Here is what looks to me like a faulty-cast, late-war zinc badge in the F.O. format having the cast-in hinge and catch assembly. It has the flat reverse with scooped-out/concave central portion where the raised letters of the maker mark appears. The measurements are in the acceptable range of height 56.95mm; width 43.75mm; eagle wingspan 30.97mm and wreath 6.82mm.
This badge appears to never have been finished, due perhaps to the badly-formed pin retaining clasp. Is it unreasonable to assume that a badly- or faulty-cast badge would be set aside with others due to quality control, for later melting-down and re-use of the metal?
At first I was concerned by the relative lack of detail on the obverse, but after an extensive search of threads on this forum and having seen apparently good examples with about the same quality of detail as the one pictured here, I am left wondering.
There is one detail that I have not seen on other F.O. badges pictured here on the forum: two small nipple-like protrusions on the top of each of the cast-in hinge posts. Is anyone familiar with this detail on an original F.O. HSF badge? Might these have later been filed-off in the finishing process of such badges?
Perhaps this is an attempted fake. But then I think - why would anyone try to sell or distribute an obviously imperfect example? This is why I feel that it may possibly be an original that never made it to the finished stage.
Your comments are requested and will be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
This badge appears to never have been finished, due perhaps to the badly-formed pin retaining clasp. Is it unreasonable to assume that a badly- or faulty-cast badge would be set aside with others due to quality control, for later melting-down and re-use of the metal?
At first I was concerned by the relative lack of detail on the obverse, but after an extensive search of threads on this forum and having seen apparently good examples with about the same quality of detail as the one pictured here, I am left wondering.
There is one detail that I have not seen on other F.O. badges pictured here on the forum: two small nipple-like protrusions on the top of each of the cast-in hinge posts. Is anyone familiar with this detail on an original F.O. HSF badge? Might these have later been filed-off in the finishing process of such badges?
Perhaps this is an attempted fake. But then I think - why would anyone try to sell or distribute an obviously imperfect example? This is why I feel that it may possibly be an original that never made it to the finished stage.
Your comments are requested and will be appreciated.
Thanks,
John
I'm no expert on badges so they may well be the real thing but it just seems strange that these have just appeared in the last week or so?
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