An original Manchester City Fire Brigade 1948 to 1974 gilt variation cap badge, both cap fioxing lugs intact to the rear of the badge, the enamel centre fixed to the standard fully pressed issue Home Office star. The enamel of the badge does have chips to it but the badge is complete & original.
The post war Manchester City Fire Brigade from 1948 until 1974 boasted 2 cap badges, one gilt & one chrome & with variations too i.e the rigging on the ship in the Manchester coat of arms had variations & also there are variations set upon a small home office star !
Manchester City was a county borough fire brigade & had 9 stations covering the 43 square miles of the Manchester Area. This gilt variation cap badge with a fully rigged ship in the emblem is set on a fully pressed home office star with the small gilt lugs of the enamelled centre secured by a brass pin. The 2 cap fixing lugs are secure to the rear of the star & the badge is a userd but good condition badge showing age. in 1974 the brigade became the Greater Manchester County Fire Brigade after the Fire Services Act of the same year & took in many other county boroughs extending its area to 496 square miles & taking on many other fire stations to a total of 41!