tjones

A lot of these tipstaves seem to sell at auction in one year, and then come back in a new sale a year or two later, and then another year later, come up again for sale. Hard to believe collectors are getting tired of their bits so quickly and selling them off. I have to wonder whether theres some profiteering at work here.

Did you see the tipstaff that was knocked down for €1600 a few days ago on estimate of €100 - €150? If you click on the picture you can make the picture larger and then use the "zoom in" button to make it larger still. The engraving merits a close inspection. http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/sheppards-auction-house/catalogue-id-2916022/lot-24767929

These brass topped tipstaffs are brilliant, how dear are they?

Maybe its Suffolk Volunteer Infantry? Haven't a clue Im afraid...

Fellow collectors, have you ever seen this SBP or can help identify it? The crown looks very early and of course WR for William. V probably for volunteer, but thats all I can surmise. I checked Parkyn's book but no success and am hoping smarter people here may know. Apologies for blurry photo it is all I have and many thanks.

As much as that? Same price as a good tipstaff then. Cheers

Thanks Mervyn. Thats really interesting to know and looks to be a rare badge. What would you estimate the cost of such a badge if one could find it? Cheers Tom

I haven't been able to find out. But I did find another interesting token, this one from Forfar and GR4. You can see a picture of it posted to the british online police museum here: http://www.pmcc-club.co.uk/museum/displayimage.php?album=400&pos=0 Looks to be a really interesting token with great age, does anyone have any background information on it or has seen this one before? I venture a guess Mr. Mitton will know about it and can enlighten us.

Possibly, I'm not sure. I can try to find out.

Sorry, I don't have the information (it's not my badge). I was just told about it and was sent the picture.

Yes, the disc has the name engraved on back of the chap who carried it along with his title. The badge is Scottish hallmarked silver to the 1940s. Quite a nice thing.

Here is a picture of a provincial Scottish silver badge. I wish more badges were around to be collected. They are very scarce.

Interesting truncheon. I wouldn't have bought it based upon its overall look. I don't recall Victorian truncheons ever looking like this. Sorry also to say the coat of arms looks to be a transfer decal to me (especially in the way some areas are chipped off). Glad to hear you are returning this piece. Don't let this put you off collecting painted truncheons as really most out there are original.

Here are two very "interesting" tipstaffs up on the block at Christies. Maybe our resident experts would like to help us understand these two?

Cheers Mervyn. Its certainly possible for the colour of the fabric to have gone off in 200 years. However I have seen in the past few years the green colour and do believe it is of some significance. Maybe one day we will find out. An interesting one was just knocked down on Ebay it was a standard Parker Field except marked for Sir Peter Tait & Co, Southwark St. London, a haberdashery of sorts, which is unusual.

Cheers mate. Yes, I know that 99.9 percent of specimens will have red velvet, but now after having actually seen two or three with green, I am wondering perhaps the green has any special meaning as you said perhaps Irish, or perhaps something else. I am sure someone will know.

does anyone know what is the significance of a green coloured fabric in the crown of a tipstaff? ...i have always noted red or crimson coloured fabric and only twice seen green colour.... see attached photos for a green colored fabric which is curious....

Thanks very much for having a look at it. It's true the patina is not what I have seen in the past. Also the casting on one of them is a bit more crude than I have seen in the past. Very hard to tell with some of these pieces. I shall hold back on this pair. Cheers

Hello Gents (and ladies)! I recently wandered upon two interesting shoulder belt plates coming up for auction in a provincial UK auction rooms and I am interested in them, but there is something about the way they look that makes me feel uncomfortable about bidding (patina, wear, not sure what). I'm not at all experienced with badges and so was wondering if other more experienced members could let me have their opinion of these belt plates? All opinions welcomed. Because I assume the plate images are copyrighted, I provide Internet links below. One belt plate is reportedly Victorian to the 18th Foot: http://www.tennants.co.uk/Catalogue/Lots/186512.aspx The second plate is other ranks, to the Seaforth Highlanders: http://www.tennants.co.uk/Catalogue/Lots/186537.aspx Cheers, Tjones

when do you intend to sell the staffs of office? how much would they be?

Does anyone have an answer to Dan's question about safely removing gilding from gilded objects? I have a badly deteriorating badge that I'm dying to remove the gilding on it... Cheers

Thanks. In case other members are interested in using the shapes of the various crowns to date badges, there is a good discussion with colour photos here: http://www.diggerhis...adges-index.htm There are four crowns that appear with regularity: the Imperial (State) crown of 1837, the Tudor crown, the Imperial (State) crown of 1937, and St. Edwards crown.

Thank you to Mervyn and Mike for contributing an opinion as to the age of this belt plate. Mike, I would be grateful if you could identify in your book on belt plates and offer a conclusive opinion? (perhaps a photo?) Also, which book is that? (I should probably buy it) Much obliged to you both for helping

Here is a photo of the back.

Friends - I also posted this in the identifications corner, but I know that not all members go there so I'll put the question here as well, if you don't mind. Do you think the cross belt plate in the photo is late Victorian? In other words, do you think it's over 100 years old? It looks to me to be that old, but I am not terribly knowledgeable about the subject. All opinions accepted with many thanks!