Figurines

Also see head and figurines page

Dice

16th/17thC handmade copper dice - 7mm sq

Medieval dice

Dominoes

Georgian domino

Gaming

See tokens and medallion page

Badges

1950's Golden shred badge

1920'S Girl Guides badge

The Daily Herald newspaper first published the Bobby Bear comic strips in 1919. Other newspapers, notably in Australia, followed on and these were also immensely popular. By the early 1930s newspaper’s children clubs were in full swing and the Daily Herald launched their own Bobby Bear Club as part of a general media war to increase circulation. Later during the 1930s The Star and The Argus (Melbourne), both of Australia, brought out their own versions of the Bobby Bear Club together with similar badges.

Bobby Bear himself was based on the traditional Steiff bear figure, a high-quality, plush toy figure made from 1902 by the German company of Margarete Steiff GmbH. At about the same time the Teddy Bear toy was also invented in the US where the US president, Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt lent his nickname to the toy.

The Bobby Bear club was free to join and only required a number of newspaper coupons. On joining, a certificate, handbook and enamel badge were issued with organised club events for children and other announcements printed in their newspapers. The Bobby Bear club like others, was involved in charity and hospital fund raising. One popular event was the Daily Herald’s ‘Help the Hospitals Contest’ that involved children dressing up as Bobby Bear and other related characters to sell raffle tickets and raise funds for hospitals nationwide. They were big events with big prizes too, for example in 1932 there was a £20,000 prize with raffle tickets costing 6d (6 pence) each. An immense amount of money in those recession days when a nice London suburban house would cost less than £5,000

This badge was produced from die stamped brass with two enamels (red & light yellow). There is a pin fitting on the reverse with an imprint of the manufacturer’s name of ‘Roden, London’. The badge measures just slightly above 1” diameter (26mm approx.).

The Australian newspapers mentioned above also issued their own badges. These were the same design and style, the only difference was they substituted the newspaper name with their own.

CLB Junior Training Corp badge

The Church Lads Brigade was formed at St. Andrews Church, Fulham, in 1891.  From this one Company started by Walter Mallock Gee, the then secretary of the Church of England Temperance Society, the organization grew rapidly.  With cornerstones of the Brigades work being strong Christian principles and healthy physical activity, the numbers grew to having up to 8,000 on parade at the Royal Review of 1908.  Meanwhile the Rev. Thomas Milner at a Kilburn Parish Church opened the first company for girls in 1901. Originally they were known as the Church Nursing and Ambulance Brigade for Young Women and Girls, until 1923 when they became an Incorporated Society known as the Church Girls Brigade.  A major reorganization in 1936 freed them from all military meaning and intention.  The Brigades continued their work through the Second World War and after. 

Dateline: Circa 1930s

Red enamelled pin for the 'Cherry Coons Club'. With Eb' and Flo'. .

Eb' and Flo' was a comic strip produced by British cartoonist Wilfred Haughton. Haughton is best known as being the illustrator of Disney comics in Britain during the 1930s. There is not much information about him available on the internet.

Teddy Tail League badge is probably 1930s, the two main makers of these badges were J R Gaunt of London and Roden of London.