Formation badges

[Garth Thompson]

This is more of the collection I recently aquired. Some scarce some common.
Garth

[Garth Thompson]

This is more of the collection I recently aquired. Some scarce some common.
Garth

#2

[Garth Thompson]

This is more of the collection I recently aquired. Some scarce some common.
Garth

#3

[Garth Thompson]

This is more of the collection I recently aquired. Some scarce some common.
Garth

#4

[ROBB]

Most of these look like modern reproductions ,Rob just my opinion ,Im probably wrong .

[Garth Thompson]

Most of these look like modern reproductions ,Rob just my opinion ,Im probably wrong .

Rob,
Thanks for your thoughts on the cloth badges I posted and I know it is difficult to make an accurate judgement from pictures. Whilst I'm woefully ignorant on metal badges I'm reasonably conversant on cloth. I've examined these pretty carefully and the printed badges are done in the typographic technique vs the serigraphic technique which is most the commonly used in the reproduction pieces. The embroidered badges show no sign of synthetic materials except for those unit's whose badges would have been made in the post war period.
Garth

[ROBB]

WOW Garth ,you certainly know your beans ,and I would not argue with what you say ,could you explain the difference between typographic and serigraphic printed patches ,as I have a couple of printed patches Im not sure about .Cheers Rob

[Garth Thompson]

Rob,
Short form of the differance is in the typographic the matrix (mould) would be inked and then put in contact with the material using strong pressure forcing the design thru the material making it visible on the other side. In the serigraphic technique the printing was done with a thicker ink and less pressure. The problem in the WW2 years was the drying time this method took. In the last 15 or so years UV (ultra violet) dryers were developed making this technique more proctical. The topic is covered in detail in THE FORMATION SIGN no. 211 July-Sept 2003. I've attached two pictures: the one on the left is genuine (typographic), on the right a reproduction (serigraphic).
When you get into the embroidered badges it gets more complicated; thread and material types, backing materials, embroidery details, etc. The old blacklight is handy but you have to figure out the differance between a glow caused by synthetic material and soap phosphate from a good washing. Experience with handling lots of badges/patches is as good a tool as anything.
Cheers,
Garth

[Garth Thompson]

Back view

[Adrian Stevenson]

Here is one of my favourites. A printed for South-Eastern Command.

[leigh kitchen]

Here is one of my favourites. A printed for South-Eastern Command.

Nice, isn't that painted not printed? Unless Garth's comments about very thick ink are indicating that what I've always been under the impression was paint is in fact very thick ink?

[MH184]

Hi Garth,

You've lost me here, I only know a couple and I think I can guess a couple more......what on earth are they all please ? I've never even seen some of them before.

Kind regards,

Marcus

[Garth Thompson]

Ade's badge is a painted one. That is done by using a paint and stencil, usually on drill material. They have always been my favorites. They are not common for two reasons; more time consuming to produce and since the paint will flake off, not as durable as the printed ones. The thicker ink I was refering to in the reproduction badges won't flake off like the paint, which rests on and adheres to the cloth, but is printed on with insufficient pressure to force the design through the cloth. The inked design is then dryed with UV dryers. I hope this makes sense.

Garth

[leigh kitchen]

Hiya, the explanation was clear enough first time, just that being away from the thread for few hours I managed to get the details of what you'd said wrong. I've only got a few of the painted ones, I like them but they're a very impractical way of producing a durable badge. I think 49 Div is the 3 trees on a horizontal white oval (the ash, the oak & the elm from Puck of Pook's Hill or something)? Lovely little badge but a flat egg of thick paint never stood much chance of staying uncracked.

[Garth Thompson]

Here are a couple more painted.