Locally made PJI Badge

[3battalion]

I don't normally bid on auctions because of the horrendous fees and postage costs. However, when I saw the attached badge with a low estimate I thought I'd place a small bid. To my surprise I picked it up at a reasonable price and was very pleased when it arrived.

As you can see it's beautifully made with fine bullion and nicely padded to emphasise the parachute.

A nice addition to my bullion / para collection.

Paul

[pontecagnano]

Hello Paul,

Lovely badge and a very unusual pattern. Well done.

Graham

[54Bty]

Which country is it from? It looks to have Oak leafs.

Marc

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

Which country is it from? It looks to have Oak leafs.

Marc

And the canopy appears to be made of netting. Not sure I would have trusted that! Mike

[54Bty]

If asked I would have said it had a German (or other European country) balloon connection.

Marc

[Mike Jackson]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

If asked I would have said it had a German (or other European country) balloon connection.

Marc

I agree - there are many images of early balloons showing the hot air "bags" contained within a hemispherical net. Mike

[pontecagnano]

Originally Posted by 54Bty

If asked I would have said it had a German (or other European country) balloon connection.

Marc

It does have some similarities to the WWII German balloon Pilot badge but it also has some similar characteristics to a British (locally made) PJI trade badge; the canopy skirt is higher and shaped differently to a balloon which normally curves back down towards the basket, there are six rigging lines and the ribbon device found at the bottom centre is present. I have seen Indian made examples with a rectangular device at the end of the rigging lines rather than a circle on top of a ribbon. Having said that, I could be completely wrong, as the net design is more typical of a balloon, but would probably have acquired it on the same basis as Paul just in case if it wasn't expensive.

Graham