Mervyn Mitton

When these come-up at auction, they always put NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION - I can see why now ! A tin , in good condition - with choc. can be worth ?100.

I have been told that this is a silver bomb aimer's badge for WW2. Appears to be genuine and has on the reverse - M&Co or, MSco? I would be very grateful for any info. members can provide. There are three pictures of this first badge and then two (front and back) of sets that I bought at an auction. These I am doubtful about - but, I am sure someone can tell me ? Thankyou.

Rick - I checked the latin motto book this morning to find the other ref. - there is no mention of this one, even under different combinations. I don't think that it is meant to rep. a 3rd son - they didn't think like this. Most probably the sword would be given as a gift when he was first commissioned - the two sets of arms , possibly, being from each side of the family. The centre part of a coat of arms are generally all that is used - they are known as Armorials and they sit on a cushion, called a chaplet. The shading represents the diff. colours that were in the silk. The chaplet used to be worn under a helmet to protect the head from metal rubbing. I appreciate that this doesn't give you a provenance - they will charge you , but maybe the Royal College of Arms in Lodon could help ?

The crown on top at the end of the aigulette almost makes it into a tipstaff - as were used in the UK. The rampant lion is also very similar to the Scottish type, with 'feathers' around the body. Please forgive my lack of knowledge on Bulgaria - but, whose Crown was this - in other words - what dynasty and how long did they have power. This new section is providing some excellent material - and ( see Korea post ) some better looking models !!

Whatever she does - she's a d....d sight better looking then the ones in London ! Anything else from Korea ?

You're right - the British Post Office did wear these at one time - probably 20'30's as well.

I wasn't planning another post - the 'gremlins got in' - however, I have a tin with original chocolate and will put it on tomorrow.

There was a posting under Boer War Helmets that mentioned a beret for the Lancashire Fusiliers - I thought I would show some pictures of a 1953 example.

Will do photos on Friday. Book should be arriving soon.

Yes - 1845 pattern Remarkable condition - usually the gilt wears off the brass from over cleaning. Never rub it hard. The condition of the blade is also very good - the rust you mention at the tip of the blade, comes from putting the blade back in the scabbard when it is wet. Clean it off with gun oil and keep the blade lightly oiled with the same - particularly if you live in a humid climate - I think Florida is the same latitude as Durban - so not a good climate for conservation. Check on the suggestion for a Regt. - but, I don't recognise any symbols. Also, as Rick said - look at any family arms - when engraving on small areas they often just use the main part - i.e. Star or, Unicorn. Keep us all posted.

This is very interesting - I bought this at least 20 years ago, from a UK dealer. I don't pretend to have the knowledge for helmets - just that I like them. I have another - better - one at the flat in UK. I will try to get the helmet taken apart - as for cleaning - and we will photo each part. Should the skull turn out to be an officer's , could it be re-assembled as one ? What about the badge - I think that is o/r's ?

Didn'topen - see next post.

Bleriot's cross channel flight , was of course, on JULY 25 1909. He was awarded ?1000 by The Daily Mail for being the first to accomplish this. I think the film - 'Those Incredible men and their flying machines' was loosely based on the event. There was certainly great excitement about flying in those early days.

For something as special , it would be nice to start a 'thread' - or, at least have some feedback.

Very little exists from the early days of flying - and what items there are in the pre-1914 era , are in museums. This incredible lapel pin - only 2.5 cms.across (1 inch) was made for the 1909 Blackpool Aviation show - the first in Great Britain and the start of the Royal Aeronautical Society. REMEMBER THE FIRST FLIGHT OVER THE CHANNEL WAS ON OCT.25 1909 BY LOUIS BLERIOT. This show was in Oct. and features a Bleriot mono plane. The lapel badge was made locally in Blackpool by S.Lyon. There is a lot of info. on Google and I printed out the enclosed to give more detail. (I would be willing to sell to a collector) mervyn

Leigh - off topic - we bought a beret last week with the large LF and grenade above and with the hackle. Inside it is properly marked and says 'KOREA' - Let me know if interested. Merv

Rick - I am attaching an except from the book of British latin mottoes. All of the families & Regts. listed here used the motto. The meaning is at the beginning. I have checked Fairburn's Crests of British Landed Gentry and there is nor trace of either crest. There is no absolute reason that it had to be British - an American citizen may have ordered it and had old family crests added. The alternative is that the families had a title - Barony's and above, will be listed in Burke's Peerage. Unfortunately I don't have a copy - we never made it to that one. With regard to the sword it sounds very much like the 1845 pattern Inf. officers' sword. Should have a brass hilt and guard and the decoration under the VR on the guard should include the different flower symbols for the UK. Please post a picture. Do you have the scabbard and who is the maker ? Mervyn

I have never heard of this use of the name - most interesting - the powers it conferred sound almost like our writ of Habeus Corpus ? To have this contact and exchange of info. is so good - the Worldwide sub-forum is an ideal way to do it without travel. I hope we get a lot more items like the Hungarian and Bulgarian uniforms - things you usually see, only if you visit the country - and, a museum! As for getting me off track - never a difficult thing !! When I could walk, I would show customers items in the shop and then turn round and find I had ten others listening !! Mervyn

Do you think he was an officer - I can see a 'pip' on his shoulder boards. Did the aigulette mark him as an officer and did it have any purpose ? I don't think - as you say - that the condition is important, the item is too rare. I would advise some conservation to keep it at this level. Theodor, this is most interesting and I'm sure that we police collectors are hoping to see more of these rare pieces. By the way, did they carry a gun, or, just a truncheon ? Mervyn

I suppose they didn't know what to replace them with - and they had a lot to deal with at this time. Most interesting.

I have been 'enthralled' - and I mean that in it's true sense - by the information you are giving in relation to the panel. Being a police collector, I appreciated the importance of the piece - but, never went deeper into the causes behind the incident. Although one had to realise that it was the start of something that has continued for over 140 years. I certainly didn't know they had planned to seize Canada - they thought 'big'. I feel we should avoid the modern IRA - too political - but surely the Fenians are an important part of our - and indeed , Ireland's - history. So I hope others will continue this post with stories from both sides.