Naval Auxiliary Cruisers war badge

[Giel VW]

Peter, I also saw the head of the eagle was different on all the badges, couldn't it also be a variation? Philippe also said these were really mass produced during the war.

[Peter J.]

Giel, Philippe is probably correct in his statement. But that shouldn't stop us from analyzing different types of RS badges, in the light of what we believe we know. If I would say that all badges with a small L/58-mark in a rectangle are post-45 manufacture, I don't believe a lot of people would object to that statement. If this, for the sake of argument is true, George's L-58 ought to be a post-45 piece, right . One of the features of this very badge is the marked eagle's head. It matches the head of George's other badge, but not Giel's or mine. Does this turn George's 2nd badge into a fake? Definately not, but it's a coincident that should be noted. Combined with other future observations, this is a piece of the big puzzle

KR
Peter

[George Stimson]

"If this, for the sake of argument is true, George's L-58 ought to be a post-45 piece, right ."

Could be. I bought it with that possibility in mind.

[John T]

The L/58 hinge metal is thinner than on the wartime Souvals....also when they produce the hinge and bend it into shape it is done sloppily and you can see this when the hinge is soldered onto the back of the badge, John


Note...they also did apply period hinges sloppily on wartime Souvals--and I have seen misaligned planchets often on Souvals, cut the pins too long etc...but they are always of the correct thickness and the hinge itself is made with more quality in mind.

[George Stimson]

hinges

"RS" left, "L/58" right.

[John T]

Nice comparison...Interesting in that the metals composing the hinge are the same thickness. Note how the L/58 does not have the rounded edges to the hinge as the "R.S." does have....it appears that the finishing on the "R.S." is of a better quality than the L/58

[emaroli]

Does the L/58 badge have a catch plate?

~ Ed Maroli

[George Stimson]

Ed

No, but it looks very much like it did have one at one time.

[emaroli]

I have 4 R.S. badges. They all have either a square hinge with round corners or an elipticle hinge with straight sides.

~ Ed Maroli

[George Stimson]

Ed

And they all have catch plates?

[emaroli]

Yes they all have a catch plate. I should have mentioned that they are zinc pieces.

~ Ed Maroli

[George Stimson]

Okay. Thank you!

[emaroli]

I have also noticed that George's two badges do not have the typical boss for the hinge which is usually seen on RS pieces.

~Ed

[emaroli]

If a small piece of the die was worn or broke off in the area of the 9:00-11:00 position a quick and easy fix would be to incorporate the repair into the design itself. The missing die material would account for the extra material on the badge.

~Ed