Original World War Two British Army Catering Corps Plastic Economy Badge. Missing one brass blade.
The World War Two British Plastic Economy Badges were created during the Second World War in order to conserve metal for the production of vital munitions and weapons. Despite being commonly referred to as Bakelite, they were actually made from a thermoplastic called cellulose acetate. Due to their initial unpopularity, many of these badges were discarded and are now highly collectible, with some becoming extremely rare. Over 130 variations of the badge were produced, with different makers and varying production numbers. They are typically marked with the maker's name and often have mould numbers, though not all are marked. The majority have brass blades for attachment, although some also feature plastic lugs commonly seen on rank insignia.
