RAF officers cap badge - what colour?

[Spitfire]

Normally the colour in the crown of the WWII RAF officers cap badge is supposed to be red. But I have also seen some that was almost puple. Is that just a mistake or a bad reproduction of pictures?

 

[mikepara]

IMO

The usual bleached , or aged colour change is to a more pinky red. More than likely the purple you seen is a bad picture colour.

 

[BellyTank]

Should be RED.
I think.

Spitfire-
there's an English guy living in KBH, who collects/sells RAF and a little USAAF militaria- do you know him?
I think his name's Derek.

Maybe you should.

Ring any bells?

B
T

 

[Spitfire]

BT - no bells!

 

[BellyTank]

BT - no bells!

I just did some Detective work...

DEREK CARTER from HEDEHUSENE.

I bought some stuff from him via eBay when I was living in ?Örhus.
RAF and USAAF guy.

I just found his eBay ID; "wingdk"

...and his last eBay sale;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300095938627

That's the guy.
Watch his auctions.

B
T

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks a lot BT. Great detective work. Thanks to that I even found the guys telephonenumber

 

[Smithy]

Spitfire, you can actually see a fairly wide range of crown colours with original caps. These differences are because of differences between manufacturers and also ageing. Some can look slightly purplish and this isn't uncommon even though the designated colour was red. Thus crown colours do range from dark scarlets to the the lighter "purplish" shades, in much the same way as eagle and crown shapes can differ.

 

[Spitfire]

That was also my first thought - the many different producers.
"OK it says red here - this is red(ish) enough!"

But the again - maybe it meant something special, or was recognizable from a special branch of RAF or era. Or even producer.
Thank you all for precise answeres.

 

[Smithy]

I've even heard it knocked around that the purple crowns were for RCAF but this isn't true. They were all meant to be red but different manufacturers must have had access to different shades of thread. When you combine that with 60 years of ageing that gives the different permutations that you see.

Are you in the market for a cap by any chance Spitfire?

 

[RAF Man]

The colour is supposed to be of Royal Purple Velvet as depicted in the picture below. This is the material that sits inside the centre of the crown.
However, my cap badge is certainly red, but another I had 12 years ago was more more purple, which bares out what Smithy was saying about differing manufactureres and ageing, causing a variation in colours from red to purple.

 

[Spitfire]

I've even heard it knocked around that the purple crowns were for RCAF but this isn't true. They were all meant to be red but different manufacturers must have had access to different shades of thread. When you combine that with 60 years of ageing that gives the different permutations that you see.

Are you in the market for a cap by any chance Spitfire?

- Let's just say I am workin on it. Workin on it.... Suddenly there might be a new avatar

 

[Spitfire]

Got it!

Now I only need to do that shot...Irwin, boots, jacket, cap...a foldingchair and sunlight....all I need now is a Spitfire.

 

[Smithy]

OK Spitfire, an original or repro? Pics please

 

[Spitfire]

Were are (just) talking repro - WPG.[huh]
Pictures to follow.

 

[Spitfire]

Pics

OK - here are a few of the new cap - and the rest of the stuff.

Man its hot being a pilot

 

[Smithy]

Nice job Spitty, the cap looks to be a very, very nice repro, you should be proud.

But haven't you heard of a razor old boy! Any group captain seeing you like that will tear a huge strip off of you

 

[Spitfire]

Nice job Spitty, the cap looks to be a very, very nice repro, you should be proud.

But haven't you heard of a razor old boy! Any group captain seeing you like that will tear a huge strip off of you

Early morning patrol - just did not have time this morning, ol chap!

 

[RAF Man]

Top hole Spitfire! What.

 

[Spitfire]

Thanks RAF man - and the inside of the crown is almost as purpel as the crown you posted. Given the right amount of sun and rain it will propably bleach.