British Red Beret

[nige247]

I was giving this beret by a good friend of mine (Ex Air Despatch). He has had this beret in his attic longer than he can remember. The badge back plate is leather and marked GARDINER BROS 2 W(arrow)D not sure if this was a personnal add on. Any ideals on the manufacturer. Thanks


Inside WD Stamp

Maker?


Badge Backing

Badge Removed
[IMG]http://<a href="http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z33/sebastien_011/?action=view&current=para6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z33/sebastien_011/para6.jpg" border="0"
alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

[Simon F]

Gardiner Bros and Co are a Leather retailer in Gloucester.

They are not necessarily the manufacturer of the beret though.

That looks to be an owners name stamped into the base of the beret and this was common practice late 70's, early 80's, my guess is early 80's. My limited knowledge is now expended. Hope this goes some way to helping?!

Simon

[Old Smelly]

Beret could be WW2 or just after, the leather backing has probably been cut off of something else, a belt or strap, just to make a backing for the badge, I have seen similar backings made from cardboard, perspex and even a tin can.
Lee

[JEROEN1944]

Gardiner Bros and Co are a Leather retailer in Gloucester.

They are not necessarily the manufacturer of the beret though.

That looks to be an owners name stamped into the base of the beret and this was common practice late 70's, early 80's, my guess is early 80's. My limited knowledge is now expended. Hope this goes some way to helping?!

Simon

No not the owners name but the manufacturers name. Jalpotex Ltd. I seen these a lot recently on ebay. Red and green berets. If they are a real WW2 manufacturer, like Kangol and Beret Industries? It has all the good hardware from a ww2 beret!

Jeroen

[nige247]

Thanks for the quick feedback on this guys. Jeroen I think you have got it spot on , I did a quick www search and came up with this one,

http://www.staticline-normandie.com/...0AIRBORNE1.JPG

it is near identical, thanks again.
Nige

[cbuehler]

Very nice indeed! Jalpotex was apparently still making berets for some years after the war, so impossible to say for certain if ww2 without the date visible.

CB

[Simon F]

No not the owners name but the manufacturers name. Jalpotex Ltd. I seen these a lot recently on ebay. Red and green berets. If they are a real WW2 manufacturer, like Kangol and Beret Industries? It has all the good hardware from a ww2 beret!

Jeroen

Many thanks I stand corrected

[Beau Brummel.]

Very nice beret, date is 1945.

Yours, Guy.

[lnijherald]

Is there a handsewn thread like you see in this picture?

Luc

[nige247]

Luc
It has hand sewn threads but smaller.




Nige

[yellow]

This is a really nice find, your friend must really like you, because any Para holds the maroon beret in incredible high regard. They would literally sell ever other possession they own before parting with the maroon beret.

I hope you bought him a cuppa afterwards!

[lnijherald]

Looks like you found yourself a good 1945 beret.

Cheers, Luc