Interesting way to identify stuff

[ColdWar_Conan]

Hello
I have come across an interesting way of identifying badges, patches etc. It doesn't work all of the time, I have had mixed results so far. It involves using Google's image search feature.
Store a picture of what you want to identify on your PC. By going to www.images.google.com , you can click the camera button on the search bar and upload this picture. It will then perform a search of all of Google to look for similar/exact pictures on the web.
There are some times where it doesn't match at all, but others where it works perfectly. What do you all think of this?

Conan

[ColdWar_Conan]

Note, for me on a mobile, I must go to the Google images page, then click on the three dots on the top right of my screen and choose to load the desktop site in order to perform an image search.

[akiko]

Originally Posted by ColdWar_Conan

Hello
I have come across an interesting way of identifying badges, patches etc. It doesn't work all of the time, I have had mixed results so far. It involves using Google's image search feature.
Store a picture of what you want to identify on your PC. By going to www.images.google.com , you can click the camera button on the search bar and upload this picture. It will then perform a search of all of Google to look for similar/exact pictures on the web.
There are some times where it doesn't match at all, but others where it works perfectly. What do you all think of this?

Conan

I don't but maybe it's just me.

[49lassiepen]

Not very much Try investing in some ref books of the areas you are interested in

[ColdWar_Conan]

Well yes, but you can't have all the books. If it is something hard to identify, this really could save some time I think.

[akiko]

Much detail is not on the net. Some detail is but a lot of very interesting detail is not and is not even in reference books. Authors of reference books can only write about what they know, what others know that are prepared to tell them or from official and unofficial paperwork. Even information from official sources may never have been put into practice which can muddy the waters even further. Misinformation can also add to the confusion.
Just from my experience.

[49lassiepen]

Having been collecting for 46 years and have a large general collection and a specialist Regimental collection including items not held by the regiment
Agree ref books[ are not the end all but a good starting point and also building a net work of collectors to share information -sadly many of the people who helped me are now deceased

[silverwash]

following on from what has been discussed, identification of this badge has eluded me for years. it came with some Wiltshire Home Guard bits together with some WW1 stuff.

[leigh kitchen]

If it's not a German tinnie then big syringe looking things, tadpole looking like thing - qualification badge for a cattle inseminator?
On a more serious note - gas bottles and a box respirator?
Balloon inflater?

[High Wood]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

If it's not a German tinnie then big syringe looking things, tadpole looking like thing - qualification badge for a cattle inseminator?
On a more serious note - gas bottles and a box respirator?
Balloon inflater?

It looks to me as if the tadpole thingy is actually a King Cobra coming out of a basket. Could the badge be for some type of civilian snake venom organisation? Perhaps harvesting venom for the treatment of snake bites? India seem to spring to mind as a likely starting point.

[leigh kitchen]

That sounds favourite.

[tynesideirish]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

On a more serious note - gas bottles and a box respirator?

Definately a box respirator. Chemical warfare school? Specialist gas unit? Will we ever know?

[leigh kitchen]

I like it, it's "different" - it is metal rather than bakelite or plastic?

[akiko]

This thread has run off onto a tangent hasn't it?

[ColdWar_Conan]

It actually looks to be a Soviet rebreather. Typically used for diving or emergency escapes from tanks.
Edit: although many old gas masks have that sort of style look to them.