Rerpo CEF artillery badges

[Bill Alexander]

Over the winter a selection of reproduction Canadian artillery cap badges appeared on ebay. At the CSMMI Show, I was able to examine first hand examples of these badges. If the reproduction artillery badges had have been offered for sale at a flea market or in an antique store, I would have believed the gods were smiling on me and it was my lucky day. They are excellent reproductions and will fool many. (Some dealers have been fooled.)
The badges appear good on both the obverse and reverse. For the reproductions, the major points to note include the "cleanliness" of the badge (easily removed with some artificial aging), a smell to the badge, somewhat acidic oily, from the casting process, and the fasteners. The fasteners were cast as one with the repro badge, rather than being added on at a later date as was the case with the authentic badges. (Note that the reproduction badges only have lugs, whereas many of the authentic WWI badges have tang backs.) By examining the lug it is possible to determine if the badge is repro or not. If it has been affixed afterwards, as seen in solder or at the feet of the lugs, it is may be good. If the lugs have been cast as one with the badge it is repro. Having said this the fraud artists may break off the cast lug and re-lug the badge to make it look authentic. Who would argue too much with a $300 re-lugged CHB officer's badge? On one reproduction, the generic artillery badge with the Canada scroll, the back shows traces of tangs in the casting. This can not be removed, so check for those. (There were three tangs, one on each side of the bottom scroll and one on the top of the badge.) There are other differences, but they require measuring and weighing. The repro badges were made in all three varieties, commonly called Type A, B, and C. (Charlton reference.) In addition the reproductions are being made with an officer's silver or white metal overlay.
The badges include the following: 13 Bde Ammunition Column, 37th, 50th, 53rd, 56th, 60th, 61st, 63rd, 65th, 66th, 67th, 70th, 72nd, 76th, 77th, 78th, and 79th Field Batteries. 9th Overseas Siege Battery, 10th Overseas Siege Battery and Coburg Heavy Battery. All are available in the three patterns, A, B, and C. More badges may have been made. There may be other CEF battalion badges being reproduced.
These are excellent copies. CAVEAT EMPTOR.