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    Indian Army Victory Medals


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    I saw a British Vic Medal to an Indian Halvidar in an antique shop this weekend, but was concerned that it felt "lighter" than other Brit Vic's in my collection. It didn't have a nice "heft" and seemed detail seemed "thin" on the obverse side. Were Vic's to the Indian Army made differently than others?

    Also, the unit was engraved I.G.A - I thought this might be Indian Garrison Artillery, but when checking unit abbrev's on the UK Archives site, no such abbrev was listed.

    Any thoughts from the Vic Medal experts?

    (cross posted from UK forum)

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    I saw a British Vic Medal to an Indian Halvidar in an antique shop this weekend, but was concerned that it felt "lighter" than other Brit Vic's in my collection. It didn't have a nice "heft" and seemed detail seemed "thin" on the obverse side. Were Vic's to the Indian Army made differently than others?

    Hello IrishGunner,

    While there are noticeable differences in the Indian produced War medal things are a bit more difficult with the vics.

    Opinion is divided as to whether or not it is confirmed that the vic was even produced in India. Some collectors believe this was the case whereas others believe they were all produced in England and shipped to India. A lack of access to surviving records in India compounds the problem.

    The only qualifiying comment I can make is that some vics in Indian groups do indeed appear to have a weaker strike compared to those in UK groups. This is, of course, not conclusive.

    Regards,

    Rob

    Edited by RobW
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    Thanks for the reply, Rob.

    Of course, who would fake an Indian Army Vic and sell it in an antique shop in Pennsylvania, USA for next to nothing? :P Strangely enough, it had a WWII US Victory Medal ribbon attached. I'll be back in that area in 3 weeks, might just go ahead and buy it (if it's still there) just for the sake of argument.

    The name and Regt # turned up one MIC that listed him as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and a Pack Battery.

    Edited by IrishGunner
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    • 7 months later...

    Since there is a seperate thread away from the UK thread for South Africa Vic's, I thought, I'd re-title this one and we can start a record of Indian Army Vic's. One reason, this might be useful, is to better understand the different ranks/units and abbreviations.

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    Here is a list of my Indian Victory Medals (I also include Mesopotamian Railways and East African Railways as these were effectively Indian units).

    1914-15 Star Trio (491 Sepoy Alaf Khan (on 14-15
    star) Alif on BWM and Victory), 1/27 Punjabis)

    1914-15 Star and Victory Medal pair, Star (No.
    KCHI/231 Weighman Doonie Chand, S. & T. Corps) Victory (KCHI-231 T. Clk.
    Duni Khan. S. & T. Corps)

    BWM and Victory pair 77794 (B-Smith, Barkatali,
    Meso. Rys.)

    Victory Medal (6749 W-Man Oojagar Singh. I.W.T.),

    Victory Medal (Gunkahar Singh, C.H. Bn. B.M.P.),

    Victory Medal (MTDC-9665 Langri Rooper.)

    Victory Medal (Mohd Nabi Postal Dept)

    Victory Medal (Jemdr Buta Khan 3/124th
    Baluchis) (D. o D. 5/11/1919)

    Victory Medal (821 Carp-Mstry Bhan Singh I.W.T.)

    Victory Medal (Las. Sk. Kadir RIM)

    Victory Medal (47 P-Mkr Lal Khan 65 Govt. C.C.)

    Victory Medal (MTCD-11764-Swpr. Ratna)

    Victory Medal (7097 Masn. Singh Wks. Dte.)

    Victory Medal (3562 Sepoy Adam Khan, 59 Rfls. F. F.)

    Victory Medal (10817 G, Man Nadir, Meso, Rys.)

    Victory Medal (811 Khal Kushi Mohd. Irgn. Dte.)

    Victory Medal (Subdr. Hussain Khan, 1-30 Pjbs.)

    Victory Medal (Subdr. Hayat Khan, 1-67 Pjbs)

    Victory Medal (Subdr. Mustafa, 27 Pjbs)

    Victory Medal (2635 Sub Kasturi Khan N. Waz. Mil)

    Victory Medal (Subdr. Shah Noor, 46 Pjbs)

    Victory Medal (110165 Cly. Munshi. Meso. Rys.)

    Victory Medal (6758 Carp. Surain Singh. Meso. Rys.)

    Victory Medal (Jemdr Sher Baz, 54 Sikhs),

    Victory Medal (Ressldr Laurasib Khan 61 G. Camel
    Cps.), attached from Hodsons Horse

    Victory Medal (18461 Carp. Amar Singh, I.W.T.)

    Victory Medal (728 Sarwan Mani. Khan, 53-C. T. Coy.)

    Victory Medal (6783 Dvr Kali Ram Jaipur S.T. Corps),

    Victory Medal (2684 Carp Sher Singh Works Dept)

    Victory Medal (47334 H-Man Ghulam, I.W.T.)

    Victory Medal (7485 Bhisty Rayah I.H.C.)

    Victory Medal (S.A.S. Chajju Ram. I.M.D.)

    Victory Medal (5070 W-Servt. Mutthrie. A.H.C.)

    Victory Medal (17048 I. Mldr Simon Joseph E.A. Rys)

    Victory Medal (15894 Survr. Fazal Hussain E.A. Rys),

    Victory Medal (RP-304 T-Smith Ghulam Hussain, S.
    & T. C.)

    Victory Medal (26510 Lftr. Kalander E.A. Rys)

    Victory Medal (7013 Drsr. Fateh Mohd.Khan)

    Victory Medal (6691 L-NK: Jamal Din, N. Waz. Mil.)

    Victory Medal (6691 L-NK: Jamal Din, N. Waz. Mil.)

    All the best,

    Paul


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    I saw a British Vic Medal to an Indian Halvidar in an antique shop this weekend, but was concerned that it felt "lighter" than other Brit Vic's in my collection. It didn't have a nice "heft" and seemed detail seemed "thin" on the obverse side. Were Vic's to the Indian Army made differently than others?

    Also, the unit was engraved I.G.A - I thought this might be Indian Garrison Artillery, but when checking unit abbrev's on the UK Archives site, no such abbrev was listed.

    Any thoughts from the Vic Medal experts?

    (cross posted from UK forum)

    I've had a vast collection of Victory Medals to Indian recipients, but I never noticed any difference with those issued to British personnel.

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    A. MULE DEPOT.

    Army Mule Department

    A.B. CPS.

    Army Bearer Corps

    A.B.C.

    Army Bearer Corps

    A.M.P.

    Assam Military Police

    A.R.

    Assam Rifles

    ADEN TRP

    Aden Troop

    ALWAR I.S. INFY.

    Alwar Imperial Service Infantry

    ARTY I.D.F.

    Garrison Artillery Indian Defence Force

    ASSAM RIF.

    Assam Rifles

    B & C.I. RY BN. I.D.F.

    Bombay & Central Indian Railway Battalion Indian Defence

    Force

    B.M. POLICE

    Burma Military Police

    B.M. Rif.

    Bengal Mounted Rifles

    B.M.P. ATTD. 15/SIKHS

    Burma Military Police Attached 15th Sikhs

    B.M.P.

    Burma Military Police

    B.T.

    Bridging Train

    BAL. INFY

    Baluchistan Infantry

    BALUCH. INF.

    Baluchistan Infantry

    BALUCHIS

    Baluchis

    BALUCHIS

    Baluchistan Infantry

    BASRAH SURVEYS

    Basrah Surveys Department

    BENGALIS

    Bengalis

    BHAMO BN B.M.P.

    Bhamo Battalion Burma Military Police

    BHAVN. I.S. LRS.

    Bhavnagar Imperial Service Lancers

    BHOPAL I.S. LRS.

    Bhopal Imperial Service Lancers

    BHOPAL INF.

    Bhopal Infantry

    BO. VOL. ART.

    Bombay Volunteer Artillery

    BOMBAY ARTY I.D.F.

    Bombay Artillery Indian Defence Force

    BOMBAY ARTY. I.D.F.

    Bombay Artillery Indian Defence Force

    BOMBAY BN. I.D.F.

    Bombay Battalion Indian Defence Force

    BOMBAY L.H.

    Bombay Light Horse

    BOMBAY VOL. AR.

    Bombay Volunteer Artillery

    BOMBAY VOL. ART.

    Bombay Volunteer Artillery

    BOMBAY VOL. RIF.

    Bombay Volunteer Rifles

    BRAHMANS

    Brahmans

    BURMA M.RIF.

    Burma Mounted Rifles

    BURMA MIL. P.

    Burma Military Police

    BURMA MOUNTED RFLS.

    Burma Mounted Rifles

    BURMA MTD. RFLS.

    Burma Mounted Rifles

    BURMA RIF.

    Burma Rifles

    C. OF GUIDES

    Corps of Guides

    C. OF GUIDES INF.

    Corps of Guides Infantry

    C.I. HORSE

    Central Indian Horse

    C.M.S.C.

    Corps of Military Staff Clerks

    C.P.D. GROUP GARR.

    Cape Penninsular Defence Group

    C.T. COY.

    Camel Transport Company

    CALCUTTA VOL. A.

    Calcutta Volunteer Artillery

    CALCUTTA VOL. BY.

    Calcutta Volunteer Battery

    CALCUTTA VOL. RIF.

    Calcutta Volunteer Rifles

    CAVALRY F.F.

    Cavalry Frontier Force

    CEYLON G.A.

    Ceylon Garrison Artillery

    COSSIPORE INFY.

    Cossipore Infantry

    COY. A.B.C.

    Company Army Bearer Corps

    COY. A.H. CORPS.

    Company Army Hospital Corps

    CPS. GUIDES

    Corps of Guides

    DELHI R.

    Delhi Regiment

    DEOLI R.

    Deoli Regiment

    DERAJAT M.B.

    Derajat Mountain Battery

    DIV. SIG. COY.

    Divisional Signal Company

    DIV. SIG. SQUAD

    Divisional Signal Squadron

    DOGRAS

    Dogras

    DELHI R.

    Delhi Regiment

    DEOLI R.

    Deoli Regiment

    DERAJAT M.B.

    Derajat Mountain Battery

    DIV. SIG. COY.

    Divisional Signal Company

    DIV. SIG. SQUAD

    Divisional Signal Squadron

    DOGRAS

    Dogras

    ERINPURAS

    Erinpura Regiment

    F.F.RIF.

    Frontier Force Rifles

    F.G.A.

    Frontier Garrison Artillery

    FD.CO.S. & M.

    Field Company Sappers & Miners

    FR. CONSTAB.

    Frontier Constabulary

    G.M.P.

    Garrison Military Police

    GARHWAL RIF.

    Garhwal Rifles

    GRENADIERS

    Grenadiers

    GRKS.RF.

    Gurkha Rifles

    GRNDSR.

    Grenadiers

    GUIDES CAVY.

    Guides Cavalry

    GUIDES INFY.

    Guides Infantry

    GUIDES INFY.

    Guides Infantry

    GURKHA RIF.

    Gurkha Rifles

    GWALIOR I.S. LRS.

    Gwalior Imperial Service Lancers

    HARIANA LNC.

    Hariana Lancers

    HORSE

    Horse

    I. ECC. EST.

    Indian Ecclesiastical Establishment

    I. LABOUR C.

    Indian Labour Corps

    I. REMT. D.

    Indian Remount Department

    I. SIG. S.

    Indian Signal Service

    I.A.

    Indian Army

    I.A.C.C.

    Indian Army Corps of Clerks

    I.A.M.C.

    Indian Army Medical Corps

    I.A.O.C.

    Indian Army Ordnance Corps

    I.A.P.S.S.

    Indian Army Printing and Stationery Services

    I.A.R.O.

    Indian Army Reserve of Officers

    I.A.S.

    Indian Army Staff

    I.A.V.C.

    Indian Army Veterinary Corps

    I.B.C.

    Indian Bearer Corps

    I.E. TEL. DEPT.

    Indian Engineers Telegraph Department

    I.H. CORPS.

    Indian Hospital Corps

    I.M.D.

    Indian Medical Department

    I.M.L.

    Indian Miscellaneous List

    I.M.S.

    Indian Medical Service

    I.M.T.

    Indian Marine Transport

    I.O.D.

    Indian Ordnance Department

    I.P.S.

    Indian Postal Service

    I.R.C.S.

    Imperial Rest Camp Staff

    I.S. CPS.

    Imperial Staff Corps

    I.S.C. CPS.

    Imperial Service Camel Cps

    I.S.M.D.

    Indian Subordinate Medical Department

    I.S.T.C.

    Indian Supply Transport Commissariat

    I.U.L.

    Indian Unattached List

    I.W.T.

    Indian Water Transport

    IND. ARTY.

    Indian Artillery

    IND. CST. ART.

    Indian Coastal Artillery

    IND. LAB. COY

    Indian Labour Company

    IND. SURVEY

    Indian Surveys

    INDIAN BR. CORPS

    Indian Bearer Corps

    INDIAN D.F.

    Indian Defence Force

    INDN. SIG. COY.

    Indian Signal Company

    INDN. TELEGRAPHS

    Indian Telegraph Dept.

    JAT LT. INF.

    Jat Light Infantry

    JATS

    Jat Infantry

    JIND I.S. INFY.

    Jind Imperial Service Infantry

    JODPHUR I.S. LRS.

    Jodphur Imperial Service Lancers

    KAPUR INFY.

    Kapur Infantry

    KAPURTHALA JAGATJIT INF.

    Kapurthala Jagatjit Infantry

    KASHMIR RFLS.

    Kashmir Rifles

    KOHAT M.B.

    Kohat Mountain Battery

    KOHAT M.B.F.F.

    Kohat Mountain Battery Frontier Force

    KURRAM MIL.

    Kurram Militia

    LAHORE LABOUR CPS

    Lahore labour Corps

    LANCERS F.H.

    Lancers Fanes Horse

    LANCERS

    Lancers

    LIGHT CAV.

    Light Cavalry

    LIGHT INF.

    Light Infantry

    LOCAL TRANSPORT

    Local Transport

    LRS.

    Lancers

    LT. CAV.

    Light Cavalry

    LT. CAVALRY

    Light Cavalry

    M. BTY.

    Mountain Battery

    M. FARMS D.

    Military Farms Department

    M.A.D.

    Military Accounts Department

    M.B.

    Mountain Battery

    M.B.R.G.A.

    Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

    M.C.

    Mule Corps

    M.D.

    Mahendra Dhal Regiment

    M.L. CPS

    Mekran Levy Corps

    M.T.C.

    Motor Transport Corps

    M.W.S.

    Military Works Service

    MACEDONIAN MULE C.

    Macedonian Mule Corps

    MACEDONIAN MULE CPS.

    Macedonian Mule Corps

    MADRAS MTR. CYC.

    Madras Motor Cyclist

    MADRAS S & M

    Madras Sappers & Miners

    MAGADI D.F.

    Magadi Defence Force

    MAHRATTAS

    Mahrattas

    MALAY S. GDS. ART.

    Malay States Guides Artillery

    MALAY S. GDS.

    Malay States Guides

    MALER KOTLA I-S. SPRS.

    Malerkotla Imperial Service Sappers

    MECH. TPT.

    Mechanical Transport

    MERWARAS

    Merwara Infantry

    MESO. R.

    Mesopotamian Railways

    MESO. RYS.

    Mesopotamian Railways

    MESPOT. RLYS.

    Mesopotamian Railways

    MHTS.

    Mahrattas

    MIL. M. CYC. C.

    Military Motor Cyclists Corps

    MTN. BATTERY

    Mountain Battery

    MTN. BATTY.

    Mountain Battery

    MULE CPS.

    Mule Corps

    MYIT. BN. B.M.P.

    Myit Battalion Burma Military Police

    N. RFLS.

    Napiers Rifles

    N. WAZ. MIL.

    North Waziristan Militia

    N. WAZ. MILITIA

    North Waziristan Militia

    N.B.M. RIF.

    Northern Bengal Mounted Rifles

    N.W. MILITIA

    North Waziristan Militia

    N.W. RLY. M.G. COY.

    North West Railway Maxim Gun Company

    NIL. MAL. BN. A.F.I.

    Nilghai & Malabar Battalions Auxiliary Forces India

    NIL. MAL. BN. I.D.F.

    Nilghai & Malabar Battalions Indian Defence Force

    NIL. VOL. RFLS.

    Nilghai Volunteer Rifles

    ORDNANCE DEPT.

    Ordnance Department

    OTRM. RFLS.

    Outrams Rifles

    OUTRN. RFLS.

    Outranis Rifles

    P. BTY. F.F.

    Pack Battery Frontier Force

    P. BTY.

    Pack Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

    P. CPS.

    Pony Corps

    P.G.

    Pushpati Guards

    PACK ARTY.

    Pack Artillery

    PACK BTY. R.G.A.

    Pack Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

    PALAM. L.I.

    Palamcottah Light Infantry

    PATALIA I.S. LNCRS.

    Patalia Imperial Service Lancers

    PATHANS

    Pathans

    PATIALA I.S. INFY

    Patiala Imperial Service Infantry

    PATIALA INFY.

    Patiala Infantry

    PESHAWAR LABOUR CPS.

    Peshawar Labour Corps

    PESHAWAR M.B.

    Peshawar Mountain Battery

    PIONEERS

    Pioneers

    PJBIS

    Punjabis

    PJBS

    Punjabis

    PNRS

    Pioneers

    PNRS.

    Pioneers

    POLITICAL I.A.

    Political Department Indian Army

    POSTAL DEPT

    Postal Department

    PRES. VOL. RIF.

    Presidency Volunteer Rifles

    PT. TFC.

    Port Traffic

    PUNJAB L.H.

    Punjab Light Horse

    PUNJABIS

    Punjabis

    Q.A.M.N.S.I.

    Queen Alexandra's Medical Nursing Service India

    Q.V.O. CPS. OF GUIDES (F.F.)

    Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Frontier Force

    Q.V.O. CPS. OF GUIDES

    Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides

    Q.V.O. MADRAS S & M

    Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers & Miners

    R. JAT L.I.

    Royal Jat Light Infantry

    R.I.A.

    Royal Indian Artillery

    R.I.M.

    Royal Indian Marine

    RAJPUTS

    Rajputs

    RIFLES

    Rifles

    RLY. C.C.

    Railway Construction Company

    RLY. D.F.

    Railway Defence Force

    RLY. REGT.

    Railway Regiment

    RY. BN. S & M.

    Railway Battalion Sappers & Miners

    S & T CORPS

    Supply & Transport Corps

    S & M

    Sappers & Miners

    S & T.C.

    Supply & Transport Corps

    S. WAZ. MIL

    South Waziristan Militia

    S. WAZ. MILITIA

    South Waziristan Militia

    S. WAZ. SCTS.

    South Waziristan Scouts

    S.C. CORPS.

    Supply Commissariat Corps

    S.D.I.E.

    Subordinate Department Indian Engineers

    S.W. MILITIA

    South Waziristan Militia

    SCHWEBO BN.

    Schwebo Battalion

    SIALKOT CAV. BDE.

    Sialkot Cavalry Brigade

    SIKH PIONEERS

    Sikh Pioneers

    SIKHS

    Sikhs

    STAFF

    Staff

    TEL. DEPT.

    Telegraph Department

    V.A. BTTY.

    Volunteer Artillery Battery

    V.M.D.

    Volunteer Motor Drivers

    VOL. ART. BY. LA.

    Volunteer Artillery Battery Indian Army

    VOL. M.G.B.

    Volunteer Maxim Gun Battery

    VOL. M.G.C.

    Volunteer Maxim Gun Company

    WALLAJ. L.I.

    Wallajabad Light Infantry

    WORKS DTE.

    Works Directorate

    Z.L. POLICE

    Zhob Levy Police

    R.I.M.

    Royal Indian Marine

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    Lambert trios turn up not cheap but due to low survival rate price from £150, pairs £80.

    The next Dix Noonan Webb auction in March will have the third part of a large collection of Indian medals, may be the odd pair or trio there, usually on line about 3 weeks prior to sale.

    Paul

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    To all,

    Here is one of my Indian groups. It was awarded to a Headman of the Supply and Transport Corps.

    As Paul has indicated they are not particularly easy to obtain even in VF condition. They also rarely come with the original ribbons.

    Regards,
    Rob

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    To one and all,

    There is still much speculation as to whether or not the vic was also produced by the Calcutta Mint. Some believe it was and others insist it was produced in London.

    With little to no records from the Calcutta Mint surviving it will interesting if any of our Indian collectors could offer some insights.


    Regards,
    Rob

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    Rob, lovely trio and nice rank.

    As to the Calcutta mint question. I feel sure that they would have produced and named them. I suspect the dies for the medals were sent from London and then produced and named in Calcutta, certainly I feel this would have been the case for Indian Army, I assume that British troops in India would have received London produced.

    Paul

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    Rob, lovely trio and nice rank.

    As to the Calcutta mint question. I feel sure that they would have produced and named them. I suspect the dies for the medals were sent from London and then produced and named in Calcutta, certainly I feel this would have been the case for Indian Army, I assume that British troops in India would have received London produced.

    Paul

    Hello Paul,

    Thanks for the comment on the group. When I obtained it I had to do some research into what the Supply and Transport Corps was and certainly into what rank a 'Headman' was. So much variety with Indian medals.

    I have a couple of Indian groups and they all have the BWM with the characteristic larger suspender claw on the BWM indicating a Calcutta Mint production. I also have a group to an English LT who was commissioned into an Indian Regiment and received his medals while in India. Again the BWM is of Calcutta Mint production. I have seen other British groups where they received their medals when the arrived back in the UK and not while in India.

    We also know that the 1914-15 Star was produced by the Calcutta Mint due to the minor reverse die differences. The vic is the anomaly. As you have indicated people are sure it was produced by the Calcutta Mint but no records have survived to confirm this.

    This makes the search for definitive proof all the more interesting.

    Regards,

    Rob

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    For Paul,

    Some plain paper packets that were used for the issuing of medals from the Calcutta Mint. While these examples are of later era medals it would be probable that such packets were also used for earlier era medals.


    Regards,
    Rob

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    Rob, ignore previous PM

    I saw some similar envelopes for the republic type 1 MSMs and LSGCs (short-lived and soon replaced by by pieces which bore less resemblance to the British India examples). Still very nice. I assume the WWI medals must have been forwarded by registered mail similar to the British issues, while you see British ones with original forwarding envelope and documents I have yet to find an Indian group thus.

    If any one has seen Indian WWI medals as originally forwarded I would be extremely interested to know.

    Paul

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    • 2 weeks later...

    Hi Gents,

    I've just been looking at the vics offered on eBay by the seller maritime medals -

    http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_osacat=0&_armrs=1&_ssn=maritimemedals&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313&_nkw=ww1+victory+medal&_sacat=0&_from=R40

    He has quite a few to Indian recipients and I was struck by the prevalence of a darker, less shiny golden finish in these medals. The planchet, suspension and ring seem to match in this respect. There are, to be sure, some Indian issue that have the usual Type 2 golden finish, and some vics to British recipients have a darker finish, but I could almost pick out the Indian recipients from the photos by the difference in colour.

    This got me wondering - if there were vics produced by the Calcutta Mint was the finishing process less thorough than the British production, or was a different finish applied?

    Bill

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