Coronation Scot enamelled cap badge (H.W. Miller)

From The Brighton Toy and Model Index
Jump to navigationJump to search
= Coronation Scot at Brighton Toy and Model Museum =
This exhibit was on display between November 2012 and early 2013

An red enamelled badge of the Coronation Scot train, angled, approaching from top right to bottom left, made by buttonmakers H. W. Miller Ltd., 116 & 118, Branstone St., Birmingham 18.

The badge has a flat base, with the remaining wedge-shaped space between the baseline showing the words ""Coronation Scot" against a dark blue enamelled background. The background metal is gold-coloured.

Details

The locomotive shown on the badge is recognisably "Coronation 6220", due to the crest above its nameplate and the just-readable "6220" on the cab's side.

The fact that the loco is enamelled in red rather than blue suggests that the badge might date from 1939/40 onwards (since the red "US" Coronation-badged loco appeared in 1939). It doesn't show the red US loco's headlight, which might mean that the badge metalwork was an earlier generic design based on the "proper" (blue) Coronation 6220, with the choice of red enamel being made later ... or it might mean that the badge designer didn't know about the US headlight, or didn't care for it.

One final noteworthy detail is the side of the locomotive's tender -- instead of attempting to show some sort of representation of the "LMS" markings, it shows a blob that appears to be a larger crest. It's not clear whether this represents pure personal "artistic licence" on the part of the badge designer, or whether a tender crest might have been mooted as a possible option at some point for the real locomotive.

Manufacturer marks

The back of the badge reads R.S.O / H.W. Miller Ltd. / B'HAM.18.