24th Lancers Buttons - 1970s Gaunt Restrikes

[Cribyn]

Hello

I hope no one on the Forum is thinking of bidding on these buttons on ebay in the belief that they are genuine World War II period buttons -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1921511857...&sojTags=bu=bu

These are Gaunt restrikes produced in the 1970s, not original, period buttons.

Roger

[manchesters]

Roger,

They would certainly have fooled me if I was a bidder.

Out of interest, why were they re-struck?

regards

[Cribyn]

Hello Simon

Apparently a militaria dealer, Doug Squire, (related, I believe, to Gwen Squire of the book 'Buttons: A Guide for Collectors" fame), asked Gaunt in 1970 or thereabouts to reproduce a number of 'hard to find' buttons just for the collectors market. Gaunt obliged using original dies (so genuine 'restrikes'), but thankfully they used a then current backmark of 'Gaunt London' instead of a period mark of something like 'J R Gaunt & Son Ltd London Eng'.

There was a thread a little while ago in which a list of the buttons reproduced was illustrated but I can't track it down at the moment. Perhaps someone reading this may be able to point it out.

Roger

[Cribyn]

Hello Simon

Found the previous thread where the list of restrike buttons was produced - thanks again Charlie!

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=58336

If you follow the link in the first post it comes up with the list produced by Doug Squire of the buttons restruck by Gaunt at his request. I think there may be one or two others to add to that list but it is very useful as it is.

It's sad to see how many established dealers are selling these as originals.

Roger

[btns]

Apart from the backmark another give away is the bluish hush on the back.
I bought mine in London in the 1970s.

[Sonofacqms]

One of the give-aways is the poorly struck "T".

Rob

[Cribyn]

Hello btns and Rob

Yes, there are some other give-aways with these buttons but, as I think I've said elsewhere, I have been told that a bit of elbow grease and some brasso will get rid of the bluish colour on the back, so be careful with that one!

Roger

[Staffsyeoman]

My late Dad, who was the button specialist, bought a few of these as space fillers in the 1980s (only then, they cost pence) . Agree with all points; the backs are poorly struck - several of the letters (it isn't uniform) of GAUNT/LONDON hardly show.

[High Wood]

I found this example of the 1970s restrike this morning.

[Frank Kelley]

I wonder how many of those have ended up in mature collections, originally both sold and bought as original.

[btns]

I am able to add one more design to the list of 1970 Gaunt restrikes:
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1881-1926, flag to dexter.
It has Gaunt, London and the blue rear.
These restrikes have NO rim.
Originals have a rim.