Canadian Parachute Corps WWII Plastic Economy Cap Badge.

[leigh kitchen]

Yet again I've spent time typing up an entry etc only to find that something cocks up when I try to post it.
The short version is - does anybody know any details about these badges - manufacturers, contract dates, numbers produced etc?
I've picked this up but don't know a lot about it.

[leigh kitchen]

& the reverse.

[Jack Dutton-Roberts]

Hello Leigh,

This is the one from eBay isn't it? I didn't like it because of it's poor quality and lack of detail. I thought it was a fake, but maybe I'm wrong?

Many thanks, from Jack.

[leigh kitchen]

Yeah, I know what you mean, & it crosses your mind that the breakage may be a bit of added bluff.

I thought about this, being very suspicious of e-bay - I came across it while doing a search on plastics, it's appearance in terms of lack of detail etc fits some of the plastics that I've got - that slightly melted look to the detail & rough, brittle appearance to the back.

The steel loops are quite distinctive, about 3/8" of their length is flattened out each side, embedded in the plastic (visible on one side because of the break.

I've seen photos of front & back of one of these before, definitely not made in the mould as this one, & this has thinner metal loops.

I've not seen photos of the backs of any fakes, but compared the general look to the photos of other units.

The badge seems to have genuine age to it, but who knows, always open to opinions on these things.

[DJT]

Hi Leigh,

The poor quality and lack of detail would put me off. I suggest posting it on the forum below for a more informed reply. They had a recent thread on Can para badges.

http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/

[leigh kitchen]

Ta, I'll do that now.......

[leigh kitchen]

Site went down just as I was trying to send my last - found the canadian site straight away by a search though - I've failed miserably to post anything on it so I've e-mailed photos to them instead.

The fakes they show are far nbetter productions than the raggedy thing I've posted. Part of what appealed was the fact that it was a bit shrunken & blurry, with the same sort of rough texture to the back as some of the choc. brown badges such as RASC, General Service Corps that I've got.
The vendor's okay for a return if requested.

[1stcanpara]

Copy...

Hello,

Sorry to say, but your suspicions are correct, this is indeed a poor copy. The original badges do not have any type of metal fastener, they use a lug and pin system which is very distinctive. The material and poor quality are also a dead give away. I am new here, so I am not yet familier with how to post photos or I would show you an original. I have been collecting to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion for many years. Hope this helps!

Gary

[leigh kitchen]

Yes, thanks - it'll soon be winging its way back to the vendor.

The only photo I've seen of the rear of an original appears to show metal lugs, only thicker than on this badge.
I'll dig the photo out & post it.

[leigh kitchen]

Poor quality shot of the rear of a genuine badge (not the badge I've posted).

[Infanteer]

Holy cow!! Return that poor copy as soon as you can... all original plastic 1 Cdn Para Corps badges have heavy plastic loops into which fits a plastic retaining pin. Look closely at the photo Leigh has posted and you will see details that are on all original badges. I have yet to find a repro of this badge that even comes close to the real thing.... so far....

[leigh kitchen]

Thanks for the info & opinions chaps - the vendor has already credited ny account - within seconds of my confirming that the badge is a wrong 'un.

I've never laid hands on one of these, & the only photo I've got of the reverse does'nt make it apparent that the fittings are moulded plastic rather than metal - there are a few references to the badge on Canadian forums, including mention of an obvious fake with metal fittings, but nobody seems to post photos of the reverses - unless you're already in the know it's hard to work out what's going on.

[Infanteer]

Leigh, give me your email address and I will send you a high resolution photo of the rear of the badge.

Steve

[leigh kitchen]

Forgot to post here - e-mail received thanks, the photo that I posted of the back of a genuine one is worse than useless - I thought from that photo that genuine badges had metal loops, but then read a comment on a the Canadian forum linked in one of the posts above about a fake with metal loops........