Hello all.
Maybe Sue will return to answer your query if she can fairly soon Barry. Meanwhile I would like to chip in a little more about the badge listed on ebay
I notice a new ebay listing ;170344122846 of a 1923 GNc which at first glance appears not to be silver,or certainly can't see a hallmark?
which Peter pointed out.
I haven't yet located my 1923 badge, but I have located a couple of 1922 and 1924/25, '38, 50's and a 60's versions which enabled a few comparisons and comments about these which may help clear a complicated picture a little... First. The face side of the badges all badges seem identical in design. The only difference seems to be that the enamel on the earlier (silver) badges appears royal blue in good light, whilst the chromium plated versions look more like the dark blue of a sister's uniform. (Probably the same enamel being affected by different background shades).
The oval Fattorini trade mark is always (on my badges) top centre. There seem to be two versions - differences lie in the actual wording. Fattorini (Hockley St) Birmingham Ltd (no brackets), and Fattorini (Limited) Birmingham. I have two 1922 badges - each with an example of the different trade mark. The lack of 'Hockley St' on many later badges seems to indicate that may have been the original mark.
There are two versions of pin - one has a simple silver loop at the sharp end with a superb built in lever at the other, the pressure being maintained by the base of the pin levering against an almost 'b' (side view) base plate. The second is a half safety-pin design with the base of the pin rolled and bent through a tube - the pin itself provided the leverage. Both designs are present on my 1922 badges, one of each....
Some badges have loops - centrally placed at the base of the back - some do not. I think that these were perhaps fitted to order... Not much use in detecting differences from the mean.
There are obvious differences in the inscriptions - similar typefaces and placement in the silver badges - but very clear differences in placement of the numbers and wording. Similar but not same. I have a finding that they were individually applied by hand, but I don't know that to be true or false. There were of course button-hole finding badges. These generally have the inscription (Name/Qual/No./Date) running anti-clockwise around the rear face - clearly visible beyond the inverted C-sickle finding.
Each of these badges weighs 10 Grams approx.
I will add a few photographs as soon as possible - perhaps tomorrow, to help clear any fog I may have created. But getting back to the current ebay badge - the only real difference I can see is in the apparent lack of hallmark. But then it may have worn thin...
W.
16.June.2009 Ok. The photo's are below and observations invited. Click picture below to enlarge.
