A city on the south coast of England in Hampshire, this famous maritime city had 2 (two) different cap badges for the post war period, this 1st pattern “shield & scroll” badge was worn between 1948 & 1964. The red ring version City Of Southampton cap badge being worn for just 10 years & both cap badges for this small county borough fire brigade are desirable in original condition! 

Southampton Fire Brigade had 3 (three) stations covering 15 (fifteen) square miles, there wasn’t large numbers of original cap badges produced. Like many hard to obtain, original, smaller county borough fire brigade cap badges these original Southampton cap badges are sought after as demand grows from younger & newer collectors. Many good examples are already in private collections & reproductions have been produced. Original badges were produced by Firmin & Son’s London & this original 1st pattern cap badge of Southampton Fire Brigade is particularly nice. One of the weakness points where damage occurs on cap badges are scrolls, where the enamel scroll is very long & quite often overlaps the home office star holding the centre! This is common with the Southampton “shield & scroll” 1st pattern badge & we have seen many with slightly damaged scroll enamel due to the length of the scroll. This example is undamaged & if you look closely at the edges of the scroll, you will notice how the shape bends down slightly & this is what cracks the enamel when anything bends the edges accidentally!

In overall very nice condition & 100% original this badge looks nice as a shield / coat of arms cap badge of the post war period, a nice addition to any collection!