shako plate with holes drilled in the crown and the rays.

I doubt I will see another example so it will just have to do.

Ivan

[Jelly Terror]

There will be members here who recall the days when collectors could, in certain places, buy badges in bulk; sold, as they were, by weight or the handful, rather than by consideration as to their individual intrinsic or historical value.

I suppose it's no wonder we occasionally see badges having been subjected to this kind of maltreatment [ouch!]

JT

[High Wood]

In the South Wales Borderer's Museum in Brecon there are over a dozen Great War memorial plaques neatly drilled at 12 o'clock and screwed to the wall above a doorway.

[Ian B]

Years ago I walked into the entry hall of a Canadian regimental museum (that shall remain nameless). There, on the wall behind the reception counter was an almost complete collection of C.E.F. infantry battalion badges from WWI. I almost cried, as the original finishes of browning or pickling had been polished off and the bare metal of each badge shone out in what was perceived as all it's glory.

I'll never know if it was an attempt to prevent theft, or the staff thought they were doing something good. And I know that the concern should not be only about money value. However, I could not help but lament silently about how the value of the whole collection had been reduced by this careless act.

Ian

[badgecollector]

following on from Ians post,
there is a very elderly Australian collector who in his prime collecting years would buy rare australian badges for his collection and polish off all their finish.
he thought an all brass highly polished collection looked better than any darkened badge.
bc

[magpie]

I used to know a lady at an antiques fair that wouldnt sell anything dirty, unfortunately that included a large number of OSD badges, she still wanted top money and more for them and even her husband said he couldn’t stop her shrugging his shoulders after trying to explain that's how they should be.

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by magpie

I used to know a lady at an antiques fair that wouldnt sell anything dirty, unfortunately that included a large number of OSD badges, she still wanted top money and more for them and even her husband said he couldn’t stop her shrugging his shoulders after trying to explain that's how they should be.

Not even ‘under the counter’, Andy?