Loyal Edmonton Regiment

[Bill A]

Morning François, There are several titles that have different printed versus embroidered patterns. The Royal Montreal Regt and the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa are two examples where the melton differs from the printed. And there is evidence that soldiers modified the printed titles by cutting off the MG at the base of the titles.
The Calico Printers were the company contracted to produce the printed titles in the UK. They used a silk screen process to print titles and formation patches. The screens could be used over and over, and if maintained properly lasted for a long time. They apparently only recut the screen if a new title was ordered as in the case of the Loyal Eddies. I have not come across any evidence of a new pattern being ordered from Calico in archives documents. When reviewing the documents about insignia that are in archives, the Canadian government was acutely aware of costs and often parsimonious. They did not authorize the spending of money when it was not necessary.
On the "t" shaped pattern, if it was printed from a new screen, there should be cut guidelines or dashes, in the same colour as the lettering, around the edges. If they exist on the "t" title in areas that were cut out as compared to the standard pattern, that would support the existence of a new screen. If not, these were likely cut down.

[rillette]

Bill, thank you for your reply. Have you ever seen a sheet or partial sheet of un-cut printed titles or formation patches?

François

[Bill A]

Morning François, Your question got me thinking. Off the top, the only "uncut" printed titles that I think I have seen are the CANADA nationality titles. But, this needs some more investigation.
There were serious quality control issues with the printed titles, and in the fall of 1944, the entire printed pattern run was in jeopardy of being cancelled. One of the issues was the poor cutting of the regimental titles. But it was not due to the titles being issued in uncut pairs.