A rare Smethwick & West Bromwich Fire Service 1948 to 1967 gilt shields cap badge in used condition.
Two fire stations covering 15 square miles of area & 6 different official issued variations make each limited batch ordered very rare to come on the open market for sale.  I have enclosed a picture of the 6 variations i have in my collection & not counting the all gilt shields & scroll FAKE badge produced by a militaria badge dealer &  badge maker in the 1970's / 80's !
Smethwick & West Bromwich Fire Service was formed in 1948 when the N.F.S ( National Fire Service 1941 to 1947 ) handed back fire control to regional county & county borough fire brigades. Lasting just 19 years....i do not have to tell collectors how rare each variation that exists is, just ask yourselves how many firefighters were employed by this small county borough fire service ? 19 years would not have seen a large turnover & actual issued cap badges, with 6 DIFFERENT VARIATIONS in 19 years. I suspect minimal 50 badge orders of all 6 variations because of costs involved for such a small brigade on a budget !! SIMPLES ;o)
This  100% original gilt shields enamel scroll variation has the centre firmly fixed to the standard fully pressed issue Home Office star, both cap fixing lugs intact to the rear of the badge & showing evidence of once being on a cap at some stage in its life.  This particular badge has sufferedbeing in a fire but maybe able to be cleaned properly,  this does not detract to the rareity of each variation of this small county borough fire brigade !