Two Piece Royal Signals KC - Manufacturers Variation?

[Shiny]

Hi All,

I bought this badge today which I'm perfectly happy with but wanted to ask about the blades on the crown.

I've only seen the type that have 3 lugs on the back and the split pin goes through all three. Is this a manufacturers variation or is it an officers badge or something like that?

As I say I'm very happy with it, I'm just curious.

Thanks a lot,

Michael

[Alan O]

The fittings are as for an officers badge which would be in silver gilt.

[manchesters]

Its not an officers badge just a variation in fittings on the crown.

I have seen these before on small crowns, which I believe were utilised from a batch originally meant to be fitted to some other form of clothing.

I have KC in small and also large sizes with such fittings

regards

[Shiny]

Thanks very much gents, that answers the question.

Michael

[badjez]

Here are a few snippets from official files in Kew

12.07.44. WO informed that Royal Corps of Signals officers desire a change of cap badge to one of a more distinctive style that omits the title band and incorporates their motto. In anticipation of approval a design had been submitted by JR Gaunt;
silver & gilt-plated or silver & gilt. Specimen on file has folding blades behind KC.
Decision upon introduction deferred until after the war.
15.08.45. Mention of officers unofficially wearing embroidered badges of new design upon khaki berets. WO declare it to be ‘highly irregular for officers to wear it in any form whatsoever.’
08.10.45. Application for re-designed badge re-submitted to WO. Design for new cap and collar badges had already been approved by HRH Princess Royal (Colonel-in-Chief) and Colonel Commandant.
17.12.45. Re-designed badge approved by Adjutant General.
14.01.46. Decision upon introduction deferred pending report by Post-War Dress Committee.
18.09.46. Mention that re-designed badge had been approved already.
17.10.46. Pattern sealed: Cap Badge Catalogue CB 0293. Collar Badge CB 0522. However new stocks, for OR’s, had not ordered as old stocks had to be used up first.
25.02.47. Approval given for publication of Army Order.
25.03.47. Complaints of the blades breaking off the crown on the new badge.
24.06.47. HQ RCoS suggest that local action is taken to replace the blades with an eye and longer securing pin.
19.08.47. HQ MELF wrote to HQ Royal Corps of Signals identifying that the new type of officer’s badges had a tendency for the silver figure of Mercury to come away from the brass foundation. This was due to a weakness in the riveting.
22.09.47. The manufacturers, Gaunt, wrote to WO, informing them that they identified this potential weakness, to RCoS prior to manufacture starting. Their solution was to solder the mercury figure.
28.09.48. HQ BAOR repeat complaint that blades are breaking off KC due to daily removal for polishing.
09.10.47. WO approve alteration to manufacturing process. Henceforth all badges soldered and not riveted.
08.10.48. RCoS politely respond to BAOR reminding them of the action recommended on 24.06.47. and that, as yet, Ordnance has yet to issue any of the amended design of badge with the longer split pin.
09.11.48. Mention that TA units are still being issued with the Bakelite badge of the original wartime pattern.

[Shiny]

Wow, that is brilliant.

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation. It sounds like I may have stumbled upon a bit of a short lived variation of the badge and therefore a bit of a rarity.

Michael

[engr9266]

I have 3 versions of the badge, 2 with K/C and 1 with Q/C. No back plate for the Q/C badge.

[Shiny]

Thanks a lot mate, maybe not a rarity then but still a short lived variation?

Michael