RTR LB&B silver

[Darrell]

Hi

A friend sent me these pics. It's pretty.


The hallmarks have me confused though. I can't find an example of their orientation and order.


regards
Darrell

[fearnaught]

Hi Darrel, not sure what you want to know. It's a badge made by London Badge and Button Co. made of .925 silver. Normally they are found mint or near mint, yours looks like it's done 10 rounds with a heavyweight boxer. Somewhere I have a 1930's badge with something like that amount of wear, most unusual for a modern badge. I'm sure it's genuine but I'd love to know how it got in that condition, hope this helps Mike

[Darrell]

Hi Mike

Thanks for the input. Appreciated.

I'm not after knowing much else than I can decipher but when I look up Birmingham silver hallmarks for Sterling, I can't match what is on the badge which looks like Lion Passant, "925", and the anchor.

I found lots about the Company and it's lineage through searching this Forum. Thanks Members.

You're correct in that it sure is well-worn. Silver, so private-purchase for an RTR Officer?

regards
Darrell

[Mike H]

At first it reminded me of the metal RAC that have had the rivets polished off.
I wonder if it was the punishment badge,naughty troopers have to shine it for a misdemeanor. So its repeatedly polished day after day.

[Darrell]

Hi

Bit of a backstory from the owner; gotten from a Brit in Bosnia. UNPROFOR 1994/95. Possibly from an NCO but memory being what it is.......he's not sure. I'll also remind him that he has membership here!!

I could buy the punishment badge theory for its wear but the "issue" badge for an RTR issued from QM certainly wasn't silver, was it? Since it's made of silver, I'd imagine it would be needing cleaning often. I wore the same Brass badge of my unit for 10 years and it's darn near smooth and flat with no relief at all. This had to be a kitshop or private purchase example, right? Maybe a prize or trophy piece for an outstanding performance at unit level? I know RTR are super awesome tankers or whatever but doubt they give everyone a silver badge on joining. Of course, I could be wrong and the Brit Forces were flush with that kinda cash but..................I doubt it.

Thanks, guys.

regards
Darrell

[Darrell]

Hi

*Hate the edited line so, new post

Turns out it is not a Lion Passant but rather (L to R) a scale over a 925, 925, and then the Birmingham anchor.

So the Control mark, the Standard mark, and the Assay Office mark. Got it.

regards
Darrell

[fearnaught]

Hi Darrell, this is how your badge would have looked. This badge isn't hallmarked but it is the same in other respects. The part before the .925 on your badge should be a date letter. I can't make out what yours is but H is 2007 so you should be able to work back from that or look it up on line. The last badge is a hallmarked badge but of a slightly different style,just showing off really, hope this helps Mike

[KLR]

Regretably, hall marks were not obliged to add the date letter from (I think) 1998

[Darrell]

Double Post- Please remove

[Darrell]

Hi Mike

Thank you for that. Nice looking badge. The lugs look a bit more inward set than the one I showed above. Just an observation.

To be more clear, the hallmarks on the badge I showed, from Left to Right:
-A scale over "925",
-"925", and
-Anchor on its right side.

My friend confirmed it but alas, I have no other pics.

KLR

Ahh. Thank you. Good to know. However, this badge would have been acquired in the early nineties. Does that make it odd?

I'm surprised there are no former RTR or other tankies chiming in (unless you fellas were). Surely a Member has some time with them; you weren't all Paras or Bootnecks!!

regards
Darrell

[leigh kitchen]

Is the first mark definitely scales over 925, and is there a fourth mark under the gun sponson?

As a non-tankie, to me it's a private purchase officer's badge, just well worn.

I await incoming.

[Darrell]

Hi Leigh

Pew Pew!! I agree; not as per issue.



It does look like there is a 4th mark there on the right, doesn't it. I initially thought that too but the owner didn't mention it in his msg to me. I just sent back to him a req for a better pic or at least conf on the first (left) mark and on the possibility of there being another mark on the right.

Thx.

regards
Darrell

[Darrell]

Hi Leigh

Just the three marks then; first is definitely scales over 925.

No apparent "date" mark.

regards
Darrell

[leigh kitchen]

Ta. The scales / 925 is an internationally accepted mark to show the fineness of the metal, apparently.

"In 1972, the UK became a signatory of the International Convention of Hallmarks. Signatories of the convention recognise each other's hallmarks. The Conference introduced the Common Control Mark (CCM)."

"For silver, the CCM symbol is the balance scales, with the fineness superimposed on an angular shape which outlines the scales. The fineness is shown as parts per thousand."

"Under a ruling by the European Court of Justice, the UK must recognise hallmarks of other European nations carrying three marks: a sponsor mark, fineness mark and the assay office mark."

[Darrell]

Hi Leigh

Thanks for that. I had found the explanation and other examples of the Common Control Mark while searching the interweb earlier.

"Under a ruling by the European Court of Justice, the UK must........."

Do those words have any more weight?

regards
Darrell