A nice genuine rare original chrome shields variation of the post ww2 Smethwick & West Bromwich Fire Service 1948 to 1967 cap badge.
Smethwick & West Bromwich Fire Service founded after the N.F.S ( National Fire Service 1941 to 1947 ), handed back regional fire control to county & county borough fire brigades. Smethwick & West Bromwich Fire Service had 2 fire stations covering 15 square miles of area, a small county borough brigade which issued 8 known & 1 fake variation during its lifespan of 19 years. Every variation was a minimum batch order & the known variations, all with red enamel scrolls are... Chrome Shields, Chrome Enamel shields, Chrome Painted Shields, Gilt Shields, Gilt Enamel Shields light yellow & dark yellow, Gilt Painted Shields....the all gilt shields with gilt scroll is a 1980's fake produced by a dealer who gained an unenamelled factory centre & had it copied, then attaching to normal Home Office stars. This example chrome shields has the centre attached to the standard lined, economy issue Home Office star, both cap fixing lugs intact to the rear of the badge