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  #31  
Old 27-04-08, 01:26 PM
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Deejayuu Deejayuu is offline
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Thanks to everyone that has responded to my thread, I have not responded to all but please do not take this as a slight as every collector has views and opinions which are equally valid. I suppose i should add my two penneth as well. I have been collecting British cap badges from the age of 17 back in 84. First purchase was a DLI kc badge which i paid all of £3.50 for ! When i first realised that there were collectors fairs i used to go but left my cheque book behind and took only the cash i wanted to spend with me! Nearly 25 years later i have a collection of about 1400 badges all done. Across the board to every regiment, to every period. Though initially i limited my collecting to 1908 - 1947 badges. I have a specialist field which is Regiments of Yorkshire. Of the 9 regiments of Yorkshire (1914 -1945) i have around 250 cap badges. 50 of which are to the West Yorks alone. I have repros or fakes in my collection, but with the exception of 1, these were not knowingly purchased. Badge collecting is like riding a bike, you need to experience the pain of falling off a few times before you learn how to ride properly. Same with Fake badges, i do not know anyone in their collecting history that at some point has not purchased a repro by mistake, its how we learn!
I do not like damaged or repaired badges in my collection but i will acquire them if they are rare that good examples are not readily available!
I have a number of frames on display but these have interchangable spaces for individual badges. Each frame holds 48 badges which can be changed fairly easily as each badge is mounted on a piece of felt covered cardboard that slots in place. I also have badges in a chest of drawers, biscuit tins and various other boxes. Not really organised but great for rumaging.
Ebay is both good and bad. I have acquired some good badges as well as some absolute crap. The way i approach ebay now is that i must be reasonably confident that the badge is authentic before i even think about bidding. The majority of bona fide sellers will provide additional pictures if asked within reasonable time. If they do not, not a good sign, walk away.
Auction Sniper i have fallen foul of and have cursed profusely due to it. However, if i had put in the maximum bid i was prepared to pay at the outset, i would have either won the badge within my budget or the price would have gone above the amount i was prepared to pay! I acquired a copy of Auction Sniper when it could still be purchased on eBay but used it only once or twice many moons ago. Auction Sniper does require that you enter a maximum bid. So it can be beaten unless you come across someone using Auction Sniper that will buy a badge at any price! They could do the same through normal means though so i do not see an unfair advantage using Auction Sniper if you put your maximum bid in early enough! Still wish it had never been invented though!!!
Polish badges? Never! The one thing the Repro artist will never be able to do is age a badge. They have tried! Smoke from candles, pinned to a board and left outside in the rain for a few months etc but this does not give the true patina developed over many decades.
Many thsnks to everyone that has responded, Cheers, Dave
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  #32  
Old 16-01-09, 11:26 PM
mtrpltpara mtrpltpara is offline
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QUOTE " Polish badges? Never! The one thing the Repro artist will never be able to do is age a badge. They have tried! Smoke from candles, pinned to a board and left outside in the rain for a few months etc but this does not give the true patina developed over many decades.
Many thsnks to everyone that has responded, Cheers, Dave " UNQUOTE

I absolutely agree, which is why my badges are not behind glass, rather they continue to develop patina.
Bill.

Last edited by mtrpltpara; 17-01-09 at 12:19 AM.
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  #33  
Old 17-01-09, 12:16 AM
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Sonofacqms Sonofacqms is offline
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I started collecting badges around 1952, with the badges worn by my father, my Uncle's badges and finally with a small collection given by a drayman who delivered to my Grandparents pub. I can remember Coronation flags being put up and talking to a vet wearing khaki trousers who was an ex Northumberland Fusilier, FEPOW. After 57 years, the badge bug has never cleared my system, having seen the rise and fall numerous times of the various factors of militaria collecting, with items making small fortunes and then falling out of bed, I can only say that British badge collecting is a good steady interest.

Repaired badges I think are OK in a collection, they can be replaced when possible, but are far better than a restrike, which I avoid at all costs. As for themes of collecting, when I first started, I wanted every badge, which is not possible. Collect to family units, areas or special interests, whatever you can afford, but keep it real, not restrikes!

Last edited by Sonofacqms; 17-01-09 at 10:12 AM.
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  #34  
Old 17-01-09, 07:50 AM
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Peter Brydon Peter Brydon is offline
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I agree with the sentiments expressed in the last 2 posts.

If you want to clean badges a couple of minutes in Cillit Bang and you will have a finish that makes it look as if the badge was made yesterday.

I dont clean badges now ( cant say I didnt when I first started ) but I would disagree that badges after a certain time will continue to develop a patina and I think a good collection of badges deserves to be displayed as attractively as possible and to me that means displayed in glazed frames but everyone has his own ideas as to how he wishes to keep and display his collection.

P.B.
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  #35  
Old 17-01-09, 12:40 PM
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Clean vs polish? If a badge has surface dirt or verdi gris shouldn't that be cleaned off the badge? Leaving it may continue to damage the badge. Not to the point of shining the badge, but certainly to remove corrosion.
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  #36  
Old 18-01-09, 04:12 PM
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GriffMJ GriffMJ is offline
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Badge collecting to me ...... is discovering and being in touch with past regimental history. I/we are a tribal bunch and the badge signifies who's tribe you belong to. Every badge has meaning and every badge was/is significant to the period of time it belonged to.

Oh..... and they are shiney!
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  #37  
Old 18-01-09, 05:12 PM
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tynesideirish tynesideirish is offline
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I initially collected original UVF stuff as a kid. It was worn by various members of my family. It was cheap unwanted, tarnished by the activities of the later incarnation and easy to get. This is no longer the case.

This then led me then to buy Irish items, starting with my user name I amassed a sizeable collection of quality stuff. Mainly whole uniforms. Which I was offered an amazing amount of money for and sold the lot as a one-er.

I then started collecting badges to the units I was in and related Para SF stuff this was easy to start with but prices are now through the roof for even post war items. Silly. I had a massive amount of Raiding Support Regiment uniforms, beret's and badges, which I let go bit by bit for peanuts. As prices are mental now wish I'd kept them!

I still buy the odd L&BH item and DZ flash which I'm missing only 3 of the known ones but really it's info I collect now so have a giant library.

I'm not an expert on anything or any unit. I've been in 3 Regiments and can give my tuppence worth like the rest. I still take an interest on all the badges and units mentioned and like to pass on any tit bits of info that I can.

I see nothing wrong with having an item in your collection that a serviceman has actually worn, or would have if issued. I can't abide fakers or conmen and have wasted a few £££'s down the years to these crooks. Hasn't everyone?
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