HMS Victory Brass

(c) Vin Callcut 2002-2021.

Small extracts can be used with acknowledgements to 'Oldcopper.org' website.

Helpful comments are very welcome.

 

brassware

 

Brass badges depicting HMS Victory have been used on many domestic items and sold very well across the world. They mostly date from the 1930s but some were produced again during the 1950s onwards after austerity restrictions on the use of metals were relaxed. These are some showing the broadside view. Others show the impressive stern. The maker's name is very rarely evident and surviving catalogues are rarely seen except those from Pearson-Page Jewsbury (later Peerage) who took over many smaller Birmingham businesses and continued to use their patterns.

To help classify the use of individual casting designs on products, a descriptive code has been developed. It is not yet in general use.

For example:

Vsp HMS Victory stern view, port side.

Vss - HMS Victory stern view, starboard side.

Vss51 - Height from waterline to masthead is 51mm.

Vbs HMS Victory broadside view, starboard side

.Twelve types of emblem that show the broadside are described.  Stern views are coved in the other page. . More emblems:- HMS Victory Stern.

 

Vbs125 Starboard (right) broadside view with mizzen sail furled.  The casting is made in good detail and usually has a smooth rear that the founder could be proud of.  Pearson Page Catalogue shots show the bowsprit straight but it was not always cast straight, see the shot of a group of these items. Five out of a collection of eight are bent as shown. As part of a product, it is normally secured by two small steel screws through the base. Height from waterline to top mast 125mm (3").

 

 

Five out of a collection of eight  Vbs125 bookends have bowsprits bent in the same way.  This means they were probably made like that using a damaged pattern. 

 

A post- war Peerage catalogue shows a version mounted on a choppy sea base with double arc bar reading

'HMS VICTORY   -    OF TRAFALGAR' used for a wall hung outside door bell.

 

Vbs56 Starboard (right) broadside view with mizzen sail furled.  Some castings are made in good detail and a smooth rear that the founder could be proud of, others are poor quality or have been over polished..  Pearson Page Catalogue shots show the bowsprit straight but it was not always cast straight and may have been bent upwards further in use.  There is a bar underneath with indented lettering "VICTORY".  Height waterline to mast head 56mm (2 1/4"). Found with Rd No 708761 of 1924, .Rd 900186 of 1959 and 'Peerage England'.  Frequently there is a hanging loop above as well as the name bar below.

 

Vbs56a As for Vbs56 above but without the choppy sea. Gunport casting detail poor. Found as an emblem on a copper ashtray.

 

 

Vbs53 Starboard (right) broadside view, sailing on a choppy sea with mizzen sail furled. A Pearson Page Catalogue shots show the bowsprit straight but it was not always cast straight and may have been bent upwards further in use. The bar underneath has indented lettering "VICTORY". Height waterline to mast head 53mm (2"). Found on Peerage toasting forks and handbells and used inset in reproduction horse brasses.

 

 

 

 

Vbs53d As Vbs53 but with raised lettering "VICTORY" and only found diecast. Used on a knocker and a bell.

 

 

 

Vbs53e As Vbs53 but without choppy sea. Bar underneath has impressed lettering VICTORY without inverted commas.

 

 

 

 

Vbs27 Starboard (right) broadside view with mizzen sail furled.  A small version of Vbs56 and Vbs53.  Height from waterline to topmast 26mm (1").  'VICTORY' impressed in a bar underneath.  These are used double sided for the tops of small paperknives, bottle openers, shoehorns and single sided as ornamentation on copperware.

 

 

 

 

A typical selection of useful products that were available during the 1930s and again from the 1950s.  Mostly they were made under the 'Peerage' trade mark by Pearson Page Jewsbury of Birmingham.  These all have Vbs27v emblems but were also available with alternatives from their catalogue.

 

 

 

 

Vbp81 Port (left) broadside view with stylised sterncastle and gunports as dots. Sails are all set and show decorative vertical grooves. Underneath is a curved scrolled banner with inset lettering THE VICTORY without inverted commas. Height from waterline to topmast 81mm (3"). In 'Peerage' catalogues during the late 1930s and 1950s

 

 

 

 

Vbp57 As for Vbp81 but shorter and with better hull detail, height from waterline to topmast 57mm (2 1/4"). Found on a knocker.  Also found on another knocker lettered 'THE MAYFLOWER' !

 

 

Vbp60t Port (left) broadside view with stylised sterncastle and a flurry of waves under the stern.  All sails are set and showing vertical bands. Underneath is a triangular banner with inset lettering HMS VICTORY.  Height from waterline to topmast 60mm with a hanging ring above and the banner below giving a total of 78mm (3½").  Found on a toasting fork and a crumb scoop.

 

 

 

Vbp53 Port broadside view with all sails set and showing vertical bands. The hull detail is limited to gunport 'dots' . Block under with inset lettering 'THE VICTORY'. Height from waterline to topmast 53mm (2"). Found on a knocker.

 

 

Vbp43 Port (left) broadside view.  All sails are set.  Underneath is a triangulated bar with inset lettering 'THE VICTORY'.  The back is clean and marked 'ELPEC' for Lloyd Pascal & Co. Height from waterline to topmast 43mm (1½)  with a hanging ring above and the banner below giving a total of 68mm (2¾").  Found on dinner gongs and toasting forks.

 

 

 

Vbp42 Port broadside view. This is a diecast item with good detail and frequently found on toasting forks, shoe horns, hearth brushes and corkscrews. The sails are decorated with vertical lines. All are set but the main and mizzen sails are part reefed to show ratlines and two patches of daylight. There is a bar under with raised lettering 'THE VICTORY'. Height from waterline to topmast 42mm (1¾”) but hanging ring above, block and boss below.

 

More emblems:- HMS Victory Stern

 

 

 

 

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