Newcastle & Gateshead Fire Service post ww2 was formed in 1947 when the N.F.S ( National Fire Service 1941 to 1947 ) handed back fire control to regional county & county borough fire brigades. Newcastle & Gateshead, a county borough fire brigade covered an area of 25 square miles with 5 fire stations & a fireboat station. There are 3 main variations of cap badge in existence for this brigade for this period. The right hand shield with black castle within it had 2 small error batches produced where the castle has either NO WINDOWS or just 2 WINDOWS ! The normal & most common variation has 4 WINDOWS & there are a handfull of these error cap badges in circulation, i am lucky enough to have one for sale. This cap badge is an early manufactured badge of late 1940's / early 1950's production showing the rear normally chrome lugs showing brass..a great indication of a 1st or 2nd batch order. The badge is in reasonably good condition but does have a small enamel chip to the far right of the scroll. A rare variation for the serious collectors to own.