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The beautiful, intricately engraved, New South Wales Police, "roundel"
helmet plate c 1870. The badge is "shellbacked" and fully die struck. * NSW's first and possibly Australia'a oldest and rarest custom made Police badge. Only two
original examples are known to have survived. One is at the Justice and Police Museum in Sydney and
the other is in a private collection in Australia.
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Queen
Victoria Crown "VR" cypher NSW Police Helmet plate. Circa
1882.
This was the second issue N.S.W. Police badge (see above for
the first).
They were first issued made
of a "blackened" brass for "Night Duty"; which would normally wear off with use and unofficial polishing. This silver
or white metal plate (right) is therefore
*
One of the Rarest.; as they were only issued to the Inspector General and a select group of about
10 Senior Officers. Although none are hallmarked, due to their thinness,
the maker of the earlier Queen Victoria (VR) and Edward 7th (EVIIR) NSW Police
Helmet plates was JR Gaunt and Son, Birmingham UK. The George 5th (GvR) and likely
Edward 8th (EVIIIR) plates were probably made locally in Australia; notice the incorrect use of the "Queen Victoria"
style Crown on these later two plates, which should have had the "King's"
crown and also note the inaccurate style of cyphers that were used.
N.B: Some very well made replicas were made by Ozbadge in 2005,
under NSW Police licence; as framed replica sets. These replicas (even the
old cast replicas) are slightly smaller than the originals. A small "Oz" plate / "bug" is soldered on
the back near the crown.
* FYI. The original plates were fully
die struck from almost "paper thin" metal and should weigh just under 20 grams (0.7 ounce). The QVC versions should
be 100mm in height.
NSW Police, Edward 7th, King's Crown "EVIIR" cypher, helmet plate. Issued
c1901 to 1910. Maker: J.R. Gaunt and Sons, London. Extremely
Rare.
The NSW Police "Silver" "1915" Cap Badge. First version. A small badge based on the "helmet plate" style designed for use with the newly issued
military style forage caps. Issued for a very short time during 1915/16 and then replaced by the "skeleton" series; probably
due its small size and maybe also because of its "illegal" use of the Royal Garter; which surrounds the NSW Coat
of Arms. It is made of un hallmarked silver and is "shellbacked" i.e., fully "die struck".
.*
One of the Rarest.
NSW Police, King's Crown, Commissioner's or Senior Commissioned Officer's cap
badge; with the very large padded crown. Hand made. Hallmarked
with the makers initials, "SILVER" and "AMOR".
c 1916 * One of the Rarest.
NSW Police Queen's Crown Commissioner's or Senior Commissioned Officer's chromed
cap badge; with the large, padded crown. Hand made. c
1953 - 1972. Very Rare. Versions were made in Sterling Silver and are Extremely Rare.
NSW Police "skeleton" style reflective badge decal for motorcycle helmets
and rescue squad helmets. Made by 3M © . C 1954 - 1972. Rare.
The original "mock-up" of the current style of NSW Police badges.
Although the new insignia or logo was designed and adopted for
various official uses in 1959, the cap badge was not designed until 1969. This new insignia was designed by
Norman A. Merchant (D.I.) originally for use on "table name cards" for the 1959 Commissioner's Conference. This original
mock up of the badge was purchased at the AMOR Archives auction. It is built upon an old QC skeleton badge.
Notice the suggested badge name change to NSW Police "Department". Apparently, only two original mockups were ever made; one is in a private collectors hands, the other with the
NSW Police.
*
One of the Rarest.
NSW Parking Police and Patrol.
The NSW "Parking Police" were formed in 1945 as employees of the NSW
Police "Department"; not the NSW Police "Force".
The "Parking Police" designation was changed to NSW Parking "Patrol"
in 1985. This organisation of "unsworn", civilian employees was totally disbanded and made defunct in 2003; with local
councils assuming their duties.
Also, the NSW Police "Department" along with the NSW Police "Force" were amalgamated
by the Police Service Act, 1990.
The King's Crown skelton style badges are Very
Rare, the Queen's Crown Parking Police skeleton badges are Rare and the "Parking Patrol
Officer" badge is Scarce .
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Early "carte de visite" photograph of Sergeant Charles Dalton of the N.S.W. Police in ceremonial
uniform (based on 8th Hussars). "Curly Brim" style helmet with horse hair "plume" and N.S.W. Police roundel helmet plate
on it, next to him. Photograph by William Freeman. c 1876.
* This is probably the earliest known photo of a NSW Police officer in uniform. Ozbadge thanks Alan Davies
and the State Library of New South Wales. © Ozbadge.
.
.
NSW Police, George 5th, "GvR" style cypher, helmet plate issued from
c1911 and may have been worn by some officers up to 1935 (it was a common practise in those days, for some senior officers
to continue to wear older, outdated style plates and badges, to denote seniority). Probably made locally
in Australia. Note the incorrect use of the "Queen Victoria" crown and inaccurate cypher on this original plate. Extremely Rare.
The NSW Police "1915" Cap Badge; the "voided" 2nd version, with triangular lugs. The
"voiding" was an attempt to make it stand out more than the original (see left). A
small, unhallmarked silver badge designed for use with the newly issued military style forage caps during 1915/16. 2nd
version. Issued for a very short time in 1915 and then replaced by the "skeleton" series; probably due to its
small size but maybe also because of its "illegal" use of the Royal Garter, which surrounds the NSW Coat of Arms. It
is a fully die struck badge.
* One of the Rarest.
The NSW Police, King's Crown, "Commissioned Officer's" cap badge.
c 1916. Each badge was diestruck and then each letter was cut
out by hand with a jewellers saw; after the initial stamping. Early, Extremely Rare versions
were made of solid, "Sterling Silver". Most of these
were hallmarked by Amor and held onto by senior officers to denote their "seniority", as only "white metal" versions were issued from c 1926; now Very Rare. From the
mid 1930's to c1954, Rare "chrome plated" versions (as above) were issued. *A one of a
kind, "Gold plated" version was made for Commmissioner Scott (1948-1952).
NSW Police Queen's crown chromed "Officer's" Cap badge.
Each letter was cut out and finished by hand with a jewellers saw after
it was pressed. Very Rare. c 1953-1972.
NSW Police "skelton" style Cadet chromed cap badge. c 1959-1972. Rare.
The NSW Police cadets were an elite corp formed in 1933 by Superintendent W.J.McKay (who became Commissioner McKay in 1935).
Pre 1960, a Very Rare "skeleton style" set, consisting of a voided "POLICE"
and a "CADET" badge, were worn on opposing lapels (instead of numbers). In the late 1960's, the Scarce
oval shaped, black enamel and chrome "Police Cadet" epaulette badges (pair) were issued.
NSW Police FORCE "Bishop" cap badge. Introduced in circa 1971.
This was the first version (of now around 16 versions) of the new,
modern cap badge currently issued by the NSW Police Force. Unfortunately, this first issue looked
like it was "hand painted" on a pewter style metal and had thin, wire type lugs; it is now considered an Extremely Rare badge. There were another 2 Very Rare versions of the Bishop series of cap
badges, (before the contract was returned to Amor in 1972; the original designers of the badge from DI Merchant's concept);
one still looked "painted" but was made of a better looking "chromed" type metal and had thicker "lugs" and the
third version was made of hard - fired enamel and looked the quality of the current badge. Amor began making
their version of the cap badge in 1972 and also began to make the first "flat" ID wallet badge for the NSW POLICE FORCE
(with 3 screw fittings); also in 1972. These are now Scarce badges. The
word "FORCE" was removed from all badges and all insignia in 1990. Other makers of this style of now Scarce badge, in the previous "Force" and the now
obsolete "Police" only versions over the years, have included: Swann & Hudson, Cash's and Miller's. There was also
an Extremely Rare, very slightly curved, "Pipe Band" version with three screw lugs and hand numbered,
made by AMOR; specifically designed for the Glengarry cap. There is also an Extremely Rare "mistake"
version, with black emamel "fill" (instead of red) within the N.S.W. State "badge" emblem.
Of note:
1) In 2002, all new NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE cap and ID badges, made by Miller's Sydney, were "serial numbered" on the reverse.
ii) Under the direction of Commissioner K.E. Moroney AO, the NSW Police
reverted to the name "NSW Police FORCE" for use on all insignia, from February 1st, 2007.
iii) A slightly revised and elongated NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE FORCE
cap and ID badge were introduced in 2008; made by Miller's Sydney and "serial numbered" on the back.
NSW Police Force Pilots Wings. Issued. c 1979. Rare.
(For the Police "Wings" page just click here!)
.
NSW Parking Patrol officer cap badge. Disbanded in 2003. Scarce
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Inspector General E.C. Day c 1911.
NSW Police, probably an Edward 8th, "EVIIIR" style cypher Helmet plate.
Edward 8th ruled for only one year in 1936 and then abdicated before being crowned. Probably
made locally in Australia. Extremely Rare. Note the use of the incorrect "Queen Victoria"
crown and incorrect cypher. It was not issued widely or for long (see the "skeleton" helmet badge below) Police.
Some say it may have been an earlier Edward 7th plate that was withdrawn because of incorrect cypher.
An early mounted test pressing of the NSW Police "1915" Cap Badge.
A small badge based on the "helmet plate" style designed for use with the newly issued
military style forage caps. Issued for a short time and then replaced by the skelton badges. It was die struck from un
hallmarked silver.
*
One of the Rarest.
The NSW Police King's Crown Cap badge. Known as the "skeleton"
badge or "anchor" badge was introduced in c 1916. The earlier badges were stamped from SOLID BRASS and "nickel plated"
and were introduced as a cap badge only. They were also utilised as a helmet badge in later years. After the
mid 1930's, they were chrome plated. The cap badge has two lugs;
the helmet badge has three. Most were made by AMOR (Sydney); some
were made by K.G. Luke (Melb.) and were hallmarked. Scarce. c 1916 - 1954.
Some officer's continued to wear these badges after to 1952 to denote their "seniority".
Apparently, a practice of the time, was to remove the "cross pattée and orb" at the top of badge to signify
an officer's membership as a "Freemason"'. NOTE: The original badges were NOT
known to be hallmarked "AMOR" and should have a rectangular "brace bar" on the back; so beware of "fakes".
NSW Police Queen's Crown "skeleton" chrome plated Cap or Helmet badge.
Scarce. The cap badge has two lugs with
brace bar; the helmet badge has three lugs and a brace bar. c 1953-1972.
An oval shaped, black enamel and chrome "NSW Police" epaulette badge (pair) was also issued. Also
Scarce.
NSW Police "skeleton" style Band cap badge. These badges are hand painted enamel
on a bare, brass metal base. c 1955-1972. Very Rare.
The NSW Police "Junior Trainee" even had a cap badge. There were only
about 18 uniformed "Trainees" in the short time this badge was issued and only 30 badges struck by the Department. Extremely
Rare. c1975.
More recently, this style of cap badge has been used in a "Student Police Officer" version, a "Security
Officer" version, a "Transit Police" version and a green enameled " Parking Patrol Officer" version (see below centre).
These later versions are considered Scarce. There is also a new, "Special
Constable" cap/hat version and a flat ID wallet version; made by Millers and serial numbered on the back.
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